Ventura College invests in vet tech program for the community
By Uma Mazar
Special to the Business Times
A few years ago, the leadership at Ventura College sat down with local veterinarians — including Dr. Janis Shinkawa and Dr. Jill Muraoka Lim, who founded both the Ohana Pet Hospital and the Lokahi Foundation. What came out of that meeting wasn’t just an idea. It was a gap, clearly outlined: the region was facing a severe shortage of registered veterinary technicians (RVTs).
“We needed a local source to train those professionals and fill those positions,” said Anne Paul King, executive director of the Ventura College Foundation. “And we found, through market data, that what they were saying was true.”
That feedback led to the launch of Ventura College’s Veterinary Technology Program — a two-year, AVMA-accredited pathway designed to train students to become licensed RVTs.
Today, the program is already proving its value. Nearly all students who want to work are finding employment before graduation, and the program is playing a key role in strengthening the local veterinary workforce.
King said the program wouldn’t exist in its current form without the Lokahi Lab — a 2,000-square-foot facility in Santa Paula that was purpose-built to support clinical learning.
“We would not have this nationally accredited program without this lab,” she said. “It was built for training RVTs and providing continuing education to the veterinary community. It’s a win-win for everyone — for students, for the industry, and for the community.”
The lab includes a surgical suite, x-ray capacity, live animal handling space, and high-quality training models. Under the supervision of licensed veterinarians, students practice clinical procedures before stepping into internships — something King said is critical to their confidence and success.
“They’re not doing these procedures for the first time out in the field,” she said. “They’ve already applied their skills in a clinical environment.”
The program is designed to be accessible to community college students — particularly those who face systemic barriers. According to King, 72% of Ventura College students are eligible for financial aid, 40% are the first in their families to go to college, and 29% are housing insecure.
“When a student does the hard work to show up, despite all those barriers, and we’re able to partner with them to give them real-world experience and full-time employment — that changes lives,” she said. “It pulls them and their families out of poverty.”
By the end of their first year, students earn a certificate in veterinary assisting. In the second year, they complete an associate degree and become eligible to take both the state and national RVT exams. Many start working in veterinary clinics even before they sit for the exams.
Each cohort consists of 24 students who progress through the two-year program together. They complete hybrid classes and in-person labs held at the East Campus and Lokahi Lab, alongside hands-on internships at local sites including the Ventura County Humane Society, Underwood Farms, and Ohana Pet Hospitals.
Beyond academics, students receive a wide range of support — including two dedicated academic counselors, access to a basic needs office, and connections to housing, food, and healthcare services.
The Foundation also helps bridge the financial gap, awarding $940,000 in scholarships this year alone — with some awards reaching up to $23,000. Many of the program’s classes are zero-textbook-cost, a deliberate effort to remove financial strain.
Looking ahead, King says the long-term goal is simple: meet the industry’s needs.
“Our vision is to maintain and grow the program in alignment with workforce demand,” she said. “We want to make sure students can stay in this county, work in this industry, and build careers that matter — for themselves and for the community.”
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