March 3, 2017

 Health Sciences building on the City College campus

 

Information session on new Pharmacy Technician Certification scheduled at City College at MSUB

Learn about industry needs and education now offered from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., March 23 at CC, located at 38th Street West and Central Avenue

 

Contacts:

City College, 247-3007

University Relations, 657-2266

 

MSU BILLINGS NEWS SERVICES — City College at Montana State University is moving forward to connect highly trained pharmacy technicians to a growing labor market.

 

From 5:30 p.m. to 7p.m., March 23, at City College, located at 38th Street West and Central Avenue, the public is invited to attend an information session on the new Pharmacy Technician Certificate.

 

Local business partners, including St. Vincent Healthcare and Billings Clinic will attend to discuss the career and job opportunities in our region.

 

City College Dean Clifford Coppersmith said the school is grateful for the support and partnership with leadership and faculty at Missoula College, who were instrumental in getting the program implemented for the Fall 2017 semester through course sharing.

 

“We are truly excited about the potential for this program. It is an excellent addition to our Health Science portfolio at City College,” Coppersmith said.

 

two pharmacy technician students
The one-year certificate offers students a solid career with numerous opportunities for employment here in Billings and throughout eastern and central Montana.

 

“We are also extremely grateful for the support and input of our health services partners at Billings Clinic and St. Vincent’s Hospital who have been an integral part of developing the program and have appreciated working with Mary McHugh, Director of the Pharmacy Technician program at Missoula College.”

 

The scope of the pharmacy technician career continues to expand within the industry, said Billings Clinic Director of Pharmacy Services Kyle Townsend.

 

 “This creates many exciting new opportunities in our facilities.  Unfortunately, that also leaves vacancies for well-qualified technicians,” Townsend said. “The Pharmacy Technician certificate program at City College benefits facilities like Billings Clinic by exposing students to the pharmacy workspace and preparing them for future careers within the pharmacy.”

 

Students within the competitive program will get experience in a variety of pharmacy skills areas such as institutional, community, and long-term care. 

 

“At Billings Clinic, our pharmacy technicians work in each of these areas, including some unique roles like our medication history technicians.  Billings Clinic is excited to partner with City College and develop well-prepared pharmacy technicians for the Billings workforce,” Townsend said.

 

The program also received a boost by the support of pharmacy supply company Omnicell, Inc. They donated equipment, which has been incorporated into the on-site Pharm Tech Lab at City College.

 

This will make sure students benefit from the “hands on” instruction City College is known for.

 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Employment Projections provided by Montana Department of Labor and Industry, the outlook and pay for this career field is great, with prospective employers ranging from hospital pharmacies to mail-order prescription pharmacies and even pharmaceutical companies.

 

Wage outlooks indicate a median wage of $32,900 annually in Montana, compared to a $29,800 yearly median wage across the United States.