UPDATED on May 19, 2025
For Support Staff and Group Leader jobs for Loop Abroad alumni, go here.
Positions for Summer 2025 are filling quickly!
We are currently accepting applications on a rolling basis!
We'll update this page as each position fills.
Even if there are no positions listed OR you are not available for the positions listed, we still encourage you to apply if you would be available for last-minute openings or future seasons. In this case, we will only respond to your application when we are ready to interview you for a new opportunity as it arises.
Loop Abroad launched in 2009 with nine American students traveling to Chiang Mai, Thailand to learn about elephants. This year, we offered outstanding veterinary and animal conservation experiences to hundreds of students in 8 countries.
As we've grown, we have partnered with world-class local organizations who share our focus on animal welfare, have strong reputations in the animal conservation community-at-large, and can provide the best learning experiences for our students. We're always looking for how our students can learn more, do more, and help more animals around the world!
For most positions, we give priority to outstanding candidates who are available to teach for 2-3 programs in a row over 4-6 weeks.
Most of our summer pre-veterinary programs involve a group of 10-12 students traveling for two weeks led by a one Program Veterinarian Leader. Leading a group is an incredibly challenging but rewarding experience!
Our best Loop Abroad veterinary leaders:
Veterinarians should expect limited free time. In most cases, you will be eating, lecturing, teaching labs, volunteering, relaxing, and sleeping on site with your students - and sometimes "on site" means in a jungle! Make sure you will enjoy spending this much time in close quarters with our students.
Depending on the program, you may be the sole Loop Abroad staff taking care of the group at a host organization. Or, you may have the support of another Loop Abroad staff member or a local tour guide. Our larger programs have dedicated teams in-country to support logistics and planning, but not all programs are like this.
Compensation for international programs
Compensation for USA programs
Before applying (at the bottom of this page), please read about each program so you know the skills required and the specific responsibilities involved in leading each program. If a program is not listed here or on the application, we may have already filled the position.
This is a great placement for US vets who are new to Loop Abroad or vets who have limited availability. Vet leaders who show excellent leadership on these programs - and have the required experience - will be given priority for the next year's international placements.
In partnership with the Texas Zoo, Capron Park Zoo, Reef Institute, and Smithsonian National Zoo, we are offering pre-veterinary programs for high school students interested in learning about veterinary medicine and animal science.
These positions are perfect for newer veterinarians or experienced veterinarians with a passion for wildlife who enjoy working with younger students and are available to lead programs for 1-5 weeks. Priority will be given to those who can lead several programs in a row.
The Program Vet Leader is responsible for giving prepared lectures on various topics of zoo and wildlife conservation and medicine as well as facilitating hands-on learning and volunteering led by host staff.
These dates include estimated travel time from the US to the program site and back
Texas Zoo in Victoria, TX
Pine Bush Equine Hospital in NY
Capron Park Zoo in Attleboro, MA
Junior Veterinary Medicine Conference in Washington, DC including Smithsonian National Zoo
Reef Institute in West Palm Beach, FL
For this program, students will be volunteering and learning at one of two of our wildlife rescue. There is a small clinic on site with only basic equipment. There are permanent enclosures as well as new enclosures and areas being created as animals arrive.
This position is perfect for a veterinarian with wildlife experience and at least basic Spanish. An ideal candidate has international wildlife rescue experience and is fluent in Spanish.
The volunteer schedule has students rotating among feeding, husbandry, clinical, lecture, and other rotations for most of each day. There are three days set aside for excursion to nearby tourist and wildlife attractions.
As a Program Vet Leader, you will teach a curriculum about basic care and conditions of a variety of wildlife and will teach the students veterinary skills such as anatomy and directional terminology, physical exams, diagnostic sampling and interpretation, and suture techniques. The rainy season can be quite challenging in Costa Rica and the facilities are quite basic so we encourage students to expect rainforest conditions!
These dates include estimated travel time from the US to the program site and back
For this program, students will spend one week volunteering at a dog rescue and one week working with dolphin biologists with a research organization.
This position is perfect for a veterinarian with small animal experience and at least a passion for marine animals who is fluent or moderately proficient in Spanish. An ideal candidate has teaching, shelter, and/or research experience.
The dog shelter week consists of 5 days of learning clinical skills at a dog shelter or clinic, an afternoon participating in a behind the scenes tour of a wildlife center, and 1 day of tourist activities. As a Program Vet Leader, you will have a curriculum to administer on basic care and conditions of companion animals, and will teach the students veterinary skills such as anatomy and directional terminology, physical exams, diagnostic sampling and interpretation, and suture techniques. The curriculum for this program is similar to the curriculum during the dog week in Thailand, but takes place at a dog rescue instead of a dedicated teaching clinic. The rainy season brings lots of challenges with ectoparasites and many dogs may be susceptible to dermatitis and alopecia during this season.
You will also help coordinate activities in the evenings and on the fun day. If opportunity arises, there may be an opportunity to join a locally-led spay-neuter clinic off-site.
The Dolphin week consists of working with local biologists and researchers in the Gulfo Dulce to collect, process, and analyze behavioral data on coastal and oceanic cetaceans, particularly the Spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata) and Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) populations and migrating Humpback whale groups and individuals within Golfo Dulce. The Program Vet Leader will lead several necropsies of marine species (usually fish and/or juvenile shark bycatch from local fisherman) and should prepare a couple lectures or educational activities for students in addition to the educational materials provided by our research partners.
These dates include estimated travel time from the US to the program site and back
In Thailand, we have two programs: Thailand College Pre-Vet Medicine and High School Pre-Vet Medicine. Both programs consist of 5 days of learning clinical skills at our dedicated teaching facility, our “Dog Rescue Clinic’, a weekend of tourist activities, and 6 days of volunteering with elephants at a sanctuary. Some groups start with the dogs week. Others go straight to the elephants.
This position is perfect for newer or experienced small animal veterinarians who are adventurous about exploring new cultures and available to lead 2-3 consecutive programs.
As a Program Vet Leader in Thailand, you will stay with your group for the duration of their 2-week program. At our Dog Rescue Clinic, you will have a curriculum to administer, including teaching the students veterinary skills such as physical exams, administering vaccinations, sample collection, and basic clinical pathology and cytology. Two days will also be dedicated to spaying and neutering cats and dogs where students will observe and assist with anesthesia and surgery. You will be working under our Clinic Manager, a licensed Thai veterinarian, and other Loop Abroad staff members.
For the weekend, you may choose to participate in tourist activities with your group.
At Elephant Nature Park, you will be paired with a volunteer coordinator who will lead you and your group in volunteer activities (preparing food, cleaning shelters, etc) and in learning about elephant care. The Park also has a large dog and cat shelter and clinic that provides medical care for their own animals. If opportunities arise, you may have a chance to help take care of these animals.
Our Thailand program offers the most in-country support to program veterinary leaders. Our team in Thailand organizes nearly all of the bookings and logistics, which makes it possible for up to three groups running in parallel at each site.
These dates include estimated travel time from the US to the program site and back
During the South Africa Pre-Vet Big Cats program, students volunteer for 2 weeks at a cheetah center assisting in maintenance and care of the cheetahs and other animals at the center.
This position is perfect for a small animal, large animal, or zoo/exotic animal veterinarian, especially one with an interest in or knowledge of African Big Cats. Preference will be given to veterinarians who are available for 2 consecutive programs.
As the Program Vet Leader, you would accompany students on their volunteer activities and deliver lectures to the group about various topics relating to the anatomy, biology and conservation of African big cats. You would also lead several labs including hoofstock necropsies, suture, and cytology labs. For two days in the middle of the program, you’ll join the group on a safari in the Pilanesberg Game Reserve, one of the largest in South Africa.
These dates include estimated travel time from the US to the program site and back
In the South Africa Zoo Medicine program, groups stay and learn at the Lory Park Zoo in Johannesburg learning about anatomy, handling, medical needs in captivity, behavior, and conservation of six main groups of animals at the zoo: birds of prey, reptiles, big cats, small cats, cubs, and primates.
This position is perfect for zoo/exotic animal veterinarians or other veterinarians with a strong knowledge of African native species. Priority will be given to veterinarians who are available for 2- 3 consecutive programs.
For three days in the middle of the program, you’ll join the group on a safari through Kruger National Park.
Each date will have up to 3 groups consisting of up to 12 students and a program veterinary leader. There will be additional Loop Abroad and zoo staff on site to help with daily schedules and activities. When more than one group is at the zoo at the same time, the responsibility for lecturing will be divided among vets and presented to the entire group of students together.
These dates include estimated travel time from the US to the program site and back
In Australia, we offer several programs. Our biggest is an Australia Veterinary Service program where students volunteer for 2 weeks at an Australian wildlife conservation center 2 hours from Sydney.
This position is perfect for zoo/exotic animal veterinarians who are available for 2-3 consecutive programs.
Program Vet Leaders join students on veterinary related activities through the day including handling, behavior, and husbandry labs as well as medical rounds and additional veterinary labs. Some of the activities are led by the staff at the center and some by the Loop Abroad veterinarians. Each day, Loop Abroad vets take turns teaching approximately 2 hours of lecture relating to the anatomy, husbandry, management, handling, and medicine of a variety of Australian species. During the program, the group will also spend one day in a special program at the Taronga Zoo and one day sight-seeing in Sydney.
These dates include estimated travel time from the US to the program site and back
This program is new for us in Summer 2025! It involves one week with a sea turtle conservation project and one week at a cat shelter. Any candidates may apply but since this is a new program, we will be prioritizing returning Program Leaders with relevant experience.
These dates include estimated travel time from the US to the program site and back
Your application will only be reviewed after you complete BOTH steps.
1. Submit the application form.
2. Submit 3 short videos here - treat this like a mini interview!
If you have thoroughly read everything on this page and you have questions about the application or job requirements/responsibilities, contact Taylor Cantril ([email protected]).
UPDATED on May 13, 2025
Summer 2025 jobs are filling quickly!
We are currently accepting applications on a rolling basis!
We’ll update this page as each position fills.
Only Loop Abroad and CELA Belize alumni can apply for these positions. Of course, if we don’t find an alum who is a great fit, we will open to other applicants later, but our alumni get priority!
We have three kinds of positions open to Loop Abroad and CELA Belize alumni. The role of these positions is to assist the Program Veterinarian Leaders who do most of the instruction and to support and inspire students 24/7 before, between, and after activities led by the Program Leaders.
Leading a high school group in the US (or a middle school group at our Junior Veterinary Conference in DC!)
Positions available
Texas Zoo in Victoria, TX
We give priority to candidates available for at least 3 weeks consecutive weeks
Junior Veterinary Medicine Conference in Washington, DC for middle school students including the Smithsonian National Zoo
Big Cats Research Week at the Exotic Feline Rescue Center in Indiana (university students)
Toledo Zoo University Zoo Medicine program (Ohio – 2 x 1-week programs of university students)
Supporting college age students
These dates may be adjusted based on student enrollment and/or candidate availability. We strongly prefer Support Staff work for 3 to 6 consecutive weeks when we have back-to-back programs, but there are occasionally 1-2 week positions that we usually fill later in the season. Selection is very competitive.
Thailand
South Africa
Australia
Costa Rica
Panama
Bali
In Thailand, the Support Staff person may only join daily activities on certain days each week. For example, you may go to the dog clinic 1-2 days/week to help out. On other days, they will have free time during the day to spend at or around the resort. When a student is sitting out activities for the day because of illness, you would need to stay at the resort during the day to supervise them.
You will need to be able to manage your own transportation, meals, and schedule, and to run errands around town (transport and meals are paid for, but not arranged for you). This would be a perfect position for someone transitioning to living abroad, working on a research or writing project, travel blog, or taking a flexible-schedule online course.
On most evenings, there may be 20-30 students on site. You will be responsible for organizing evening activities and game nights to entertain them! So for these two countries, we are particularly interested in applicants with experience leading activities for large groups, such as camps or university clubs.
In Australia, the Support Staff will have significant responsibility for leading group travel, excursions, and being on-call during students free time in Sydney.
Traveling internationally with a high school group from the US to an international program, supporting them on the program, and returning to the US with them
Your application will only be reviewed after you complete BOTH steps.
1. Submit the application form
2. Submit 3 short videos here – treat this like a mini interview!
If you have thoroughly read everything on this page and you have questions about the application or job requirements/responsibilities, contact Taylor Cantril ([email protected]).
