State Fair Community College’s The LearningForce recently received a $12,392 grant from the Air Force Aid Society at Whiteman Air Force Base to provide a 12-week non-credit Certified Pharmacy Technician course for four spouses of active duty airmen.

This accelerated 12-week instructor-led noncredit course prepares students for entry-level employment as a pharmacy technician. The course provides classroom and online instruction and externship experience. Students learn about top medications dispensed in the United States and are introduced to the basic concepts of pharmacy calculations for proper medication dispensing. The course begins in April with instructor, Beverly Marquez.

This training program is in alignment with current and future in-demand regional and national job openings. Employment of pharmacy technicians is projected to grow 12 percent between now and 2026, faster than the average for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The course prepares successful students to sit for the Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians and earn the Pharmacy Technician Certification. Most pharmacy employers seek applicants with a certification, and many require it.

The LearningForce is SFCC’s workforce development and economic development unit providing businesses and individuals with customized workforce training, professional development, entrepreneurial support, community education, and enrichment opportunities. The LearningForce offers courses on site, online and on campus. For more information, visit sfccmo.edu/the-learning-force, email thelearningforce@sfccmo.edu or call (660) 530-5822 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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