The three-year hybrid program is ideal for students who wish to complete their veterinary technology training while they continue working in a veterinary facility. Students complete their lecture courses online and attend in-person labs. O‘ahu students come to campus weekly or for all-day labs a few times per semester while neighbor island students will fly to O‘ahu to attend all-day fast-track labs.

The Certificate of Achievement in Veterinary Assisting and Associate in Science in Veterinary Technology are stackable credentials.

First year – Certificate of Achievement in Veterinary Assisting (VETA)

The first year of the program is the three-semester Certificate of Achievement in Veterinary Assisting, designed to provide students with the basic knowledge and skills required to perform effectively as a vet assistant in the veterinary field.

Admission Requirements

• Be 18 years or older by the first day of instruction
• Attend an information session
• Submit an application to Windward Community College and complete health clearance requirements through Admissions & Records office
• Place into ENG 100 and MATH 101 
• Show proof of health insurance

Second and third year – Associate in Science in Veterinary Technology (VETT)

The second/third year Associate in Science degree in Veterinary Technology prepares students for the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) to become a credentialed vet tech. This five-semester program includes Fall, Spring, Summer, Fall, and Spring semesters.

Admission Requirements

Students must go through a competitive application process to be accepted into the second year. Acceptance is based on:

• Completion of VETA certificate
• GPA above 2.0 & “C” or better in all VETA courses
• Clinical aptitude & attendance
• Letters of recommendation (2)
• Documentation of work in the veterinary field

What you’ll get out of the program

Students enrolled in the program will receive training in pharmacology, radiology, anesthesiology, surgical assisting, dentistry, nutrition, and veterinary office procedures. You will learn how to perform over 200 skill sets deemed essential by the American Veterinary Medical Association(AVMA). During the final year of the program, you will intern twice at clinics and shelters where your skills will be evaluated and critiqued by industry professionals. This experience allows you to apply and hone your skills in a real-world setting. It also serves as a bridge to future careers—more than 70% of our graduates have found employment in veterinary practice. Windward Community College is the only college in Hawai‘i that offers degree and certificate programs for veterinary paraprofessionals.

Our mission

The mission of the program is to increase the quality of veterinary care in Hawai‘i by providing students with essential skills and knowledge that will enable them to obtain rewarding, living-wage jobs in the animal care field.

The major objectives for this program are to:

• Train Hawaii’s veterinary paraprofessionals to perform essential tasks in the veterinary hospital and lab animal facilities (e.g., administer anesthesia, take and develop radiographs, assist with surgical procedures, dispense medications, perform vital lab tests, and provide client education)
• Allow students to obtain industry-recognized credentials that will enable them to obtain employment at veterinary hospitals, lab animal facilities, and research laboratories throughout the United States and Canada
• Meet the current and anticipated workforce needs in Hawai‘i