Windward Community College is preparing more graduates to enter Hawaiʻi’s veterinary work force by expanding its vet assisting certificate program to Maui. The Windward CC veterinary assisting program will begin at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College in January 2016.
“We are excited to have the opportunity to collaborate with UH Maui College to bring Windward CC’s veterinary assisting program to students on Maui,” said Jenny Kelly, Windward CC’s Vet Tech program director. “This is the only program of its kind in the state. By expanding to the neighbor islands, starting with Maui, we hope to provide essential training to veterinary staff and increase the standard of animal care throughout Hawaiʻi.”
The Certificate of Achievement in Veterinary Assisting on Maui—offered from January through December 2016—is designed to provide students with the basic knowledge and skills required to perform effectively as an assistant in a veterinarian’s office, animal shelter or animal research facility. The three-semester, 31-credit hybrid program includes online coursework in the life sciences, as well as hands-on experience through labs, and internships at local veterinary clinics.
“Historically, 80 to 90 percent of students get jobs right away, and some students in the program are getting hired by clinics even before they graduate,” said Windward CC Chancellor Doug Dykstra.
Completion of the certificate is required for admission to the veterinary technology associate in science degree—accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) at Windward CC.
About the veterinary technology AS degree program
Windward CC is the only college in Hawaiʻi that offers degree and certificate programs for veterinary paraprofessionals.
The veterinary technology AS degree program is an intensive, two-year, 70-credit program that requires many hours of animal handling. Students enrolled in the program receive training in pharmacology, radiology, anesthesiology, surgical assisting, dentistry, nutrition and veterinary office procedures and will learn how to perform over 300 skill sets deemed essential by the AVMA. Procedures such as dental cleaning, surgical sterilization and x-rays are an essential part of the education.
During the final year of the program, students intern at local veterinary clinics and/or shelters where their skills are evaluated and critiqued by industry professionals. This experience allows students to hone and apply their skills in a real-world setting and serves as a bridge to future employment.
For more information about the vet tech AS degree at UH Maui College, visit Windward CC’s veterinary studies website.
Students interested in enrolling in the Maui Vet Assisting program can email program coordinator Dani Carico via email or visit their Facebook page.
More on Windward’s veterinary program
—By Bonnie Beatson
