{"id":52168,"date":"2016-10-31T14:05:33","date_gmt":"2016-11-01T00:05:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=52168"},"modified":"2020-03-09T13:14:38","modified_gmt":"2020-03-09T23:14:38","slug":"veterinary-assisting-program-expands-from-windward-to-hawaii-cc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2016\/10\/31\/veterinary-assisting-program-expands-from-windward-to-hawaii-cc\/","title":{"rendered":"Veterinary assisting program expands from Windward to Hawai\u02bbi CC<\/abbr>"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"\"
Students in the veterinary dental lab at Windward CC<\/abbr><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Windward Community College<\/a> is preparing more graduates to enter Hawaiʻi<\/span>’s veterinary workforce by expanding its vet assisting certificate program<\/a> to the Big Island of Hawaiʻi<\/span>.\u00a0The Windward CC<\/abbr> veterinary assisting program will begin at Hawaiʻi<\/span> Community College—Pālamanui<\/a> in August 2017.<\/p>\n

The certificate of achievement in veterinary assisting on Hawaiʻi<\/span> Island—offered from August 2017 through May 2018—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 2-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.<\/p>\n

“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<\/abbr> Chancellor Doug Dykstra<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

“We are excited to have the opportunity to collaborate with Hawaiʻi<\/span> Community College to bring Windward Community College’s veterinary assisting program to students on the Big Island,” said Jenny Kelly<\/a><\/strong>, Windward’s vet tech program director. “This is the only program of its kind in the state. By expanding to the neighbor islands, we hope to provide essential training to veterinary staff and increase the standard of animal care throughout Hawaiʻi<\/span>.”<\/p>\n

Completion of the certificate is required for admission to the veterinary technology associate in science degree—accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association<\/a> (AVMA)—at Windward CC<\/abbr>.<\/p>\n

\u2028\u2028Free informational session<\/h2>\n