Biotechnology is one of the hottest growing employment sectors, both here in BC and in other parts of North America and Europe. If you're looking to get in on this exciting new career path instead of becoming a telemarketer like your friends, then you're going to need specialized education and training. It's a new field, so not as many universities and colleges teach it as opposed to more common avenues of education like English or physics. We can direct you to some of the places where you can get biotechnology qualifications.

University of British Columbia and British Columbia Institute of Technology

If you're serious about getting a good education in biotechnology in British Columbia, the University of British Columbia and the British Columbia Institute of Technology have joined forces to provide one of the best programs available. You'll have to leave your home and travel to Vancouver, BC to study and devote five years of your life to the study of the sciences. The first year of the program is standard sciences, and the biotechnology upgrade after that year is very competitive.

The program is co-operative, which means that your degree will include two four month work terms in which you might find yourself living and working for a company nearby. If you stop after three years, you will receive a diploma of technology in biotechnology, while completing all five years will earn you an honors bachelor of science in biotechnology.

University of Alberta

If you're more interested in what can be done with biotechnology at the cellular level, the University of Alberta's cell biotechnology program is for you. While living in Edmonton you'd be learning about how cells function and how these functions can be applied to technology. You can either do a specialization in cell biotechnology or an honors degree and graduate with your bachelor of science degree in four years.

College of New Caledonia

Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to have a degree and rich parents to get a job in biotechnology. While those with degrees design the processes, technologists carry out the work in laboratories and manufacturing settings. For this type of work, a diploma in biotechnology from a technical college like the College of New Caledonia in Prince Rupert would be sufficient.