Yakima Valley College’s Integrated Basic Education Skills (I-BEST) programs pair a professional or technical program with Adult Basic Education courses — providing adult learners the support they need to more quickly enter in-demand careers. I-BEST students are paired with an instructor in Adult Basic Education, English as a Second Language, or GED preparation, as well as a professional-technical program instructor, for twice the support in each classroom.
I-BEST programs available include Business Technology, Pharmacy Assistant and Phlebotomy Certificate. Programs are offered at various times throughout the year. Contact the Pathways Coordinator for the schedule of programs offered during upcoming quarters.
Business Technology I-BEST: The four-quarter I-BEST Business Technology program of study prepares students to pursue Administrative Office Assistant and Bilingual Administrative Office Assistant degrees as well as other degrees and certificates in the Business Pathway.
Pharmacy Assistant I-BEST: The one-quarter Pharmacy Assistant I-BEST program prepares students for an entry-level position as an in-demand healthcare professional with ample employment opportunities and flexible work environments. Pharmacy Assistants aid pharmacists by performing clerical duties necessary to ensure that a pharmacy is running efficiently. Students who earn a Pharmacy Assistant Certificate from YVC also can continue their education working toward a Pharmacy Technician certificate or degree. This fully online program prepares students to learn the essential skills and responsibilities required to be a pharmacist assistant.
Phlebotomy I-BEST: The two-quarter Phlebotomy I-BEST program prepares students for an exciting entry-level healthcare career that provides ample employment opportunities and excellent exposure to many areas of the healthcare industry. Phlebotomists draw blood for tests, transfusions, research or blood donations. Starting phlebotomists can expect to earn more than $40,000 a year in the Yakima area, with a job outlook growing faster than the average employment field over the next ten years.
Why I-BEST? Adult literacy and vocational instructors work together to develop and deliver instruction. Students spend less time in school, demonstrate more skills gains and have clear pathways from entry-level jobs to higher skilled and better paying careers in high-demand fields.
For more information about YVC’s I-BEST programs contact Andrea Gutierrez Trammell, Pathways Coordinator, at 509.834.4527 or agutierreztrammell@yvcc.edu.