A new 10-week Pharmacy Technician training program will be offered by Washtenaw Community College (WCC) to help meet a workforce shortage of skilled pharmacy technicians.
Pharmacy technicians are medical professionals who work alongside pharmacists to ensure quality patient care. Multiple placement opportunities include settings such as community and hospital pharmacies, as well as compounding pharmacies and insurance companies.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 419,300 pharmacy technician positions available in 2020. This number is forecasted to increase to 436,072 by 2030.
The Pharmacy Technician Boot Camp will be taught by WCC faculty and includes 170 hours of hybrid didactic sessions and 230 hours of on-site clinical experience.
WCC partners with a diverse group of employers for clinical rotations throughout Southeast Michigan, including Michigan Medicine, Trinity Health-St. Joseph Hospital, various community pharmacies, compounding pharmacies and non-traditional settings. The college’s affiliation with these well-known sites makes it easier for students to find a job after completing the program.
The new program is one of the quickest pathways to enter the health care field, whether as an end-career goal or as a steppingstone to other health care fields such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, optometry, podiatry, nursing and physician assistants.
Upon completion of the program, students will be prepared to take the national Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) – which will allow them to work throughout the United States – and apply for Michigan licensure.
For details on the program, visit the Pharmacy Technician webpage, email workforcedevelopment@wccnet.edu or call (734) 973-3681.
About the program
WHAT: Pharmacy Technician training program
WHEN: November 12
WHERE: Washtenaw Community College campus and clinical sites
ONLINE: www.wccnet.edu/pharmacybootcamp
CONTACT: workforcedevelopment@wccnet.edu or (734) 973-3681
About Washtenaw Community College
Washtenaw Community College (WCC), Ann Arbor, Mich., educates students through a wide range of associate and certificate programs in areas such as health care, business, STEM and advanced transportation and mobility. WCC offers accelerated and online programs and was ranked the number one community college in Michigan, according to schools.com. WCC is committed to student success, with nearly 70% of students intending to transfer to complete a bachelor degree. The college also works through community, business and union partnerships to develop highly specialized training programs to meet the region’s workforce talent needs.
For more information about Washtenaw Community College, visit www.wccnet.edu.