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Job Details

Veterinary Extern - General Practice

Location Silverdale, Washington
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Category
Veterinary Extern
Job ID
5322
Hospital
Ridgetop Animal Hospital
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Hands-on learning. Supportive mentors. Scenic views.

Ridgetop Animal Hospital is a thriving AAHA-accredited hospital where you won’t just watch from the sidelines — you’ll be part of the action. Our 6 DVMs, 3 Licensed Veterinary Technicians, and 2 almost-LVTs (taking the VTNE in early 2026) are ready to share their expertise and welcome you into our collaborative, high-energy team.

What You’ll Do:
•Work side-by-side with supervising DVMs on real cases
•Assist or observe advanced soft tissue and orthopedic surgeries (TPLO, CBLO, fracture repair, FHOs, amputations, and more)
•Sharpen your communication skills with our team and clients
What Makes Us Different:
•Fully integrated learning: You’ll be treated as a valued contributor, not “just” an observer.
•Surgical variety: Complex cases and high-volume dentistry (minimum two procedures daily).
•Exotics & backyard poultry: Expand your patient portfolio beyond dogs and cats.
•Mentorship culture: Our Managing DVM has onboarded 4 new grads in the last 5 years, and our tenured LVTs excel at teaching.
•Team spirit: We love what we do — and have fun while doing it!

Tools & Tech:
•In-house radiology with radiologist review
•Traveling ultrasonographer & cardiologist
•IDEXX in-house labs
•Fluid warmers, orthopedic surgical equipment
•AI scribing software, online pharmacy, PetPage app

Location Perks:
•Nestled in Silverdale, WA on the Kitsap Peninsula — suburban charm with breathtaking Olympic Mountain views
•Close to local ER and specialty hospitals (ophthalmology, rehabilitation)
•No weekends, major holidays, or overnights

Bonus Points:
We’ve been AAHA-accredited since 2010, partner with the Kitsap Humane Society, and stay active in our community through fundraisers and outreach.

Ready to grow your skills in a welcoming, high-paced, and fun environment?
Come join us — where learning is constant, mentorship is genuine, and your externship is anything but ordinary.

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

DVM students who are in the clinical portion of their education are eligible for a travel/living expense stipend. Click HERE to view list of stipend amounts and HERE for details on the stipend program. The stipend amount for Ridgetop Animal Hospital is $1,500.

National Veterinary Associates (NVA) is a leading North American pet health care company with nearly 1,300 locations spanning general practice veterinary hospitals, Ethos emergency and specialty hospitals, and pet resorts and equine veterinary care. With approximately 40,000 team members, we care for pets and support pet families in communities across the United States and Canada.  Our purpose is to give pets and the people who love them more quality years together, and our mission is to make care more personal, easy and accessible while advancing medicine and care across every stage of life. Across NVA, we support our teams with the resources, expertise and opportunities they need to deliver exceptional care and help shape the future of veterinary and pet care.


Purpose: Give pets and the people who love them more quality years together

Mission: Transform the pet family experience to be personal, easy and accessible, while advancing medicine and care across every stage of life. 

Values: Care Deeply, Do What’s Right, One Team, Own It, Shape What’s Next 

One NVA: Bringing General Practice & Ethos Together

NVA is built to make care personal, easy and accessible, while advancing medicine across every stage of a pet’s life. 


At National Veterinary Associates, we want to make sure your experience connecting with us is seamless and straightforward. Here’s what to expect when interacting with us:

- We’ll always reach out via verified LinkedIn profiles or emails ending in @nva.com
- We may also contact you via text message from an identified NVA representative for recruiting-related communication
- All job opportunities and applications are hosted on our official careers site: careers.nva.com
- There is no cost or confidential information required to apply or be considered for a position
If you have any doubts about a communication, feel free to visit our careers page to verify authenticity or email us at hiringhub@nva.com. Thank you for exploring opportunities at NVA!
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.  For positions based in Colorado, 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.

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