Prepare for Growth Careers with Pharmacy Technician and Other MCC Allied Health Certification Courses

MANCHESTER, Conn. (January 31, 2019) – Manchester Community College offers short-term non-degree certificate-preparation programs in allied health fields to aid in workforce development.

“Employers in our region are looking for qualified people to be pharmacy technicians, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), certified nurse aides (CNAs), phlebotomists and other jobs,” said Carleigh Schultz, director of credit-free programs at Manchester Community College.

A college degree is not required for students to qualify to enroll in these programs. Growth projections in these fields is strong. For example, employment of pharmacy technicians is projected to grow 12 percent from 2016 to 2026 – a pace that’s above average for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Increased demand for prescription medications will lead to more demand for pharmaceutical services. The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians was $31,750 in May 2017, according to the BLS.

MCC’s pharmacy technician program is enrolling now. Classes begin March 4 and run for 20 sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays. In addition, this 60-hour course includes an optional pharmacy externship, offered in collaboration with CVS Health.

“This supervised externship is an excellent opportunity to put the knowledge learned in the course into practice and help prepare students for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) National Certification Exam,” Schultz said. “Previous externship students have found that these assignments lead seamlessly into employment.”

MCC also offers short-term certification courses for EMT training, starting February 12; and CNA, starting February 19. The college also offer a course in phlebotomy. Watch for upcoming sessions.

MCC allied health courses may qualify for veterans’ benefits. Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding may be available for unemployed, recently downsized or underemployed students.

For more information, or to register for this or other credit-free courses, call 860-512-3232.