Bidwell Center Training Pharmacy Technicians
By Bridgette Kennedy-Riske
I just had a phone call from an employer who asked, "Can we partner together to hire your Pharmacy Technicians?"
I receive a lot of calls like this – and I'm not even Bidwell's Career Placement Officer for the medical majors. I transferred the call to my colleague, Jarene.
Lately, we're hearing the same thing over and over again from employers: We have so many jobs available but not enough people to fill them. This is especially true for the Pharmacy Technician profession. There is an enormous demand for Pharmacy Technicians in our region, and employers are eager to hire skilled professionals for the multitude of careers available in the field.
Pharmacy Technicians work in a variety of settings, and the majority of Bidwell's Pharmacy Technician graduates will chose to work in an institutional setting, such as a hospital.
According the Bureau of Labor Statistics web site, "Employment of pharmacy technicians is projected to grow 9 percent from 2014 to 2024, faster than the average for all occupations. Increased demand for prescription medications will lead to more demand for pharmaceutical services." http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Healthcare/Pharmacy-technicians.htm
Bidwell Training Center offers a Pharmacy Technician major that is only 10 months and is at no cost to qualified students. To qualify, a person must live in Pennsylvania, have a high school diploma or GED, and complete the three-step admissions process.
Students gain hands-on experience in the pharmacy lab, by volunteering in a community setting, and by completing an externship in an institutional setting. In addition to their coursework, students hear from professionals in the field, go on numerous site visits, and network with employers.
Bidwell's employer partners are a huge part of our success. From identifying high-demand employment areas, to providing industry expertise and guidance, to hiring graduates, employers work with us every step of the way. This is why it's common to receive phone calls from employers who want to hire our graduates.
Bidwell's mission is We Change Lives, and we all work together so the graduates benefit with life-changing employment opportunities. That's our goal.
If you're interested in Bidwell, call 412-323-4000 Ext. 150 or visit us on a Monday or Wednesday at 8:45 a.m. for an Information Session.
