BioWork

North Carolina ranks number three in the nation in the number of biotechnology companies.  According to a report by the NC Biotechnology Center, jobs in the pharmaceutical industry are among the highest paid manufacturing jobs in the state.

Process technicians are responsible for a variety of production duties from glassware and chemical component preparation to purification, formulation, and filling.  The starting salary range may be anywhere from $22,250 to $30,000.

BioWork provides the basic education needed for entry-level process technician positions in bioprocessing, pharmaceutical, and chemical manufacturing.  BioWork is intended for high school graduates, traditional manufacturing workers who have lost jobs, or anyone interested in a new line of work.

Biopharma Education Information Sessions

JCC has scheduled information sessions for anyone interested in the BioPharma Education Courses, including the BioWork Certificate Program, the Advanced Bioprocessing Certificate Program, the Aseptic Training Certificate Program, the Pathways to BioWork Program, and also the Associate in Bioprocess Technology Degree program. The sessions are held at 1:00pm and again at 6:00pm on the dates listed below. The sessions are free to attend, but registration is required. Please call Sharon Neville at 919-209-2591 if you are interested in attending.

• March 1
• April 5
• May 3
• June 7

Upcoming Courses

Advanced BioProcessing Certificate Program (Level II)

Students who complete all 6 modules (64 hours) of this certificate program will gain knowledge in advanced Bioprocessing practices, including safety in Biomanufacturing environments, advanced quality systems, applied chemical processes, monitoring process variables in Biomanufacturing, applied sterile processing, and applied cell culture, as derived from the Bioprocessing In The Workplace® curriculum. Advanced BioProcessing Certificate Program will allow students to gain the necessary skills and knowledge needed for advanced process technician positions in Bioprocessing, Pharmaceutical, and Chemical Manufacturing. There are exams at the end of each module. Computer literacy, teamwork, time management, problem solving, and situational applications are incorporated in the course. To gain admission to the Advanced BioProcessing course, each student must attend an information session, show proficiency in reading and math skills as indicated by the Accuplacer assessment test, and successfully complete BioWork Certificate Program (Level I). Advanced BioProcessing Certificate Program may be offered in its entirety (all 6 modules) or individually throughout the year. Please call Leslie Isenhour at 919-209-2593 with any questions.

Course Code: ISC-3200-20P
Dates/Days: February, 02, 2010 - March, 25, 2010 (T/Th)
Course Times: 6:00pm - 10:00pm
Location: Workforce Development Center 2019
Instructor: Marilyn Davenport
Registration Fee: $175 (no textbook required)

Aseptic Training Certificate Program (Level II)

This 60 hour training course prepares individuals to work as process technicians in aseptic pharmaceutical, Biomanufacturing and chemical manufacturing environments. The course encompasses gowning for aseptic environments, environmental monitoring, and product fill line operations. Computer literacy, teamwork, time management, problem solving, and situational applications are incorporated in the course. There are exams at the end of each module. To gain admission to the course, each student must attend an information session, show proficiency in reading and math skills, and successfully complete the BioWork Certificate program (Level I).

Course Code: ISC-3200-30U
Dates/Days: March, 30, 2010 - May, 20, 2010 (T/Th)
Course Times: 6:00pm - 10:00pm
Location: Workforce Development Center 2019
Instructor: Marilyn Davenport
Registration Fee: $175 (no textbook required)
Book: Holiday on April 1

BioWork Certificate Program (Level I)

Students who complete this 136-hour BioWork Certificate course will gain the basic skills and general knowledge needed for entry-level process technicians in Bioprocessing, Pharmaceutical, and Chemical Manufacturing, as well as, participate in the Human Resource Development aspect of the course. The course includes nine (9) modules such as Quality, Measurements, Transforming Matter, Growing Living Cells, Safety, Sterile Processes, Process Control, and Nuts and Bolts. There are exams at the end of each module. Additionally, this course will cover all aspects of the job search in the Biotechnology arena, including a job market overview, job search tools and strategies, resume preparation, and interviewing practice. Computer literacy, teamwork, time management, and problem solving are also incorporated in the course. To gain admission to the BioWork course, each student must show proficiency in reading and math skills, as indicated by the Accuplacer assessment test. In addition, interested students must attend one of the regularly scheduled Information Sessions at the Workforce Development Center. The course has limited space.

Course Code: ISC-3200-02P
Dates/Days: January, 11, 2010 - May, 10, 2010 (M/W)
Course Times: 1:00pm - 5:00pm
Location: Workforce Development Center 2002
Instructor: Marilyn Davenport
Registration Fee: $175 + textbook (approximately $100)

Course Code: ISC-3200-03P
Dates/Days: January, 11, 2010 - May, 10, 2010 (M/W)
Course Times: 6:00pm - 10:00pm
Location: Workforce Development Center 2002
Instructor: TBD
Registration Fee: $175 + textbook (approximately $100)

Course Code: ISC-3200-01P
Dates/Days: January, 11, 2010 - May, 10, 2010 (M/W)
Course Times: 8:00am - 12:00noon
Location: Workforce Development Center 2002
Instructor: Marilyn Davenport
Registration Fee: $175 + textbook (approximately $100)

Course Code: ISC-3200-04P
Dates/Days: January, 12, 2010 - May, 11, 2010 (T/Th)
Course Times: 6:00pm - 10:00pm
Location: Workforce Development Center 2002
Instructor: TBD
Registration Fee: $175 + textbook (approximately $100)

Course Code: ISC-3200-05P
Dates/Days: January, 12, 2010 - May, 11, 2010 (T/Th)
Course Times: 6:00pm - 10:00pm
Location: Workforce Development Center 2011
Instructor: TBD
Registration Fee: $175 + textbook (approximately $100)

Pathways to BioWork

This 72-hour Pre-BioWork course focuses on the basic skills and general knowledge needed to enter the BioWork Certificate Program. It will work in the areas of Biomathematics, Reading and Science for the industry, career exploration and job preparation. To gain admission to the course, each student must have reading and math skills at the 7th grade level or higher as indicated by an assessment test.

Course Code: HRD-3004-20P
Dates/Days: February, 09, 2010 - April, 08, 2010 (T/Th)
Course Times: 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: Workforce Development Center 1033
Instructor: Rita Dickinson
Registration Fee: $175* (no textbook required)
Note: * Class fee may be waived if financial eligibility requirements are met. Eligibility is determined in class.

Validation Documentation

This course provides participants with fundamental understanding of engineering documentation that supports validation. The course will address the different types of documentation, the purpose of each document type, and how the documents are utilized by industry to ensure compliance to GMPs. The course will provide samples of document types and the student will follow basic exercises to gain experience in interpreting information. Participants will learn how to properly review and extract data from engineering drawings, specifications and certificates. The course will highlight good documentation practices for both vendor supplied data and protocol execution.

Course Code: SEF 3001 96P
Dates/Days: March, 25, 2010 (Th)
Course Times: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Location: Workforce Development Center 1032
Instructor: Cathy Middelberg
Registration Fee: $145.00