Earn While You Learn

• Next Hire Date: To be determined
• Typical course size: Twelve
• Training time: Sixteen weeks

What is an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)?

• An EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) is a healthcare professional who provides emergency medical care and transportation to individuals experiencing medical emergencies. They are trained to assess patients, perform basic medical procedures, and stabilize patients before transferring them to a hospital
• At University Medical Center, EMTs work in the Medical Transport Network (MTN) or as the Patient Care Technicians (PCTs) in the ED or other areas of the hospital

Typical Career Path:

• While you can work your entire career as an EMT, many choose to advance their education. EMTs have several pathways available, including advanced EMT (EMT-A), paramedic, and critical care paramedic. Many also find that this initial exposure to healthcare opens doors to careers in nursing, radiology technology, respiratory therapy, or various roles within the hospital setting

Course details:

• Class will be held in-person at Colony Plaza
• Trainees can expect ten to sixteen hours of homework per week
• Clinical rotations are integrated throughout the course and may involve weekend and evening shifts
• Candidates will be prepared to take their National Registry exam (NREMT) at the conclusion of the course

• Next hire date: To be determined
• Typical Course Size: Eighteen
• Training time: Twelve Weeks

What is a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)?

• The CMA role is a relatively new position in healthcare, primarily in ambulatory settings or diagnostic areas such as radiology. CMAs assist with medical care, which includes taking patient histories and vital signs, performing electrocardiograms (EKGs), assisting with examinations, administering medications, and more. This role may also involve administrative tasks in the medical office setting, allowing CMAs to perform a wide range of duties under the supervision of healthcare provider
•   CMAs primarily work in our clinic settings generally working Monday - Friday dayshift hours

Typical career path:

• Many CMAs choose to continue their careers in this role, while others find that their introduction to healthcare opens doors to careers in nursing, radiology technology, respiratory therapy, or other roles within the hospital setting

Course details:

• Classes are held in-person at Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC)
• Clinicals are integrated throughout the course two days per week at University Medical Center - Charlottesville clinic locations
• Candidates will be eligible to take the national certification exam through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) at the completion of the course

• Next hire date: To be determined
• Typical Course Size: Twenty
• Training time: Eight weeks

What is a Patient Care Technician (PCT)? 

• A Patient Care Technician (PCT) is a member of the healthcare team who provides essential patient-centered care under the supervision of a nurse. PCTs can expect to perform many of the same job duties as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), but the scope of a PCT includes more advanced skills including simple wound care, removing peripheral IVs, conducting electrocardiograms (EKGs), and performing bladder scans. Other responsibilities will include responding to patient calls and requests, assisting patients with personal hygiene, and providing emotional support to both patients and their families
• PCTs work in our inpatient units throughout the hospital, including acute care, intermediate care, and critical care areas primarily working 12-hour shifts days or nights

Typical career path:

• Many find this introduction to healthcare leads them to careers in nursing, radiology technology, respiratory therapy, or other roles in the hospital setting

 Course details:

• Class is held in-person at Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC)
• Clinicals are conducted at the conclusion of the course. During clinicals, trainees will take care of patients on an inpatient unit at University Medical Center with an instructor
• Candidates will be eligible to take the national certification exam through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) at the completion of the course

Training Time: Nine to Twelve months
Hiring: Ongoing

The University Medical Center Pharmacy Technician Training Program is an American Society of Health-System Pharmacists/Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ASHP/ACPE) accredited program. The program is to prepare current and aspiring pharmacy technicians with standardized training that meets state requirements to practice as a pharmacy technician. In addition, this program is to prepare technicians for any state or national certification exam.

Training includes: Online classroom training through Pharmacy Technician University, experiential training in our state-of-the-art pharmacy, preparation for passing the national certification exam. Candidates accepting a position will continue in their role as a pharmacy technician after completing the program and achieving their Virginia registration.

The program is a 426.5 hour program that can be completed within nine to twelve months, however candidates have a maximum of two years to complete the program and pass the PTCE exam. The didactic portion of the program is completed online, is self-paced, and contains graded quizzes, unit exams, midterm, and final exam. The simulation portion of the program is observed and graded by local instructors.  The experiential portion of the program is completed at designated pharmacy sites with an assigned preceptor. 

Hours Breakdown:

• Didactic: 136.9 hours
• Simulation: 65.6 hours
• Experiential: 224 hours        

Admission’s Requirements:

It is our goal for each student to succeed throughout the training program and into their career. To ensure the success of our students, they must meet the following minimum qualifications to enroll in the program: 

• Possess a high school diploma or the equivalent.
• Have English language and math proficiency sufficient to fulfill the requirements of the pharmacy technician job responsibilities, demonstrated by passing the TRC Reading Comprehension and Math Assessments in three attempts or less.  A minimum score of 70% is required for each assessment.
• Pass a screening pertaining to any illicit drug use and a criminal record background check.
• Comply with immunization requirements of experiential sites and employers. 
• Meet state-specific age requirements for employment of pharmacy technicians. 
• Meet state-specific requirements as regulated by the State Board of Pharmacy. 
• Meet employer-specific requirements, if applicable. 

*Note:  Any applicant needing special accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact your Program Director.

The Program Director has final approval of applicants’ qualifications for acceptance into the training program.

How to Apply:

Please search and apply for job openings for "Pharmacy Technician 1."

The Pharmacy Technician 1 positions are not included in the entry-level compensation rate listed above.

Positions are listed in job openings as they are needed.  If you don't find a "Pharmacy Technician 1" listing in your search, there may be no vacancies at that time.  Please check back as these will become available at future dates.

You may search and apply for openings for Pharmacy Technician 1 roles on the health career webpage for the University of Virginia.  Please be sure to include a cover letter outlining why you are interested in becoming a Pharmacy Technician and an updated resume.

Contact Information: 

UVA Health Department of Pharmacy Services 
1240 Lee Street 
Charlottesville, VA 22903 

Program Director:

Madison Taber, CPhT
Email Madison Taber
Phone: 434.924.2390

Chief Pharmacy Officer:

Danielle Griggs, PharmD, MBA, MS

1. Successfully complete a VA Board of Pharmacy approved training program
2. Register and pay for the National Exam
3. Take and pass the National exam
4. Complete an online Virginia Pharmacy Technician Registration Application

Effective July 1, 2022 the Virginia Board of Pharmacy mandated that a pharmacy technician applicant must complete a pharmacy technician training program that is

1) jointly accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), or 2) an accredited training program operated through the Department of Education’s (DOE) Career and Technical Education program, or 3) a program operated through a federal agency or branch of the military, or 4) a program accredited by an accreditation body approved by the board.  Please note that the DOE has indicated that it intends to require joint accreditation through ASHP and ACPE, and to date, the Board has not approved another accreditation body.

License and Registration Requirements and Fees:

*All costs listed below are out of pocket for pharmacy technician candidates. The exam fee required for National Certification may be eligible for reimbursement through University Medical Center's tuition and education benefits (must pass exam).

Pharmacy Technician Trainees: Persons enrolled in a pharmacy technician training program must obtain a pharmacy technician trainee registration if they will be performing the duties of a pharmacy technician. Registration is valid for two years. Registration applications can be found on the Virginia Board of Pharmacy website.

Pharmacy Technician Trainee Registration:

Application fee: $20

Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT): The University Medical Center Pharmacy Technician Training Program is recognized by the ASHP/ACHE. The pharmacy technician applicant will receive a diploma at the end of the program,and will then be eligible to sit for a National Exam to achieve “certified pharmacy technician” status. Two exams are recognized for board licensure; the PTCE, and the ExCPT. More information about the exams can be found below.

• Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) Webpage
• Cost of exam: $129.00
   
• National Healthcare Organization (NHA) Webpage
• Cost of exam: $125.00

Upon passing a national exam, candidates must complete the final step of the process to practice as a pharmacy technician in Virginia. Candidates must register for a Virginia Pharmacy Technician License. Please visit the Department of Health Professions Webpage for more information.

Pharmacy Technician Registration:

Initial application fee: $35
Annual renewal fee: $35

Earn While You Learn is not currently offering a Sterile Processing Technician cohort. If you are interested in Sterile Processing, please read the description below to learn more about the role. We invite you to apply directly to Sterile Processing positions on the UVA Health Careers website. Once on the website, type “Sterile Processing Technician” in the search field to find available openings.

What is a Sterile Processing Technician?

Sterile Processing is a critical, systematic process involving the cleaning, disinfection, sterilization, storage, and maintenance of reusable medical instruments and devices used in healthcare settings. This process is essential for infection prevention and plays a key role in ensuring patient safety during medical procedures. Sterile Processing Technicians are integral to the daily operations of University Medical Center. These specialized professionals are responsible for decontaminating, inspecting, assembling, and sterilizing surgical instruments and medical devices for use across multiple departments. Sterile Processing Technicians work in the perioperative setting. This role demands a high level of attention to detail and a thorough understanding of infection control principles, sterilization techniques, surgical instrument packaging, accurate record keeping, quality control practices, and inventory management. The knowledge and expertise Sterile Processing Technicians bring to their work directly support safe and successful patient care.

• Next hire date: To be determined
• Course size: Ten
• Training time: Eight weeks

What is an Access Associate?

• Access Associates (AA) and Patient Access Specialists (PAS) are vital healthcare team members and are known for their dynamic and compassionate approach. Their responsibilities include collecting and verifying patient information such as demographics, medical history, and insurance information. They also schedule and coordinate patient appointments, ensure a welcoming atmosphere, and address patient inquiries. AAs and PASs guide patients through registration, scheduling, and admission processes, making them the initial point of contact upon arrival
• AAs and PAs work in various settings throughout the health system, including clinics, admitting, call centers, Emergency Department, patient registration hubs and surgery

Typical career path:

• University Medical Center is developing an innovative career ladder designed to provide a robust and rewarding career path for our Access Workforce. Beginning as an Access Associate or Patient Access Specialist often marks the initial step in one's healthcare journey, leading to a long and fulfilling career with numerous promotion opportunities throughout our health system

Course details:

• Class is held on site at University Medical Center
• Trainees will complete a skills-based competency assessment at the conclusion of the course

• Next hire date: To be determined
• Typical Course Size: Eight
• Training time: Six weeks

What is a Phlebotomist?

• A phlebotomist is responsible for venipuncture, which involves using a needle to withdraw blood for laboratory testing needed to screen for, diagnose, and monitor health conditions. This role includes receiving lab work orders, accurately collecting, labeling, and processing samples, and preparing them for transport. Phlebotomists work closely with patients and interdisciplinary healthcare teams to ensure the best patient experience
• Phlebotomists typically work in inpatient settings and various clinic sites

Typical career path:

• For many, the role of Phlebotomist serves as long-term career option. Others may use this role as a stepping- stone to further education and training to become clinical lab assistants, medical Lab assistants, medical laboratory technologists, or medical laboratory scientists. Some also transition into nursing, radiology technology, respiratory therapy, or other healthcare-related roles

Course details:

• Class is held in-person at Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC)
• Clinical rotations are integrated throughout the course
• Candidates will be prepared to take the certification exam through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA)

• Next hire date: To be determined
• Course size: Four
• Training time: Eight weeks

What is a “Specimen Management Technician?”

Specimen Management Technicians receive all specimens submitted to the UVA laboratories and any referral laboratories for testing or analysis. For each specimen received, specimen management technicians verify and enter lab orders in the lab information system to generate a unique identifying number that will accompany the specimen through all phases of testing or analysis and allow for specimen tracking through the laboratories. Specimen Management Technicians assess pre-analytical variables such as proper specimen type and quantity, and process, aliquot, and package specimens for transport and laboratory testing. Specimen Management Technicians work in the Clinical Laboratories.

Is there a career path for these laboratory support roles?

For many, the Specimen Management Technician role may be a long-term career path. For others it can be the first step as they continue their training and education to be become a Clinical Lab Assistant, Medical Lab Assistant, Medical Laboratory Technologist, or even a Medical Laboratory Scientist. Others find this introduction to healthcare leads them to careers in nursing, radiology technology, respiratory therapy, or other roles in the hospital setting.

Course details:

• Class is held on site at University Medical Center
• Clinicals are integrated throughout the course

Advanced Programs are open to current University Medical Center Charlottesville employees that have been employed at least one year, must be in good standing and have manager support.

If you are a current University Medical Center - Charlottesville employee, please explore our Earn While You Learn intranet webpage to learn more about program details, pre-requisites, and application information.

Pre-requisite work is required for most programs. If you are not yet eligible for Earn While You Learn Advanced Programs, but are interested in advancing your education in the future, the following are recommended courses for Advanced Programs*

• BIO 141 - Human Anatomy & Physiology I
• BIO 142 - Human Anatomy & Physiology II
• ENG 111 - College Composition I
• SDV 100 - College Success Skills
• PSY 230 - Developmental Psychology

*Requirements will vary among the programs and academic partners. Please email the Earn While You Learn Team for additional questions.

Current University Medical Center employees of at least six months may be eligible for education benefits, which can be applied to pre-requisite courses. Please visit the Education Benefits webpage to learn more about eligibility for education reimbursement.

If you are interested in exploring current career opportunities within University Medical Center, please visit the Pipelines & Pathways webpage to learn more and connect with the team.

If you are a current University Medical Center employee, please visit our Earn While You Learn intranet webpage for more information about advanced programs requirements.