The college offers a program for veterinarians who wish to observe services within the College of Veterinary Medicine and its Clinical Programs for a limited period of time. Visiting veterinarians are generally observers only, as most are not permitted to participate in clinical procedures due to licensing and insurance limitations. In select cases, limited participation may be allowed, as determined in advance and in accordance with institutional policies.

Application Procedures & Requirements

All travel and accommodation expenses are the sole responsibility of the visiting veterinarian, as the College does not provide housing. Immigration sponsorship is not offered for visiting veterinarians.

A weekly fee may be charged for access to our facilities and clinical services. This fee does not include accommodations or other travel or personal expenses. The final fee amount is determined based on the applicant’s current professional role and is assessed after all required application materials have been received. Please note that DVMs in academic positions, private practice, or independent roles are subject to distinct fee structures.

The following documents are required as part of the application and must be submitted with the application form:

• A current curriculum vitae (CV)
• A copy of a valid state or country veterinary license (if the license is not in English, a certified English translation must be uploaded)
• A detailed letter of intent and objectives
• Proof of English language proficiency, if applicable

If English is not your first language, you must upload TOEFL or IELTS scores, or an official certificate from an English language program. Applicants who attended an English-speaking school or university are not required to provide proof of English proficiency.

The letter of intent should be tailored specifically to the service(s) you wish to visit. It must clearly outline the clinical objectives of your visit and describe what you hope to learn and observe during your time at the College.

Once a visit is approved by the relevant faculty and service, a $200 non-refundable application and processing fee will be charged. If applicable, the weekly program fee must be paid in full by the Sunday prior to your on-site arrival.

Because our facility is located in a rabies-endemic area, proof of rabies vaccination is required for all individuals entering the hospital and diagnostic laboratory. Acceptable documentation includes either a completed three-dose rabies vaccination series, or a two-dose series accompanied by a titer test performed within the past two years.

All visitors must provide proof of U.S.-based health insurance and professional liability insurance covering the full duration of the visit. International visitors who are unable to obtain professional liability insurance may instead provide proof of travel insurance valid in the United States that includes repatriation coverage.

Apply to the Visiting Veterinarian Program

Infection Control Guidelines

These procedures are to be performed prior to entering our facility.

1. When traveling from abroad prior to arriving on site, any visitor should launder all clothing worn at farms or while in contact with animals in a foreign country that you will be bringing during your visit. Remove all dirt or debris from shoes, equipment or other articles before packing them and entering the U.S. Clothing MUST BE thoroughly laundered before being worn. Bring more than one pair of coveralls or lab coats.
2. Footwear must be carefully and thoroughly scrubbed clean and disinfected using the following procedure:
   • For rubber over boots, scrub well with a detergent. (Detergent with bleach, mixed at 2 ounce per gallon of water works well for this.)
   • After scrubbing, mix a fresh solution of detergent in hot water and fully immerse the boots for at least 15 minutes. (IF available, a disinfectant can be used in place of detergent.)
   • Rinse boots with water, allow to dry completely.
   • For other footwear, clean and scrub as described above. Use a toothbrush to get into any grooves in the soles. After cleaning, if boots cannot be immersed, allow the soles of the shoes to stand in a shallow container in a solution of 1:32 bleach solution (4 oz. per gallon) for a minimum of 5 minutes. Allow boots to dry completely.
3. DO NOT bring equipment (pocket organizers, thermometers, hoof picks, lead ropes, fanny packs) to our facilities unless they are new.
4. Stethoscopes are the exception. Your stethoscope must be thoroughly cleaned. To clean, first remove any organic matter with a wet sponge. Using a 4x4, wipe with Nolvasan solution, covering all surface areas, allow to dry. Wipe off with water and soft cloth, spray or wipe stethoscope with alcohol and allow to dry. Use Q-tips to clean the small parts and remove the cover on the head of the stethoscope and clean separately following the above procedure.
5. Cornell will no longer require visitors to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and/or obtain a medical or religious exemption.  We urge everyone to follow CDC guidelines and stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters.

If you have any questions, please email cvm-profservices@cornell.edu.