Biotech and Health Sciences

The college's Office of Workforce Development offers Biotech and Health Sciences courses for those preparing for a new job, promotion or looking to update their skills.

How to Register

  • Register online by selecting "Add to Cart" on the desired course(s) and select "Cart" at the bottom of the page when you are ready to process your registration.
    • The “Seats Left” information is updated every half hour and when you checkout.
  • Other registration options are available.

Course Offerings

Pharmacy Technician Online

Pharmacy technicians are in great demand both locally and nationally and credentialed technicians have a solid career path. The role of the pharmacy technician is to dispense medications, interact with patients and many may soon be administering COVID 19 tests and vaccines. This is an exciting opportunity to enter a high-demand medical field.

This course provides students the preparation needed for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board’s (PTCB.org) exam. There is an increasing demand from pharmacies for those who have passed the certification exam. Coursework focuses on the retail pharmacy industry and emphasizes the importance of customer service. Those who wish to work in hospital or veterinary pharmacies will generally receive additional on-the-job training specific to those environments.

This course is conducted exclusively online to provide you with the flexibility to learn on your own schedule. You will have access to the instructor and you will participate in discussion boards with fellow students. All students also are required to attend two mandatory three-hour synchronous (real time) remote classes per week with the instructor.

Prerequisites: Minimum 10th grade reading and math skill levels; basic computer skills; access to a personal computer with internet access.

Textbooks: Books, costing approximately $190, will be available for purchase at the Viking’s Cove Bookstore.

1) The Pharmacy Technician 7th edition by AphA    ISBN 978-1-64043-138-6  

2) The Pharmacy Technician Workbook & Certification Review  7th ed. By AphA  ISBN 978-1-64043-139-3 

3) Pharmacy Calculations 6th ed. By Powers & Bright  ISBN 1-61731-897-3                       

Tuition: $1,750
Additional Cost (optional): The National Pharmacy Technician Exam (PTCE) is not administered by the college, and the fee is not included in the tuition. Students who elect to take the exam should make arrangements with the testing organization, to register for the test and to pay the organization's testing fee (approximately $130).

Delivery of Course:

Instructor-Led (Online/Remote)
15 Weeks, 12.6 CEUs, Non-Credit

Pharmacy Technician Online
Schedule Section Seats Left Cost Register
Tuesday, Wednesdays, 3/21 - 6/28
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm
ZCCP-034 600 9 seats left $1750Call for more information

Waste Water Treatment - Basic Operations

This course is approved as one of the modules required by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation to become certified as a wastewater treatment plant operator in NYS. Students will experience a broad overview of topics including biological treatment, solids handling and all related process equipment.

Location: Town of Colonie Pure Waters Department Sewer Plant: 200 Onderdonk Ave, Latham, NY 12110

Required Textbooks:  

Waste Water Treatment - Basic Operations
Schedule Section Seats Left Cost Register
Tuesday, Thursdays, 1/31 - 4/18
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
ZTTN-016 600 6 seats left $1250Call for more information

Water Treatment Plant Operator Grade A/B

This course covers the practices and processes involved in the operation of a modern water treatment plant. Topics covered will include, but not be limited to, legal requirements, chemistry, hydraulics, laboratory analyses, coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection. The course meets minimal New York State Department of Health training requirements for certification as either a IIA or IIB water treatment plant operator. 

Note: For NYSDOH approved water treatment courses, 100 percent attendance is required. In order to satisfactorily complete the course, students who miss any hours of the class will be required to make up those hours by arrangement with the instructor(s).

Prerequisites: Strong math and science skills recommended. Per Subpart 5-4 of Chapter 1 of the State Sanitary Code, to receive NYSDOH certification as a IIA operator, one(1)year of operating experience at a water treatment plant with facilities for filtration and for a IIB operator, one(1)year operating experience at a water treatment plant, is required.

Location: Hudson Valley Community College Main Campus, DCC 137 (CAMPUS MAP

Textbook(s): 

Water Treatment Plant Operator Grade A/B
Schedule Section Seats Left Cost Register
Monday, Wednesday, Thursdays, 3/27 - 5/18
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
ZTTN-015 600 6 seats left $1250Call for more information

Water Treatment, Grade I - Advanced Operations

The Water Treatment Plant Grade I - Advanced Operations course is one of the modules required by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) to become certified as a Grade IA or Grade IB water treatment plant operator in New York State; (the second module is on Management and Supervision and is a separate course). The Grade IA certificate is required at water treatment plants with filtration that were designed for 2.5 MGD and over. The Grade IB is required for water treatment plants that are designed for 2.5 MGD or over, without filtration.

There is also a 10-year experience requirement for the certification. Generally the course is taken by those operators already possessing a Grade IIA or Grade IIB water operator certificate. The course is an in-depth course in water treatment, with a heavy emphasis on math, chemistry, biology, the intricacies of water treatment, water treatment plant optimization and the rules, regulations and legal requirements of operating a water treatment plant.

Note: For NYSDOH-approved water treatment courses, 100 percent attendance is required. In order to satisfactorily complete the course, students who miss any hours of the class will be required to make up those hours by arrangement with the instructor.

Prerequisites: Completion of approved Grade A or Grade B Water Treatment Plant Operators course; 10th grade reading and math levels

Textbooks: 
AWWA Water Operator Field Guide, 2nd Edition, ISBN: 978-1583219041
Water Treatment Plant Operation, Volume 1, 7th Edition, 2017, ISBN 978-1-323-78665-9
Water Treatment Plant Operation, Volume 2, 7th Edition, 2020, ISBN 978-0-13-671065-3

 

Water Treatment, Grade I - Advanced Operations
Schedule Section Seats Left Cost Register
ZTTN-097 600 10 seats left $1250Call for more information

Get in Touch

Workforce Development
Fitzgibbons Health Technologies Center, Room 334
Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Summer 2023 Hours (May 22 - July 28): Monday – Thursday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Friday, Closed
(excluding college holidays and vacations)