Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) has joined forces with University of the Sciences’ Philadelphia College of Pharmacy to provide an eight-week program to prepare individuals to become pharmacy technicians.

“The pharmacy technician field is a growing one,” says Jim Fox, MCCC’s Executive Director of Workforce Development. “There are over 1,400 pharmacy technicians employed in Montgomery County, and the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry expects a 12 percent growth rate statewide over the next decade. This training program prepares individuals to work in drug stores and hospitals, where they can earn family-sustaining wages.”

This 50-hour Pharmacy Technician Program prepares individuals to take the national Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE).  To accommodate full-time employees who may be considering a career change, the program will be held from 6 to 9:30 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday evenings, from Oct. 16 to Dec. 6 at MCCC’s Health Sciences Center, Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell.

To learn more about the program, interested students can attend the information session on Monday, Sept. 10, at 2 p.m. in Room 1770 of the Health Sciences Center, Blue Bell.

“We know this is an important and demanding occupation and we’re pleased to work with Montgomery County Community College to develop this program,” said Peter Miller, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at University of the Sciences (USciences). “We also understand that these workforce programs often start a career path toward higher education and advanced careers in the field. Our faculty are excited to provide instruction for this important training.”

“After we entered an articulation agreement for academic credit transfer with USciences last year, we started discussing better ways to work together and provide opportunities for Montgomery County residents,” Fox said. “USciences is the first College of Pharmacy in North America, and we are thrilled to be working with this world-class College to provide this training.”

MCCC and USciences have built significant relationships with employers including CVS Health, which accepts this program as an educational component of their Department of Labor registered Pharmacy Technician Apprentice program.  The CVS National apprenticeship program targets eligible youth (between 18-24 years old) to apply for a formal apprenticeship after completion of the Montgomery County Community College Pharmacy Technician training program and a 160-hour externship. The apprentices will receive on-the-job training, related instruction, and will eventually be prepared to sit for the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Board exam.  The Department of Labor approved apprenticeship program is being managed by PhillyWorks, MontcoWorks, and CVS.  Additional information on the apprenticeship program will be provided at the information session.

For more information see the course overview here.