PCTI's Exciting New CTE Program Opening for the 2023-2024 School Year!

Advance, Innovate, and Develop Life Science Solutions

PCTI’s Biotechnology program is designed to meet the demand for highly skilled workers in the region’s biotechnology sector by instituting employer-driven, career pathways that connect students to industry valued credentials and degree programs.

This new 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.

Select our exciting new CTE program in Biotechnology, take classes in our state-of-the-art Biotech Innovation Center facility. This program is designed specifically for students interested in entering professions in the evolving field of Biotechnology. Through our partnerships in higher education, research & development, biomanufacturing and global supply chain and logistics you will 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.

Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing advances innovative solutions in health, climate change, energy, food security, agriculture, supply chain resilience, and national and economic security. The economic activity derived from biotechnology and biomanufacturing is referred to as "the bioeconomy." Biomanufacturing supports our country’s goals to achieve climate mitigation and energy independence, improve food security and sustainability, secure our supply chains, and grow the economy across all of America.

• Dual Credit: Students will earn 60 college credits through dual enrollment coursework leading to an Associate’s Degree in Science – Biotechnology.
• Employer engagement and work-based learning: Employer partners will sponsor work-based learning experiences, ensuring that students learn in-demand skills.
• DNA Learning Center New Jersey (DNALC NJ): Operated by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, DNALC NJ is a partner in the Biotech Center and offers two science laboratories, a bioinformatics laboratory, and student supply chain incubator.
• InnovATEBIO Partnership: InnovATEBIO, the National Science Foundation’s National Biotechnology Education Center, will support biotechnician education and skill training.
• Hands-on Learning Opportunities: Through hands-on learning, students benefit from a continuum of research, career, workforce readiness, and civic engagement skills.

Biotech Innovation Center

PCTI’s new state-of-the-art 65,000 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 new CTE program in Biotechnology. Students will have the opportunity to earn an A.S. Degree in Liberal Arts: Biotechnology Option. They will pursue and earn Industry Valued Credentials in one of four exciting, interdisciplinary biotechnology related tracks; biodefense/infections disease, bioinformatics, agriculture/food science, and immune 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.

DNALC License Exclusives

• Access to proprietary new materials in development, allowing for rapid adaptation and first use.
• DNALC developed curricula, lab field trips, and camps, including but not limited to Biocoding, DNA Barcoding, DNA Science, Forensic Detectives, Fun with DNA, Genome Science, Green Genes, Silencing Genomes, and World of Enzymes.
• On-site training and workshops by DNALC staff.

Associate Degree and College Credit – 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 Science – Biotechnology. Students will complete college course work in humanities, science, mathematics, computer science, supply chain management, critical thinking, and biotechnology. This degree program will articulate with degree programs at nearby colleges such as William Paterson University and Ramapo College. Students can also transfer credits to any New Jersey public college or university.

Industry Valued Credentials

Prior to graduating, students will have the opportunity to earn numerous industry-valued credentials which are part of the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development official industry valued credential list are intended to prepare students for emerging opportunities in the biotechnology sector.

Sterile Processes Technician Certification: Students will learn about the duties of a sterile processing technician, aseptic procedures, HIPPA regulations, and proper decontamination, sterilization, and packaging techniques in biotechnology clinical laboratory setting. Students will earn certification from the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution.

Certified Logistics Technician: This advanced credential will build upon the Certified Logistics Associate by increasing knowledge of product receiving, product storage, order processing, packaging and shipment inventory control, safe handling of hazmat materials, evaluation of transportation modes, dispatch and tracking, and measurements.

Certified Production Technician: This credential will prepare students for employment in biotechnology settings by teaching core competencies of advanced manufacturing production. Modules include safety, quality practices/measurements, manufacturing processes/production, maintenance awareness, and green production.

Biotechnology Micro credentials: Working with InnobATEBIO, the DNALC NJ supply chain incubator will allow students to earn micro credentials including Micropipetting, Aseptic Technique, PCR, and for other basic quantitative skills and laboratory practices aligning with accepted biotechnician and biomanufacturing skills.

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.