The Community College of Rhode Island’s Center for Workforce and Community Education will host an information session for its Comprehensive Pharmacy Technician II and Veterinary Assistant programs from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 7, in Room 4090 at the Knight Campus in Warwick.

In the Veterinary Assistant program, students will become prepared to assist in the care of animals in veterinary offices as well as shelters and animal hospitals and also will receive training in important office tasks and communicating with patients’ families. This program differs from veterinary technician programs, which require an associate degree and additional certification.

Students will complete 90 hours of classroom training during the course, which will run from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday and Wednesday from Jan. 30 to May 8. Program modules will include units on professionalism and ethics; office and hospital procedures including prescriptions; animal nursing, which covers medications, grooming, sanitation, feeding, safety and diseases; exam room procedures; surgical preparation and assisting; laboratory procedures and equipment; radiology; pharmacology; and urinalysis. An externship will follow from May 10 to June 9. Learn more online at www.ccri.edu/cwce/career/veterinary.

The Comprehensive Certified Pharmacy Technician II program is geared toward anyone interested in working as a pharmacy technician, pre-pharmacy students and those with a health care background looking to strengthen their skills. Topics include drug classes, physiology, drug interactions, daily pharmacy operations, pharmacy calculations and more.

Students will complete 120 hours of classroom instruction plus 60 hours of online coursework and 120 hours of externship. Classes will be held from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday from Jan. 31 to May 18. Externship dates are July 5 to Aug. 11. Learn more online at www.ccri.edu/cwce/career/pharmtech.

For more information about either program, contact Jane King at 455-6187 or jking14@ccri.edu.