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Ventura College is going all in. Armed with state Strong Workforce dollars, Ventura College has been slashing textbook costs and removing other financial barriers for those looking for a clear pathway to a solid-paying profession; boosting services at its Career Center; expanding work-based learning and internship opportunities; and upgrading equipment in its Nursing, Paramedic, Emergency Medical Technician, and Manufacturing career education programs.
Success is rooted in collaborating with business and industry in designing programs that fill local needs. Nowhere is that more evident than with the new Veterinary Technology program at Ventura College’s East Campus in Santa Paula, a program that launches in spring of 2021 with a cohort of 26 students. Ohana Pet Hospital, a full-service veterinary hospital located in Ventura, is partnering with the college in building a new teaching lab facility, and Ohana Pet Hospital’s founding partner, Dr. Jill Muraoka Lim, has been named Interim Program Director.
“Every single pet hospital, probably across the country, will tell you they are in need of veterinary assistants and veterinary technicians,” said Dr. Lim, who noted there are currently only 13 institutions that offer an accredited Veterinary Technology program in California. “There are a lot of career opportunities for the program graduates and we are proud to partner with Ventura College.”
Indeed, the job market for veterinary technicians and technologists is projected to grow much faster than average through 2029, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, with the regional average wage surpassing $41,000 annually.