The Chemical Technician Certificate program will prepare students with the knowledge, skills and abilities to be employed as laboratory technicians in areas such as lithium extraction and algal growth. In addition, laboratory skills and knowledge of laboratory equipment will be emphasized. The overall goals for the program are to provide the professional training and development of in‐demand skills for employers to prepare well qualified technicians for industries such as lithium and algae.
The program anticipates 15-20 completers per year.
The Chemical Technician Certificate program prepares students with skills and fundamental theories of biology ,chemistry, and math which include: algebra, geometry, trigonometry, algae propagation, chemical reactions and bonding, acids and bases, and gas chromatography. In addition, laboratory skills and knowledge of laboratory equipment will be emphasized. The overall goals for the program are to provide the professional training and development of in‐demand skills for employers to prepare well qualified technicians for lithium and algal industries.
This new program intends to address an anticipated need for Chemical Technicians in the lithium extraction, biotechnology, and the expansion of geothermal operations in Imperial Valley. Currently there are three major lithium extraction companies in Imperial Valley building lithium extraction facilities. Additionally, there is major expansion of geothermal facilities in Imperial Valley that will necessitate the hiring of chemical technicians.
| Course | Title | Units | Year/Semester (Y1 or S1) |
|---|---|---|---|
| BLDC 010 | HAZMAT Cal/OSHA | 1 | Y1 fall |
| BIOL 085 | Fundamentals of Biology | 3 | Y1 spring |
| CHEM 082 | Fundamentals of Chemistry | 4 | Y1 fall |
| CHEM 085 | Fundamentals of Instrumentation | 4 | Y1 spring |
| CIS 120 | Microsoft Word I | 1 | Y1 fall |
| CIS 124 | Excel I | 1 | Y1 spring |
| MATH 105 | Integrated Math for Technical fields | 3 | Y1 fall |
| WE 220 | Internship | 1 | Y1 spring |
Susan Wyche · 01/12/24
Palomar College supports this program, and agrees with Dean Romero's comments. It's great to see Imperial Valley preparing its students for specific Lithium industry jobs and building ties with this new industry.
Jennifer Lewis · 12/08/23
SWC supports this program.
George Dowden · 12/07/23
Cuyamaca supports this program.
Efrain Silva · 12/07/23
IVC recommends approval.
Jesse Lopez · 12/07/23
City College supports the proposal. Additionally, I agree with Dean Romero's rationale.
Monica Romero · 12/07/23
Mesa College supports this certificate. While the LMI is for both SD & Imperial, the massive expansion of the lithium industry in IV is creating new jobs and demands for the county. It is good to see the college's proactive approach to supporting this industry and providing residents with economic growth training and opportunities.
John Edwards · 12/05/23
Imperial Valley College submitted the appropriate LMI from the COE. Because there was no data for Imperial County for the selected occupations, the area was expanded to San Diego-Imperial. We suggest using employer letters to address the lack of data for Imperial County. For this reason, the COE defers to the region because 1) there is a potential supply gap; and 2) entry-level earnings are above the living wage. The colleges should also note that employers typically require a high school diploma or equivalent as the minimum educational requirement for these occupations.
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