Internship Program Frequently Asked Questions

There are no deadlines for internship applications. We accept them year-round and review them as they arrive. We make a decision within two weeks of receiving the application. To apply, you should:

Download PETA's intern application, complete it, attach a résumé, and e-mail these items to InternApplicants@peta.org.

All the application materials need to be collected by the applicant and sent to the intern coordinator via e-mail to InternApplicants@peta.org. You will receive a response within two weeks of the date that we receive your application materials stating whether you have been accepted for PETA's internship program.

Internships start on the first Monday of each month and last four weeks to six months. Although four weeks is the required minimum, interns are encouraged to stay for at least six weeks in order to gain the maximum benefit from their time with the organization. 

No, internships are not paid.

Our headquarters are located in Norfolk, Virginia, but there is also the possibility of an internship in our Washington, D.C., office or our Oakland, California office. Upon the completion of the office, internships may be available in our new Los Angeles office as well.

Yes, it is possible to get college credit for participating in an internship with PETA. Requirements for receiving internship credit vary by school, so it is recommended that you check with the career services office at your school.

You must be 18 or older to be considered for an internship. There is no maximum age to apply for a PETA internship (or to help animals). If you are under 18 and want to get active for animals, please visit peta2.com for more information about how to participate in your area. Then apply to come intern as soon as you hit the big 1-8.

Yes. Both PETA and the PETA Foundation accept interns from around the world. If you live outside the U.S. and are applying for an internship, you will need to check with your local government agency regarding a visa. PETA and the PETA Foundation do not respond to any questions regarding visa issues. If you have been accepted, you will receive a letter confirming your internship.

Applications are accepted year-round. In order to receive a timely response to your application, submit your materials at least one month prior to the date when you would like to begin your internship.

Out of respect for animals and the work that PETA and the PETA Foundation do, all interns are required to be vegan while on PETA and PETA Foundation property. This includes diet (no meat, dairy products, eggs, honey, or other animal products), personal-care items (not tested on animals and containing no animal ingredients), and clothing (no leather, silk, down, wool, or other animal-derived items).

Yes. Once interns have been accepted, they will be responsible for any travel expenses related to their arrival to and departure from Norfolk.

Assignments are generally based on the needs of the organizations as well as interns' skills and interests, and they vary by department. Opportunities include participating in grassroots activities, including demonstrations, community outreach, and tabling events; conducting online research; assisting with viral promotional postings; and getting the animal rights message out through various efforts locally, nationally, and internationally. Interns also do clerical work, prepare mailings, make phone calls, and work on other projects as needed in each department.

Interns are invited to attend training sessions on effective advocacy, armchair and online activism, college campaigning, outreach, wildlife rescue, and public speaking. In addition, there are opportunities to attend various presentations to help build your advocacy skills and your knowledge regarding animal rights issues. A tour of the PETA and PETA Foundation offices and an orientation are also scheduled to help you learn what resources are available at PETA and the PETA Foundation.

Interns are scheduled full-time for 40 hours each week. However, scheduling may vary by department or if an intern is on tour. Participation in various efforts outside of normal business hours may be required. 

One highlight of PETA and the PETA Foundations' internship programs is the opportunity to travel with campaigners. It is very likely that interns will be able to go on tour with campaigners, depending on the events that are planned during an intern's stay.

PETA and the PETA Foundation provide interns with a free lunch Monday through Friday. On Tuesdays ("Oatmeal Day"), interns are provided with free oatmeal for breakfast. Interns are responsible for buying and preparing their own food outside business hours. 

Because of PETA's high visibility, we strive to present a professional image. Interns should dress neatly and should not wear clothes that draw attention to the "messenger" rather than the message. Office attire is business casual. Jeans, shorts, T-shirts, and flip-flops are prohibited. As animal rights organizations, neither PETA nor the PETA Foundation permit the wearing of any animal products (e.g., fur, leather, wool, silk, down).

Although there is no guarantee that you will be offered a position if you intern, it does give you a great opportunity to network with staff members and demonstrate your talents and skills, and it is also a great way to learn about the inner workings of the animal rights movement and the way that PETA and the PETA Foundation operate on a daily basis.