Advance, Innovate, and Develop Life Science Solutions
PCTI’s newest program harnesses the power of biology to create new services and products in health, food security, agriculture, supply chain resilience, climate change, energy, national and economic security, which provide opportunities to improve the quality of our lives.
The Biotechnology CTE program is designed specifically to meet the demand for highly skilled workers in the region’s evolving biotechnology sector by instituting employer-driven, career pathways that connect students to industry valued credentials and degree programs.
Through our partnerships in higher education, students will have the opportunity to participate in college level courses and earn a college degree at the same time you earn your high school diploma. This world class program is unlike any other available to high school students in Passaic County!
Our Biotechnology CTE program offers students the following opportunities:
Early College Option
A dual-credit agreement with Passaic County Community College (PCCC) will provide students with the opportunity to earn up to 60 credits and an Associate’s Degree in Biotechnology. Students will complete college course work in biotechnology, molecular biology, DNA Research, mathematics, critical thinking strategies, and humanities. This program allows students to transfer their associate’s degree from PCCC toward a bachelors degree at nearby institutions such as William Paterson University and Ramapo College. Students can also transfer any credits they earn to any New Jersey public college or university.
Career Pathways
Students who pursue the biotechnology career pathway will be prepared to fill demand occupations such as biology lab technician/supervisor, clinical lab and chemical technician, biophysicist, geneticist, process engineers, forensic science technician, food scientist, and production workers.
John Currie Biotech Innovation Center
PCTI’s new state-of-the-art 55,000 square foot building is physically connected to both PCTI and the Passaic County Community College’s (PCCC) Public Safety Academy. It will support PCTI’s newest CTE program in Biotechnology.
DNA Learning Center New Jersey (DNALC NJ)
The Biotech Innovation Center will house New Jersey’s first DNA Learning Center (DNALC NJ). The DNALC NJ will be fully equipped, licensed, and ran by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, an InnovATEBIO partner and world leader in biomedical research and education programs in cancer, neuroscience, plant biology and quantitative biology. The DNALC NJ will be staffed by DNALC personnel and provide PCTI students with cutting edge technology and the opportunity to run supply chains within its independent classrooms and laboratories.
Industry Valued Credentials
Prior to graduating, students will have the opportunity to earn industry-valued credentials which are part of the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development official industry valued credential list. Students also have opportunities to earn nationally recognized credentials. These credentials are intended to prepare students for emerging opportunities in the biotechnology sector.
Additional Credentials: Students can earn micro credentials including Micropipetting, Aseptic Technique, PCR, and for other basic quantitative skills and laboratory practices aligning with accepted biotechnician and biomanufacturing skills.
