BioWork Process Technician
BioWork is a 136-hour, non-degree certificate course that can lead to an entry-level position as a process technician. The certificate provides course credit that can be put toward an associate degree in Biotechnology.
BioWork is intended for high school graduates and those who want to pursue a career in the biopharmaceutical industry. Those already in the industry can earn continuing education units (CEUs) for the course.
"Of all the teachers and courses I've taken, I would say that BioWork impacted my life the most. I went from minimum wage to making a great living surrounded by people who actually enjoy coming to work for a company that actually cares."
-Ryan Kennedy, Merck employee
To be eligible for the BioWork program, students must have a high school diploma, high school equivalency or some form of post-secondary education, or they must take math and reading placement tests at Wake Tech. Applicants also must complete the online BioWork information session.
- Program: Eight units of study designed by industry and directly related to biopharmaceutical technology
- Cost: $180, plus an $18 administration fee and a $40 lab fee for in-person classes. For the Fall 2025 semester, the textbook can be purchased at the Southern Wake Campus Bookstore (cost determined by the bookstore).
- Duration: Depends upon the section chosen to attend
- Class format: In-person, online or hybrid; day or evening
- Location: Southern Wake Campus, Western Wake Campus or RTP Campus (also online)
Students should receive a welcome letter approximately a week before class starts. BioWork offers the following benefits for students:
- Teaching expertise of industry veterans
- Teamwork and problem-solving activities
- Networking opportunities linked to career-building and job search
- Resume support and interview practice
NOTE: Participation in online classes through Microsoft Teams meetings, and access to Blackboard, the online interface for the course, will require a student's access to a laptop or desktop computer. A tablet or cellphone will not work for Blackboard functions or much of the Teams meetings material. Details on these classes on the online meeting days and times can be found by clicking on the "Details" button for each class section.
Questions? Email [email protected].
Industry-recognized credential: BioWork Process Technician Certificate
Complete course in: Four months or less
Financial assistance available
Don't have enough money to pay for a course? Wake Tech's Propel program offers scholarships that cover the cost of registration and fees.
NOTE: The Propel Scholarship Application is currently closed and will reopen July 1.
BioWork Process Technician Training Courses
BioWork: Process Technician Training
Course Objectives
Demonstrate knowledge and competence in the academic and technical fields related to bioprocess manufacturing
Use critical thinking to analyze and solve problems
Communicate effectively
Demonstrate positive, effective and appropriate interpersonal skills
Outline of Instruction
Unit 1: Pharmaceutical Quality and CGMP - Quality methods, standards and practices utilized in the biomanufacturing industry and how the federal government regulates and enforces them.
Unit 2: Working Safely - Hazards and risks within the biomanufacturing industry and how industry practices, education and federal agencies such as OSHA work to minimize these hazards and risks
Unit 3: Measuring Process Parameters - Process variables such as length, mass, volume, pressure and other parameters are measured and converted back and forth between the metric and English unit systems
Unit 4: Chemical Processes in Biomanufacturing - Introduction to common chemicals in the workplace, basic chemical safety, nature of chemicals, chemical families, chemical reactions and mixtures/solutions
Unit 5: Equipment and Utilities - Discussion of inputs, process steps, outputs, facility organization, process equipment (tanks, piping systems, pumps, valves and seals), facility utilities (gases, water, steam, heating and cooling, hydraulics, electricity and waste treatment)
Unit 6: Controlling the Process - Common unit operations, separation methods and equipment, process control parameters and methods, process control instrumentation and manual/automatic control methods
Unit 7: Facilities and the Manufacturing Environment - Facility design and operation considerations including biopharmaceutical facility regulatory requirements, facility monitoring and maintenance and contamination control concerns/methods
Unit 8: Biomanufacturing Production - Detailed discussion of biomanufacturing steps that are common to many product types and specific production steps unique to or found in a number of special product categories
In addition to the above-mentioned unit materials contained within the BioWork textbook, instruction and discussion about job-seeking skills such as resume development, searching for jobs online, LinkedIn or other professional networking tools and interview questions is included in this course. Students are strongly encouraged and invited to attend virtual career fairs that as many as 30 industry partners attend.
Contact Hours
150
CEUs
Yes
Industry Standard, State or National Certification
Certification
Partnership for Biotechnology Workforce Training - Process Technician Examination
Website
https://www.scantron.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/NCBC-Candidate-Guid…
Certification Learning Outcomes/Requirements
Complying with cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practices)
Following an SOP (Standard Operating Procedure)
Completing Batch Records
Reading an SDS (Safety Data Sheet)
An awareness of the importance of safety for the workers and product
Using the metric system and measuring process parameters
Understanding mechanical components of process operations (tanks, pumps, valves, etc.)
Reading gauges
Understanding different utility requirements (water, air, electrical, waste systems) for different parts of process operations
Reading process diagrams and understanding feedback systems
Determining manufacturing process similarities and differences for various product types
Resume writing, job interview and networking skills
CE or CU Articulation
Bioprocess Practices, BPM-110, and Industrial Environment, PTC-110
Prerequisites
Students who wish to register for BioWork must possess a high school diploma or GED and must complete an online information session.
Learning Supplies Needed
"BioWork: An Introductory Course for Process Technicians, Third Edition," Revised 2020
Clinical Site/Special Facilities
Lab module or virtual replacements for onsite laboratory exercises
Requirements for Successful Completion
80% attendance
Students must score an 80% on each unit exam to stay in the course. Students are allowed one retest of each unit exam to reach that 80% score.,An approved resume from N.C. BioNetwork or Biotechnology Career Navigator
Accreditation/Special Approval Requirements
High school diploma or General Education Diploma
Intended Audience
Those with at least a high school diploma or GED who are unemployed, transitioning, especially from other manufacturing sectors, or starting a new career. This course can also be useful for individuals with degrees in biological sciences, chemistry, biochemistry or other fields who want to enter employment in biomanufacturing or pharmaceutical manufacturing and lack the knowledge of the products, regulations and manufacturing methods used in these industries.
Specific Industry or Business Support Needs
Bioprocess Technician 3 or 4, Manufacturing Process Technician I, Operation Specialist
Wake County Need for Industry Positions
Many employers within Wake County and surrounding counties
Industry or Job Titles Related to Training Outcomes for Employment
Manufacturing process technician
Bioprocess technician
Operation specialist
| Details | Section | Date(s) | Location | Price | Seats | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 329573 | 06/02/26 - 07/28/26 | Eastern Wake Campus | 243.00 | 6 | Register | |
| 329765 | 06/15/26 - 08/12/26 | RTP Campus | 243.00 | 10 | Register | |
| 329781 | 06/16/26 - 08/13/26 | Western Wake Campus | 243.00 | 5 | Register | |
| 330035 | 06/23/26 - 08/11/26 | Southern Wake Campus | 243.00 | 11 | Register |
If you would like to be notified when additional sections become available, please use Wake Tech’s Notify Me service for BTC-3200A7-BioWork: Process Technician Training .
Micropipetting Techniques for Precision & Accuracy
Course Objectives
Introduce the basic skills of micropipette operation
Provide experience with a variety of micropipettes commonly encountered in laboratory situations
Discuss and practice techniques used to increase pipetting performance
Provide students with a means to quantify their pipetting skills and measure gains in those skills acquired during the course
Provide an introduction to the dilution of laboratory reagents/samples and the calculations needed to make those dilutions
Introduce the topic of ergonomics as it applies to laboratory procedures and the prevention of workplace injuries
Outline of Instruction
Lecture: The use and function of micropipettes
Lab: Initial micropipetting skill level testing (Artel method)
Lecture: Factors affecting pipetting performance
Lecture: Methods to quantify micropipette performance
Lecture: Guide to dilutions
Lab: Pipetting
Lecture: Tips for better pipetting
Lecture: Ergonomics and micropipetting
Lab: Pipetting and the gravimetric method of measuring pipetting performance
Lab: Practice pipetting with glass, serological and digital pipettes
Lab: Final test of pipetting performance (Artel method)
Open floor for additional questions and feedback
Contact Hours
7
CEUs
Yes
Industry Standard, State or National Certification
Certification
None
Website
None
Certification Learning Outcomes/Requirements
CE or CU Articulation
No
Prerequisites
Minimum of a high school diploma/GED or relevant industry work experience. Some exposure to pipetting techniques is beneficial, but is not required.
Learning Supplies Needed
Study materials, including copies of lecture slides, additional reference material and laboratory exercises, will be provided by the instructor.
Clinical Site/Special Facilities
N/A
Requirements for Successful Completion
95% attendance
Coefficient of variation (CV) < 1% with micropipettes in two attempts or fewer
Accreditation/Special Approval Requirements
N/A
Intended Audience
Specific Industry or Business Support Needs
N/A
Wake County Need for Industry Positions
N/A
Industry or Job Titles Related to Training Outcomes for Employment
No active courses available at this time.
To be notified when this course becomes available, please use
Wake Tech’s Notify Me service
for SEF-79654-Micropipetting Techniques for Precision & Accuracy
.
Upstream Processing
Course Objectives
Compare and contrast key differences between microbial fermentation and cell culture in terms of equipment, cell growth, biological products, support systems, nutrients and sterility assurance
Identify components of a pilot-scale fermenter (BioFlo 320), practice monitoring the exponential growth of E.coli by tracking growth parameters such as pH and dissolved oxygen (DO), develop an E.coli growth curve in a batch production record (BPR) using optical density (OD) measurements from a UV/Vis spectrophotometer
Demonstrate the importance of sterility assurance with hands-on activities with both contaminated and healthy cell lines, apply the fundamentals of aseptic technique through Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell subculturing (cell passage) inside a biological safety cabinet (BSC)
Monitor cell viability, metabolite quality and osmotic conditions of mammalian cell growth using a cell counter, bioanalyzer and osmometer; observe the impact of cell growth parameters such as pH and oxygen on cell culture maintenance with a blood gas analyzer
Engage with upstream processing single-use technologies such as mixers, containers and tubing; prepare aseptic tubing using a tube welder, single-use tube connectors and sterile filters
Outline of Instruction
Introduction: Fundamentals of upstream processing, fermentation lab (Part I), upstream facilities, equipment and control, tools of the trade, fermentation lab (Part II)
Cell Culture: Cell culture lecture, working with mammalian cells, analyte testing, analyte and metabolite testing lab, single-use technology, aseptic connection demonstration and course wrap-up
Contact Hours
16
CEUs
No
Industry Standard, State or National Certification
Certification
None
Website
None
Certification Learning Outcomes/Requirements
CE or CU Articulation
No
Prerequisites
N/A
Learning Supplies Needed
N/A
Clinical Site/Special Facilities
N/A
Requirements for Successful Completion
80% attendance
Accreditation/Special Approval Requirements
N/A
Intended Audience
Bioprocess technicians, bioprocess engineers, manufacturing associates, fermentation technicians, fermentation lab analysts
Specific Industry or Business Support Needs
N/A
Wake County Need for Industry Positions
N/A
Industry or Job Titles Related to Training Outcomes for Employment
Bioprocess technicians, bioprocess engineers, manufacturing associates, fermentation technicians, fermentation lab analysts
No active courses available at this time.
To be notified when this course becomes available, please use
Wake Tech’s Notify Me service
for SEF-3001MF1-Upstream Processing
.
Downstream Processing
Course Objectives
Recall fundamental topics of downstream processing and define individual steps, such as cell disruption, solid-liquid separation and purification through daily content refreshers and assessments
Explain key differences between filtration, viral clearance and diafiltration. Practice the purification and concentration of proteins through hands-on filtration and diafiltration activities using a batch production record (BPR).
Define the purpose of chromatography and identify different types of chromatography, including ion-exchange chromatography and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. Explain basic protein chemistry and the importance of absorbance for total protein identification.
Identify the importance of column packing and distinguish factors that impact column packing, such as mobile phase and resin selection. Practice column packing calculations and observe a column packing demonstration.
Identify the component of a small-scale chromatography system (ÄKTA Start). Conduct an anion-exchange chromatography (AEX) run through the preparation and A395 analysis of green fluorescent protein (GFP) using the ÄKTA Start Chromatography Systems. Calculate GFP production yield and column performance, such as height equivalent to a theoretical plate (HETP) and asymmetry.
Outline of Instruction
Introduction: Downstream processing overview, filter integrity test, tangential flow filtration (TFF), ÄKTA start ID/filtrate preparation/setup, chemistry review and wrap-up
Chromatography Day: Chromatography operations, column packing, column packing demo, AEX run, single use in DSP and wrap-up
Contact Hours
16
CEUs
No
Industry Standard, State or National Certification
Certification
None
Website
None
Certification Learning Outcomes/Requirements
CE or CU Articulation
No
Prerequisites
N/A
Learning Supplies Needed
N/A
Clinical Site/Special Facilities
N/A
Requirements for Successful Completion
90% attendance
Accreditation/Special Approval Requirements
N/A
Intended Audience
Bioprocess technicians, bioprocess engineers, manufacturing associates, fermentation technicians, fermentation lab analysts
Specific Industry or Business Support Needs
N/A
Wake County Need for Industry Positions
N/A
Industry or Job Titles Related to Training Outcomes for Employment
Bioprocess technicians, bioprocess engineers, manufacturing associates, fermentation technicians, fermentation lab analysts
No active courses available at this time.
To be notified when this course becomes available, please use
Wake Tech’s Notify Me service
for SEF-3001MD1-Downstream Processing
.
