Animal Care Internship Hospital Assistant -Fall 2026

Animal Care Internship Hospital Assistant Fall 2026

Internship Dates: August 25, 2026-November 27/2026

Deadline to Apply: SPOTS ARE LIMITED-Apply today to join our Summer 2026 Hospital Assistant Internship and launch your future in wildlife care and conservation!


Step into the Wild Side of Conservation.

Ready for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity working alongside a variety of species? The Hospital Assistant Internship at ZooTampa offers hands-on experience in animal care, behavioral training, and real-time conservation education. You'll work shoulder-to-shoulder with our Veterinary team , gaining behind-the-scenes insight while building skills that pave the way for a career in zoology or wildlife management. From collecting behavioral data to creating enrichment and engaging with guests, every day is a chance to grow personally and professionally in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment. If you're passionate, hardworking, and eager to learn, we want to hear from you!

Please note: If you are seeking an Animal Care internship, do not apply for more than two opportunities within the same term. Applying to more than two areas may disqualify the candidate from further consideration.

Hospital Assistant will work with the veterinarians and technicians in the day to day

Duties to include but are not limited to:

• Animal care of hospitalized patients and incoming quarantined/outgoing animals under the direct supervision of Veterinary Technician.
• Assistant will obtain diets from Commissary, make observations of patients under hospital care, clean, feed, and maintain daily records +/- assisting vet or tech with medications or treatments.
• Maintenance of animal enclosures (cages, runs, dens, stalls) including sweeping, mopping, hosing, disinfecting, raking, weeding to be ready for new patients at all times.
• Cleaning ICU and Isolation rooms including dishes, cabinets, counters, sink, floor, and trash. The Keeper's Nook should be clean and pest-free. Dishes washed, disinfected, and stored. Refrigerator clean with expired foods discarded. Counters, sink, and floors cleaned as needed. Trash removed.
• Housekeeping inside and outside of Hospital and ACA of those area not maintained by Park Services Clean Team including non-animal areas. Dusting, sweeping, mopping, trash, laundry, restocking, organizing.
• Duties to include keeping treatment room stocked as well and as field kits/totes. Assist technicians with monthly checks of expiration dates of medications, supplies, and surgical packs.
• Daily water quality testing.
• Vehicle maintenance to include sweeping, washing, refueling.
• Retrieve items from garage including medications, treatment sheets, microchip reader. Replace ice pack in cooler daily.

Internships are unpaid and are designed to meet academic requirements, as applicable, and provide valuable real-world experience for participants. Successful completion of an internship may also yield letters of recommendation, a portfolio of their work when applicable, and important networking contacts.

Who is eligible?

High school diploma or GED is required. For this internship, we are seeking vet tech or pre-Veterinary students with animal and medical experience and have spent time working in an Animal Hospital. Applicants currently pursuing a degree in any of the biological or life sciences may also apply. Applicants must submit an Internship Application, cover letter, and resume in order to be considered for a position.


Required Availability:
Must be able to commit to a 14 week internship.
Must be able to commit to a minimum of 2 days per week .
Schedule may be nine hour days (7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
Some nights and weekend shifts may be required.


Additional Requirements:
If an internship offer is made, it is contingent on:
Candidates seeking academic credit must have arrangements agreed upon between the Zoo and their school before beginning the internship.
All offers are contingent on the successful completion of a criminal background screening and execution of a required hold harmless/liability release agreement.
Candidate will be responsible for the cost of the background check (typically $25, but certain jurisdictions may have additional fees).
Contingent upon receipt of documentation of negative TB test within the last 6 months, Tetanus vaccination within the last 5 years . Interns must have personal health insurance coverage for illness or injury (as volunteers and interns are not covered by the Zoo workers' compensation program).

International Internship Eligibility Requirements:

Please note that ZooTampa is unable to offer sponsorship for student or work visas for this internship position.
Only applicants who are legally authorized to work in the United States without requiring sponsorship will be considered.

Please Note:

Interns must make their own accommodation and transportation arrangements. This is an unpaid internship.

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