The Biotechnology Technician program at Centennial College is focused on training students to become bench technicians (in quality control and quality assurance) in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

1. Biotechnology Technician Program Requires
Dedication
Summary: The Biotechnology Technician program at Centennial
College is focused on training students to become bench technicians
(in quality control and quality assurance) in the food, pharmaceutical
and cosmetic industries.
Centennial College’s two-year Biotechnology Technician - Industrial
Microbiology program is both challenging and rewarding. As such, it
requires not only dedication but also proof of that dedication. This
begins with the application process. Applicants to the Biotechnology
college program are required to present at minimum an Ontario
Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or be 19 years of
age or older. Also required is completion of compulsory English 12C or
U or skills assessment, or equivalent and Math 11M or U or 12C or U
or skills assessment, or equivalent. Students are placed in appropriate
English level based on skills assessment results. Lastly, students who
test at an advanced level may be accelerated directly into MATH-176
in semester 1 and MATH-186 in semester 2. Those taking MATH-140
will have the opportunity to complete MATH-186 between semesters 2
and 3.
Once accepted, students of this Biotechnology Technician offering
obtain thorough practical training in industrial microbiology as well as
chemistry (analytical and organic) and biochemistry. This is achieved
in a variety of ways, including through a balance of theory and
practical application such as lessons on appropriate safety procedures,
biotechnology technician projects; and independently designed
microbiology tasks that enhance problem solving and research
skills. Students attend specific Biotechnology Technician courses such
as: Intro to Biological Systems, Chemistry, Occupational Health and
Safety, Mathematics, Microbiology, Microbial Techniques, Lab
Instrumentation, Statistics for Applied Science and much more.
It is worthy of mention that this Biotechnology Technician offering is
nationally accredited by the Canadian Council of Technicians and
Technologists, which has deemed it as having met the national
technology accreditation requirements. In addition, the Ontario
Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists
recognizes the Biotechnology Technician - Industrial Microbiology
program as meeting all the academic requirements for certification in
the Technician Category. These national accreditations support

2. program quality and provide mobility for graduates.
With the education obtained in this biotechnology college program,
students take on the Biotechnology Technician role, which is also
known as a Bench Technician. In their role, these professionals assure
quality control in areas of manufacturing such as food,
pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. This is carried out in a variety of
ways. Among which are: isolating, enumerating and identifying
microorganisms from many types of samples (water, soil, air, your
body, and food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products); preparing
specimens for staining and using a light-microscope; handling
materials and instruments such as pH and BOD meters, Gas
Chromatographs, spectrophotometers (regular/IR/UV), HPLC’s etc;
preparing microbiological media and reagents; culture pathogenic
microbes; and designing and perform their own microbiology
experiments.
Author Details: In this article, Klaudia offers details into nationally
accredited Biotechnology Technician program, including admission
requirements, highlights and possible learning outcomes.