Vet Tech program will soon be available at Eastern Gateway Community College
EGCC recently announced the new program in response to the increasing demand for trained veterinary technicians. The program will work through a partnership with a local animal rescue group that will provide facilities and training opportunities.
The new veterinary technician program at Eastern Gateway Community College is a collaboration with a large local animal rescue organization, Angels for Animals (angelsforanimals.org). It is a program that has been years in the making and is set to begin with the 2021-2022 academic year. Students will be able to complete the program in two years then sit for state examinations for certification. The program is a response to the growing need for certified veterinary technicians as a part of EGCC's strategy to create and expand programs in high-demand sectors.
Angels for Animals is not new to the animal welfare world. Created in 1990 by Polly Wardle and Diane Less, the organization focuses on animal rescue and welfare, with an emphasis on community and public education. In 2000, the organization opened a $2.8 facility called Angel Place which serves as an animal shelter and adoption center, a clinic with spay and neuter services, and a full-service veterinary clinic. The facility also features several operating theaters and classroom spaces. These facilities will provide space for much of the hands-on learning that EDCC students will experience. As Diane Less recently stated in a piece published by the Tribune Chronicle, "We are excited to partner with Eastern Gateway Community College to prepare students in our area to enter this amazing field." Less has also emphasized the urgent need for vet techs, noting that it has been easier to find veterinarians in the past three years than it has been to find vet techs.
This high demand for trained professionals got the attention of EGCC Senior Vice President Art Daly, who recognized the opportunity to begin a program at the college that would not only serve the needs of the community, but provide students with immediate job prospects upon completion. As Daly stated in the recent Tribune Chronicle article, "This is an example of Eastern Gateway Community College offering a new degree program for in-demand jobs and being responsive to the workforce needs of the communities we serve. We have been working for years to bring this program to Eastern Gateway Community College and we are excited to welcome our first cohort of students."
The first cohort of sixteen students will begin the program in the fall of 2021. The program will be monitored by the American Veterinary Medical Association for the first year in order to earn full accreditation. During the course of the program, students will learn how to provide support to veterinarians in the care of typical household pets as well as exotic pets and large animals.