As veterinary students, our only true hands on training comes when we are in our clincal year of schooling. Unlike medical doctors, our program is only 4 years, then we are on our own to practice veterinary medicine on real living animals! We do not have to complete a residency or internship in order to be a certified practicing veterinarian. The only other hands on experience we are able to get is through externships and working with mentors. If  our externship leaders and mentors trust us to do the tasks they have trained us for and hand over to us, why shouldn't we be able to gain a truly valuable and incredible hands experience from it? I am one who learns best by doing, and I know nothing sinks in for me until I've done it with my own hands and thought about it with my own mind. It is unfair to be held back from ones true learning potential until the year before they throw you out into the real world. That would be like your medical doctor only having 3 years of schooling and 1 year to actually practice the techniques they will need to do on you. It is unsafe for ones patients, and you would expect more training for your doctor, why wouldn't you want the same standard for your pet?