College’s veterinary tech program receives grant


The Ventura County Community Foundation recently awarded $192,556 to the Ventura College Foundation to help support the college’s veterinary technology program.

The two-year vet program is a partnership between the Ohana Pet Hospital and the college that began in 2021 and takes place next to Ventura College’s East Campus in Santa Paula.

The foundation conducted an animal welfare needs assessment for Ventura County which showed, among other things, the need for more veterinarian professionals including qualified vet technicians in Ventura County.

Over $125,000 of the grant will go toward the purchase of veterinary technical equipment for the teaching lab. Another $66,000 will help pay for two part-time instructional assistants for an academic year.

New equipment includes a digital X-ray machine, a surgery table, surgery lights and an anesthesia machine, all delivered in time for the fall semester.

The first cohort of students in the program will graduate this fall. In addition to their training at the lab and Ohana Pet Hospital, students take field trips to other vet offices around the county, especially those that treat large animals. Students work directly with cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, horses, goats and sheep.

About 28 students are accepted into the program each year. Graduating students receive an associate degree in veterinary technology, which prepares them for careers within the veterinary and animal healthcare industry as veterinary technicians and qualifies them to sit for both national and state board exams to become a registered veterinary technician.

For more information, go to venturacollege.edu/ departments/academic/veterinary technician.