Veterinary Extern - General Practice

Extern at a Fun, Collaborative Team with Big-City Access & Small-Town Charm

At Taylor Animal Hospital
, our 4-DVM small animal practice offers all the tools, tech, and support you need for an excellent externship experience.

• Modern, fully equipped facility: digital X-ray, dental X-ray, ultrasound, in-house lab station, and surgical suite.
• Ongoing upgrades: integrated lab/imaging systems and VC PIMS coming in November 2025.
• Special interests supported — ophthalmology, dentistry, ultrasound, dermatology, orthopedics (40+ years combined experience).
• Partnered with local SPCA and animal control, plus strong ties with UTK and Chattanooga emergency/diagnostic clinics.

We’re a lively, close-knit team that believes veterinary medicine should be fun. There’s always music playing (and often dancing). We celebrate wins big and small—with team dinners, bowling nights, local festivals, and spontaneous candy drops.

Our leadership genuinely supports mental health and balance—this isn’t just lip service. We even have “morale correction” experts on staff whose mission is to turn bad days around!

We love our community, too—supporting local schools, 4H, shelters, and hosting free vaccine clinics for those in need.

Nestled just outside Chattanooga, with easy access to Atlanta and Knoxville, our town offers the best of both worlds—quiet country living with big-city perks just a short drive away. From local coffee shops and book nooks to rotating food trucks and mom-and-pop eateries, you’ll never run out of things to enjoy while you’re here.

We like to say we’re “a new clinic in an old clinic’s shell,” continuously remodeling, upgrading, and growing—just like our team.

If you’re looking for an externship in a clinic that values laughter, teamwork, great medicine, and a balanced life—please apply. We’d love to mentor you!

Most externship experiences at Taylor Animal Hospital range from two to eight weeks depending on student and hospital schedules. All veterinary students (regardless of class year) are encouraged to participate in NVA externships.

Veterinary students who are in the clinical portion of their education are eligible for a travel/living expense stipend.  to view list of stipend amounts and HERE for details on the stipend program.

National Veterinary Associates is a leading global pet care organization united in the love of animals and the people who love them.

At NVA, we’re on a mission to improve the lives of pets and the people who love them. That starts by empowering our care teams. We nurture their growth with resources to practice medicine their way. Our network of 1,000 hospitals connects them to a community of professionals who share their passion so they can learn and grow together. Our national presence enables us to deliver technology and innovations that simplify work and expand care for all.

At NVA, we're committed to your professional growth. We support your entire career journey, offering opportunities ranging from mentorship to ownership.

NVA offers a comprehensive benefits program including medical, dental, vision, a 401k with employer match, and paid time off (including sick time) for all eligible employees. The team can provide more information about compensation and benefits for your specific location during the process.

NVA provides eligible employees with paid sick and safe leave and public health emergency leave in accordance with the requirements of Colorado's Healthy Families and Workplaces Act.

NVA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and any other state or local hiring regulations, we will consider for employment any qualified applicant, including those with arrest and conviction records, in a manner consistent with the applicable regulation.