TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) plans to roll out an online pharmacy technician certification course as part of food, drug and mass retail career preparation programs being developed with e-learning provider LearnSomething.
Florida-based LearnSomething said Thursday that the Pharmacy Technician Preparation Program will be the first offering released of the Food, Drug and Mass Career Preparation Programs. The Rx program includes the preparation course for pharmacy technician certification.
Also soon to be available is the Retail Associate Preparation Program, which will offer two specializations: in food or in health, beauty and wellness. LearnSomething said both programs provide overviews of retail operations and can be used as launch points for pursuing management roles.
The programs are designed to provide pre-employment training for job applicants and performance training for current retail workers. FMI and LearnSomething said they are developing programs only for career positions projected to have long-term demand.
All of those who finish the programs receive a Certificate of Completion endorsed by the FMI Foundation.
"These programs provide the broad foundation and versatile skills employees need to perform well today and adapt quickly to tomorrow’s changes," Leslie Sarasin, president and chief executive officer of FMI, said in a statement. "In the end, it’s all about meeting the changing needs of our members, their customers and the essential link between the two: retail employees. We couldn’t be more thrilled to be involved in this partnership with LearnSomething. We are certain that our members who review these preparation programs will agree."
LearnSomething said the new courses’ online format, which requires a shorter completion time than comparable classroom programs, was chosen to accommodate employees’ and retailers’ schedules.
"We know from our lengthy experience in grocery and pharmacy that great training is transformative, strengthening retailers’ brands and results and employee job satisfaction," commented Steve Roden, CEO of LearnSomething. "Getting training right comes from maintaining a superior production team and collaborating with the right partners, such as FMI, which has a fantastic track record in supporting their members."
