QCC receives $206,000 to TRAIN Nurse Assistants and Pharmacy Technicians

WORCESTER, MA—December 11, 2018— It’s “all aboard” for 40 eligible participants in Quinsigamond Community College’s Training Resources and Internship Networks (TRAIN) program. The college and its partners were awarded $206,000 from the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education in collaboration with the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, to provide educational training and hands-on experience to individuals who are considered long-term unemployed (one year or longer), or under employed. This training will enable participants to become either nursing assistants or pharmacy technicians.

“Our vision for this project is to help long-term unemployed, low-income individuals build their economic self-sufficiency through an innovative program that includes workforce readiness training, skills training, education, internships, job placement, and comprehensive wraparound support services situated at QCC’s Healthcare and Workforce Development Center,” said Dean of the Center for Workforce Development and Continuing Education, Kathleen Manning.

Beginning in January 2019, QCC will offer two 120-hour, non-credit, nurse assistant training classes and two 75-hour pharmacy technician training classes. The nurse assistant training program is classroom-based, instructor-led, and is under the supervision of a registered nurse. The training consists of lectures and hands-on lab work in the Massachusetts DPH state approved training lab.

The pharmacy technician training program is provided in collaboration with QCC partner, CVS Health. The program will blend the CVS Health pharmacy technician training curriculum with QCC classroom-based pharmacy technician and ESL (English as Second Language) training programs, as well as 30 hours of apprenticeships.

The classroom component of both training programs will simulate the way students are expected to behave in a workplace setting. During training, students will be paid an hourly stipend to help financially support them while they are in the program.

TRAIN program participants will receive additional support services resources from:

• The Mass Hire Workforce Board, which will offer readiness training to help participants conceive and execute a more positive approach to personal and career goal attainment.
• Mass Hire Career Center, which will provide career counseling and a host of workshops that are available to job seekers.
• Worcester Community Action Council, which will provide comprehensive wraparound support services to help meet the diverse needs of at-risk, low-income populations in our community.
• Worcester Credit Union, which will offer financial literacy training.

There are still openings for eligible individuals. For more information on these training programs, email Center for Workforce Development and Continuing Education Program Manager, Kathleen O'Connor at cce@qcc.mass.edu