{"id":38923,"date":"2015-09-30T09:12:49","date_gmt":"2015-09-30T19:12:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=38923"},"modified":"2021-07-21T14:11:42","modified_gmt":"2021-07-22T00:11:42","slug":"vet-assisting-program-expands-to-maui-in-spring-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2015\/09\/30\/vet-assisting-program-expands-to-maui-in-spring-2016\/","title":{"rendered":"Vet assisting program expands to Maui in spring 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

\"student<\/p>\n

Windward Community College<\/a> is preparing more graduates to enter Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>’s veterinary work force by expanding its vet assisting certificate program to Maui. The Windward CC<\/abbr> veterinary assisting program<\/a> will begin at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Maui College<\/a> in January 2016.<\/p>\n

“We are excited to have the opportunity to collaborate with UH<\/abbr> Maui College to bring Windward CC<\/abbr>’s veterinary assisting program to students on Maui,” said Jenny Kelly<\/strong>, Windward CC<\/abbr>’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 Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>.”<\/p>\n

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.<\/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<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Completion of the certificate is required for admission to the veterinary technology associate in science degree\u2014accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association<\/a> (AVMA<\/abbr>) at Windward CC<\/abbr>.<\/p>\n

About the veterinary technology AS<\/abbr> degree program<\/h2>\n

Windward CC<\/abbr> is the only college in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> that offers degree and certificate programs for veterinary paraprofessionals.<\/p>\n