BioWork Process Technician

BioWork  is a training course that will prepare you for employment as a process technician for a biotechnology, pharmaceutical,  or chemical manufacturing company. Process technicians operate the manufacturing processes in these industries. For this reason, competent and skilled process technicians are valued and in demand.

Manufacturing has been important to North Carolina’s economy for many decades, contributing more than any other sector to our gross state product over the last 25 years.  Twenty-five percent of the state’s work force is in manufacturing, a higher percentage than in any other state.

Even though Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical and Chemical manufacturing companies make a vast array of products using a variety of methods, manufacturing technicians in all of these companies need a common foundation of knowledge and skill. The units in BioWork provide you with a basic introduction to the science and technology used by these companies and with the foundation you need to learn and progress on the job.

After you successfully complete the course and are certified, you will have a major advantage in applying for entry-level process technician positions.

This course is one of the many efforts being made to prepare a trained work force for the biomanufacturing industry. Its objective is to produce more graduates with the appropriate skills, retrain workers from traditional manufacturing industries and provide continuing education and training for the current workforce in Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical and Chemical manufacturing.

Ultimately, the quality of the product a company manufactures will depend on your skill, knowledge and work habits. This is because the manufacturing process literally will be in your hands!!!
 

The BioWork Process Technician course is designed to train people with a high school education. The text and activities are appropriate for people with basic reading and math skills.

Units of Instruction:

  • Your new job
  • Working Safely
  • Quality
  • Measuring Process Variables
  • Transforming Matter (Chemistry)
  • Learning the Nuts & Bolts
  • Controlling the Process
  • Sterile Processes (Microbiology)
  • Growing Living Cells (Cell Biology)

 

Examples of Products Made by Bioprocess Technicians:

  • Antibiotics
  • Asthma Inhalers
  • Beer
  • Bleach
  • Corn Syrup
  • Cosmetics
  • Deodorant
  • Detergents
  • Fabric Softeners
  • Heartburn Pills
  • Ink
  • Paint
  • Plastics
  • Post-It Notes®
  • Shampoo
  • Silly Putty®
  • Soap
  • Soft Drinks
  • Vaccines
  • Vitamins
  • Wine

 

 

Average Salary
  • People with all levels of education may be hired for research, development or production in biomanufacturing companies.
  • In North Carolina, Bioprocess Technicians with a high school diploma typically have a starting salary of approximately $20,000 per year.
  • Depending on the employer, your education level and the location of the job, your starting salary could be $20,000 to $29,000 with the potential to earn more.

As a graduate of this course, you will be in a good position to enjoy the unique opportunities and benefits that Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical and Chemical manufacturing offer.

This course can help you prepare you for PCC's Biotechnology & Laboratory Associate in Applied Science degrees, which offer diverse laboratory procedures and research reporting training in a broad base of knowledge.
 

For more information on these programs, contact Randy Durren
(336) 599-1181, Ext. 466 or 431
Email: durrenr@piedmontcc.edu

 

For more details on the BioWork program, contact Debra Seamster:
(336) 599-1181 ext. 290
seamstd@piedmontcc.edu