Internship vs Externship: What’s the Difference?

In an increasingly competitive job market, gaining real-world experience while still in school can set you apart. Whether you're a pre-med, pre-PA, nursing, or public health student, understanding the difference between an internship and an externship can help you strategically plan your journey to a healthcare career.

Both experiences offer invaluable exposure, but they differ in structure, duration, and expectations. Here's what you need to know about internships vs externships—and how they can shape your future in global health.

What Is the Key Difference Between Internships and Externships?

An internship is typically a structured, longer-term experience—often lasting several weeks or months—where students take on projects and contribute directly to an organization or medical facility. It may be paid, voluntary, or offered for academic credit.

An externship, by contrast, is shorter—sometimes as brief as a day or a few weeks—and more observational in nature. Externs shadow professionals, gaining insight into the daily realities of a chosen field without assuming the same responsibilities as an intern.

Duration and Commitment: Short-Term vs Long-Term Experience

• Internships often last anywhere from a month to a full academic year. They’re ideal for students seeking hands-on experience and deeper involvement in clinical or administrative tasks.
• Externships typically span one day to two weeks. These brief engagements offer a quick, focused look into a specific role or setting.

Both are valuable, and many students do both during their academic careers.

How Do You Find Internships and Externships?

Internships are often advertised on job boards, through career centers, or directly via faculty advisors. You typically apply formally, submit a resume, and sometimes complete interviews.

Externships, on the other hand, may come through networking, especially in specialized fields like medicine or nursing. Family friends, professors, or clinical mentors can help you secure opportunities to shadow professionals in the field.

At Go Elective, we help students arrange international medical internships and clinical externships in East Africa, providing immersive exposure in both public and private healthcare settings.

Explore our programs: Go Elective Healthcare Internships

Are Internships and Externships Paid?

Internships may be:

• Paid
• Voluntary
• Taken for university credit
• Offered in virtual or in-person formats
• Externships are usually unpaid and not for credit. However, they provide critical exposure that can help clarify your career direction and strengthen your professional network.

In either case, the primary value comes from the experience, not the paycheck.

Internships in Clinical Settings: What Can You Expect?

As an intern in a clinical setting, you may:

• Observe surgeries or ward rounds
• Assist with patient intake or documentation
• Participate in health education outreach
• Gain mentorship from practicing physicians, nurses, and PAs

For example, interns in Go Elective’s medical internship programs in Kenya and Tanzania shadow doctors in departments such as emergency medicine, general surgery, pediatrics, and more—providing early clinical exposure that prepares them for medical or PA school.

Externships: Learning by Shadowing

Externships are more focused on observing than doing. You’ll spend your time:

• Shadowing a healthcare professional during their daily routine
• Watching patient consultations
• Learning hospital workflow and terminology
• Asking questions to better understand the role

Externships are perfect for students at the beginning of their healthcare journey, or those exploring specialties.

How Do These Experiences Help with Career Development?

Both internships and externships allow students to:

• Build clinical confidence
• Expand professional networks
• Enhance resumes and school applications
• Gain clarity about career choices
• Improve communication and interpersonal skills

In competitive fields like medicine, early exposure can be a game-changer—especially if you’re applying to medical or PA schools where clinical hours and healthcare experiences are essential.

Special Note: Nurse Externships

Nursing externships can differ slightly—they often last 6 to 10 weeks and include hands-on training under the supervision of RNs or clinical instructors. Applicants typically must:

• Meet GPA requirements
• Complete basic clinical rotations (e.g., med-surg)
• Submit recommendation letters
• Apply formally through a university or healthcare facility

Nursing externs gain confidence in applying clinical skills and understanding hospital workflows—making this a powerful bridge between school and full-time practice.

Internships and Externships in Global Health

At Go Elective, we specialize in international medical internships and shadowing programs that blend the benefits of both internships and externships. Students shadow professionals in large referral hospitals like Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kenya and gain exposure to real-world global health challenges.

These programs offer:

• Cross-cultural clinical experience
• Hospital rotations across multiple departments
• Community outreach and public health initiatives
• Mentorship from local and international clinicians

Learn more about how these experiences build both your resume and your global perspective: Why Global Health Internships Matter

What Skills Do You Develop?

Whether intern or extern, students can develop transferable skills such as:

• Clinical observation and assessment
• Team communication
• Time and case management
• Data entry and medical documentation
• Cultural competence and empathy

Even seemingly small tasks like organizing patient records or scheduling appointments help students understand the day-to-day logistics of care delivery.

When Should You Start Applying?

Many students wait until junior or senior year—but there’s no need to wait that long. You can:

• Begin exploring opportunities as early as your freshman year
• Start networking through campus clubs or volunteering
• Apply 3–6 months in advance for most structured internship programs

At Go Elective, we welcome students of all levels—from high schoolers exploring medicine to university students preparing for med school or PA school.

Apply early to secure your preferred dates: Apply Here

Final Thoughts: Why You Should Do Both

If possible, aim to complete both internships and externships during your academic journey. Each offers something different:

• Externships give you a taste of a profession.
• Internships provide the depth and responsibility needed to grow within it.

No matter your major or career goal, combining these experiences with international exposure through Go Elective’s programs in East Africa helps you build a stronger, more distinctive profile.

Launch Your Clinical Journey with Go Elective

Whether you're preparing for medical school or exploring your healthcare interests, Go Elective offers transformative internship and externship experiences that blend cultural immersion with clinical insight.

Start your application today and take the first step toward a healthcare career with purpose, passion, and global perspective.

Article Details

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Recent Articles , Pre-health, Medical Electives, Dental Internships, Nursing Internships,

Author: Go-Elective Abroad

Date Published: May 15, 2025