Catalyzing Credentials for the Biotech Workforce
Congratulations CGHI, Biotility, and Collin College!
The Center for Global Health Innovation (CGHI) has been awarded a $1.2MM Advanced Technological Education (ATE) grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to expand the Biotechnician Assistant Credentialing Exam (BACE) in 5 states as a tool to certify an individual’s capabilities and accelerate the development of the bioscience workforce. The BACE is an industry-recognized exam designed to assess core skills and knowledge sets identified by industry, and represented within the academic and performance standards of Biotechnology programs. The exam was originally vetted by the state of Florida’s industry organization, BioFlorida, which represents over 3,000 companies and research organizations in the biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and bioagriculture sectors. Since its creation, BACE has been assessed by national and international companies as other states adopt the exam.
The BACE exam is already on the approved lists of industry-recognized credentials for seven states and the District of Columbia. With five additional states formally adopting the BACE, the BACE will be on the path to becoming the industry-recognized system for entry-level biotechnicians.
In addition, we were able to use LinkedIn to find over 53 employers who hired students with the BACE credential.
The grant, Implementation of an Industry-Recognized Credentialing System (IRCS), will help colleges meet the projected increase in national workforce demand for highly skilled biotechnicians. Life science companies are often unfamiliar with applicants' skill sets. An effective credential can help. Industry identifies the Biotechnician Assistant Credentialing Exam (BACE), developed by Biotility at the University of Florida, as an effective tool to convey capabilities, and the BACE holds promise of becoming the industry-recognized credentialing system for the nation.
“CGHI is proud to play a leading role in establishing the BACE as a nationally recognized credential,” said Maria Thacker-Goethe, CEO of the Center for Global Health Innovation. “This project has the potential to facilitate the transition from two-year college technician education programs to employment in the biotechnology industry. Successfully adopting the BACE would not only serve the industry, but also serve the emerging workforce by identifying skill sets in demand across the country.”
The Center for Global Health Innovation (CGHI) is a 501(c)(3) organization that was launched in January 2020 to bring together diverse Global Health, Health Technology and Life Sciences entities to collaborate, innovate and activate solutions to enhance human health outcomes around the world. Biotility, at the University of Florida, provides high-quality education and training to professionals, students, researchers, and biotechnology educators who are seeking to expand and deepen their knowledge in the technical and regulatory details unique to biotechnology.