By ReAnne Palmer
One of RLC’s newest certificates, the Veterinary Assistant program, is back this spring thanks to a cooperation between RLC and Southeastern Illinois College (SIC). The one-semester, 17 credit hour program prepares students for a career working with animals in a variety of settings, such as veterinary clinics, boarding kennels, grooming salons, pet shops, and animal shelters. Classes are set for all day Mondays on the Ina campus with day and night classes on Tuesdays at SIC. Clinical and intern times will vary by location.
Jonlee Wingo of Dahlgren, LEFT, learns to find the heart-
beat on the CPR dog simulator from Instructor Adrea
Petro, RIGHT, during veterinary assistant class. (ReAnne Palmer-RLC Public Information)
Rend Lake College Allied Heath Dean Kim Wilkerson added the program is a perfect fit for students interested in starting their own businesses. She said, “Students will be trained in animal grooming, making them more marketable for many different jobs. That class is hands-on with live animals, and will give students who want to start their own animal grooming business the experience and knowledge to do so.”
The BLS states job openings for non-farm animal caretakers in general, including pet groomers, will increase by 19 percent between 2016 and 2026. The BLS also reported strong job opportunities for pet groomers due to the increasing number of households that own pets and high turnover in grooming positions.
Courses are offered on RLC’s campus in Ina, with some training at SIC’s David L. Stanley Center in Carmi. For additional information, visit www.rlc.edu/programs-and-degrees/205-veterinary-technology, or contact the Allied Health Division at 618-437-5321 Ext. 1251. Students in SIC’s district should call 618-252-5400, ext. 4130.
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