YOUTH HEALTHCARE APPRENTICESHIP HIGHLIGHT
SEIU Healthcare 1199NW Multi-Employer Training Fund’s Health Care Apprenticeship Consortium (HCAC) partners with Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center to offer the first kind “College in High School” Pharmacy Technician apprenticeship program in the state of Washington.
The “College in High School” apprenticeship provides students with classroom instruction and skills learning, followed by on-the-job training to enter the healthcare workforce as a Pharmacy Technician. In addition to classroom learning, instructors provide valuable support and conduct site visits to check on apprentices’ progress through the program. Apprentices “earn while they learn” through full-time paid employment, and as they gain skills from experienced teachers, coaches, and mentors. Participants also earn college credit during their apprenticeship.
This innovative earn-and-learn apprenticeship program leverages the Training Fund’s partnerships with Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center—a public school in Snohomish County, WA, that offers technical training for junior and senior high school students in Snohomish and South Island Counties—and North Seattle College through their Pharmacy Technician program. The program combines 264 hours of in-person classroom instruction and lab sessions at Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center with 24 elective college credits from North Seattle College and 2000 hours of on-the-job training through employer placement (e.g., retail, hospital, or independent pharmacy). After passing a national test, the apprentice will receive the Pharmacy Technician State Certification.
A certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) is a licensed pharmacy staffer who is able to perform non-discretionary functions in a pharmacy. The Pharmacy Technician “College in High School” apprenticeship contributes to the pipeline of skilled and licensed technicians needed to meet critical workforce demands. This occupation is projected to grow 7% from 2023 to 2033, faster than average occupation growth.
“This apprenticeship program has impacted my life by creating the opportunity for me to apply my love for healthcare and helping others into the real world,” says Arizona Kerker, a recent high school graduate who is already on her way to becoming a Pharmacy Technician. “The Training Fund is supporting me by helping me track my hours I have worked, providing me with financial resources if needed, and support if I find myself struggling at my apprenticeship.”
Watch a short informational video about the College in High School Pharmacy Technician apprenticeship program: https://youtu.be/kkMPLxM_O0A
Learn more about the College in High School Pharmacy Technician apprenticeship program:
https://healthcareapprenticeship.org/medical-apprenticeships
Read Pharm Tech apprentice Arizona Kerker’s story:
https://healthcareapprenticeship.org/2024/06/27/apprentice-spotlight-arizona-kerker
First Graduating Class of Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship. This program placed 11 apprentices in 2024 in local pharmacies in King, Snohomish, and Island Counties.
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