Learn About MCCC Nursing Program During Summer Info Sessions

Students work with a simulated patient in Montgomery County Community College’s Nursing Laboratory.

Blue Bell, PA — The community is invited to explore nursing career opportunities at Montgomery County Community College’s (MCCC) Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell, during information sessions this summer.

Sessions will be offered on June 15 and June 21 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. and on July 27, Aug. 4 and Aug. 10 from 12:30-1:30 p.m. All sessions will be held in room 218 of MCCC’s Advanced Technology Center, except for the July 27 session, which will be held in room 212. Sessions are free of charge and are open to the public. Pre-registration is not required.

During the information sessions, participants will learn about MCCC’s Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) Nursing degree program, which prepares graduates for careers as caring, professional nurses who employ critical thinking skills to the nursing process in order to care for clients in a variety of health care settings. Participants will learn about the program’s admissions requirements, competitive application process, laboratory and clinical experiences, and transfer opportunities.

The U.S. Department of Labor projects a higher-than-average 16 percent job growth rate for Registered Nurses (RN) through 2024, due, in part, to increased demand for health care services by an aging population and greater access to health care as result of health care insurance reform.

To learn more about MCCC’s Nursing program, visit http://www.mc3.edu/academics/areas-of-study/health-sciences/nursing.

Physical Therapist Assistant Program Coming To MCCC In Summer 2017‏

Blue Bell, PA — Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) will introduce a new Physical Therapist Assistant program starting summer 2017. The 70-credit Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) program will prepare graduates for employment as entry-level physical therapist assistants.

The program will integrate classroom and laboratory instruction with full-time practical clinical experiences. Graduates will be prepared to take the Physical Therapist Assistant National Physical Therapy Examination for state certification and licensure.

According to Robert Cullen, Physical Therapist Assistant program director, the program is composed of two distinct phases. During the Pre-Technical Phase, students complete their general education and foundational requirements at their own pace. Students who successfully complete the first phase may then apply for admission into the highly specialized and competitive full-time Technical/Clinical Phase.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists physical therapist assistant third among the 20 fastest growing occupations nationwide, and employment of physical therapist assistants is projected to grow 41 percent through 2024. Locally, physical therapist assistant is identified as a High Priority Occupation for Montgomery County and the surrounding four-county region.

Physical therapist assistants work under the direction and supervision of licensed physical therapists in a variety of settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, rehabilitation centers, school systems, sports medicine facilities and private practice.

The Physical Therapist Assistant degree program will be offered at MCCC’s Central Campus in Blue Bell in the new Health Sciences Center, an integrated and active learning environment. Slated for completion in January 2017, the expansion will add 91,000 square feet to the existing 69,000 square-foot Physical Education Center.

The mission of the Health Sciences Center is to position MCCC as the regional leader in health and wellness education to be the catalyst that transforms lives. The center will house MCCC’s athletics programs and wellness center, as well as its existing Health Sciences programs—Nursing, Dental Hygiene, Medical Laboratory Technician, Medical Assisting, Phlebotomy, Radiography, Surgical Technology, Exercise Science and Wellness, Health and Fitness Professional, and Personal Training, among others. A certificate program in Massage Therapy is also being developed.

To learn more about MCCC’s Health Sciences programing, visit http://www.mc3.edu/academics/areas-of-study/health-sciences.

Accreditation Information

Graduation from a physical therapist assistant education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; phone; 703-706-3245; accredition@apta.org, is necessary for eligibility to sit for the licensure examination, which is required in all states.

Montgomery County Community College is seeking accreditation of the new physical therapist assistant education program from CAPTE. The College will submit an Application for Candidacy, which is the formal application required in the pre-accreditation stage, on March 1, 2017. Submission of this document does not assure that the program will be granted Candidate for Accreditation status. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status is required prior to implementation of the Technical Phase of the program; therefore, no students may be enrolled in PTA courses until Candidate for Accreditation status has been achieved. Further, though achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status signifies satisfactory progress toward accreditation, it does not assure that the program will be granted CAPTE accreditation.

Info Sessions Introduce Community To MCCC Pharmacy Tech Program‏

Blue Bell, Pa.— Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) will host information sessions about its popular Pharmacy Technician program on Tuesday, Feb. 9 from noon-1:30 p.m. and Wednesday, Feb. 10 from 6-7:30 p.m. Sessions will be held in Advanced Technology Center 212 at MCCC’s Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. For information, call 215-461-1127.

Pharmacy technician is designated as a High Priority Occupation in Pennsylvania, and the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry reports that individuals with formal training or prior experience are the best candidates for employment.

Students who successfully complete MCCC’s Pharmacy Technician program are prepared to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board’s national exam, among other national and state certifications, increasing their marketability.

MCCC is offering a total of six Pharmacy Technician sections this spring.

At the Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell, the program will be offered at the following days/times:

– Saturdays, March 5-May 21, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

– Tuesdays and Thursdays, March 8-May 3, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

– Tuesdays and Thursdays, March 22-May 10, 6-9:30 p.m.

At the West Campus, 101 College Drive, Pottstown, the program will be offered at the following days/times:

– Saturdays, March 5-May 21, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

– Mondays and Wednesdays, March 7-May 2, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

– Mondays and Wednesdays, March 21-May 9, 6:9:30 p.m.

The cost of attending the Pharmacy Technician program is $1,995, which includes the course textbook. The program is approved by PA Career Link for students who qualify. Students should have, or be pursing, a high school diploma or GED to enroll. To learn more or to register, call 215-461-1127 or email grossett@mc3.edu.

To learn more, visit http://www.mc3.edu/academics and click on Areas of Study, followed by Health Sciences, then Career Training Programs.

Program Prepares Students For High Priority Employment As Pharmacy Technicians‏

Blue Bell/Pottstown, PA —Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) is expanding its 50-hour Pharmacy Technician program this spring, with both day and evening classes being offered in Blue Bell and Pottstown. The program prepares students to work in the pharmacy field and to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board’s national exam, among other national and state certifications.

MCCC is offering a total of six Pharmacy Technician sections this spring.

At the Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell, the program will be offered at the following days/times:

·      Saturdays, March 5-May 21, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

·      Tuesdays and Thursdays, March 8-May 3, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

·      Tuesdays and Thursdays, March 22-May 10, 6-9:30 p.m.

At the West Campus, 101 College Drive, Pottstown, the program will be offered at the following days/times:

·      Saturdays, March 5-May 21, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

·      Mondays and Wednesdays, March 7-May 2, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

·      Mondays and Wednesdays, March 21-May 9, 6:9:30 p.m.

The program covers key topics such as pharmacy calculations; medical terminology; skills to read and interpret prescriptions; review of the top 200 drugs; skills to identify drugs by generic and brand names; dosage calculations, IV flow rates, drug compounding and dose conversions; the dispensing of prescriptions; inventory control; and billing and reimbursement.

The cost of attending the Pharmacy Technician program is $1,995, which includes the course textbook. The program is approved by PA Career Link for students who qualify. Students should have, or be pursing, a high school diploma or GED to enroll. To learn more or to register, call 215-461-1127 or email grossett@mc3.edu.

Pharmacy technician jobs are expected to grow by 20 percent through 2022—nine percent higher than the average growth rate for all occupations nationally according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook.

The demand holds true in Pennsylvania as well. Pharmacy Technician is designated as a High Priority Occupation in the Commonwealth, which ranks fourth among states in the number of pharmacy technicians currently employed.

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry reports that candidates with formal training or prior experience have the best opportunity for employment as pharmacy technicians. In 2012, the median salary for pharmacy technicians was $29,320 nationally.

To learn more, visit http://www.mc3.edu/academics and click on Areas of Study, followed by Health Sciences, then Career Training Programs.