ST. GEORGE — In response to the rising demand for technical career training in Washington County, Dixie Technical College is adding three new cohorts,

In the cohort structure, students progress through a given program together, offering “a unique sense of community, collaboration and support,” according to Dixie Tech officials. The programs involving these cohorts will include automotive technology, customer relationship management and nursing.

Dixie Tech reports that Washington County has seen employment grow 3.8% over the past year, compared with a statewide job growth of 2.1%.

Automotive Technology

Instructor Bill Vair told St. George News there is a growing demand for skilled technicians in the region.

Local dealerships and repair shops, such as Ken Garff St. George Ford and Findlay Subaru, were contacted to gauge their specific needs, hoping this program would fill them.

“Recently, St. George Ford added a night crew to their operations so that they could work with more of our students,” Vair said.

The program will offer two sessions, one Monday-Wednesday and another Thursday-Saturday.

“We’re opening up more options, giving a chance for the program to grow,” Vair said.

Expanding and changing curriculum has been a point of emphasis.

The curriculum covers all areas accredited by Automotive Service Excellence, including electrical systems, HVAC, brakes, steering and suspension, automatic and manual transmissions, engine repair and engine performance. Additional courses include light-duty diesel and hybrid/electric car technology.

“The students are very well-rounded when they leave,” Vair said.

The program benefits from a robust advisory committee of industry professionals, including business owners, service managers, and technicians, ensuring the curriculum meets current industry standards and needs, Vair said. The program boasts a 100% placement rate over the past two years, with students often securing employment before graduation.

The Automotive Technology Cohort will begin on July 11 with classes scheduled Thursday-Saturday, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Pharmacy Technician

The comprehensive Pharmacy Technician program is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary for a successful career in pharmacy.

Timaree Fullerton, a graduate of the program and the current instructor, said the curriculum combines traditional book study and hands-on opportunities.

“We introduce what pharmacy is, the history of pharmacy, the scope of practice, and the role of pharmacy technicians with pharmacists,” Fullerton said. “We teach pharmacology, including their effects, body systems, contraindications and reasons for prescriptions.”

Weekly quizzes ensure that students retain and understand the material.

By the end of the course, students will also receive an immunization certification, a skill “highly valued” in pharmacies. Fullerton said that pharmacy technicians were once not authorized to give immunizations in Utah, but now the majority of immunizations in pharmacies are administered by pharmacy technicians.

“This has increased the demand and pay for technicians,” Fullerton said.

The program includes both day and night classes, with day classes running Monday-Friday, from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., and night classes running Monday-Thursday, from 4-8:30 p.m.

Each student completes 210 hours in an externship at two different locations, gaining practical experience in community, institutional and compounding pharmacies. They have arrangements with 38 pharmacies in the area.

Fullerton highlighted the increasing scope of practice and pay for pharmacy technicians.

“When I came out in 2014, I was making $11.25 an hour as a CNA,” Fullerton said. “And I’d been a CNA for nine years.”

After graduating from the program, she immediately earned $14 as a pharmacy technician. Today, students are told not to accept roles paying less than $16 an hour and that they should accept up to $18.

Dixie Technical College maintains ties with local pharmacies through its Occupational Advisory Board Committee. Industry partners review the curriculum, provide feedback, and suggest equipment to ensure students are well-prepared.

“We have a really close relationship with our pharmacies here,” Fullerton said. “We ask them what they need and ensure our students are familiar with the latest equipment.”

The program will prepare them for all three types of pharmacies: community, institutional and compounding. Students hopefully end the course able to decide which one they would like best.

“It’s a good career, and it’s a great base for anyone wanting to go further in the medical field,” Fullerton said.

The Pharmacy Technician Cohort will start Aug. 12, with classes held Monday-Friday, 4-8:30 p.m.

Customer Relations

Customer Relationship Management and Revenue Operations is also slated to begin. Led by entrepreneur Peter Fuller, the course aims to equip students with the necessary skills to excel in “one of the fastest-growing” tech careers.

Fuller has extensive experience in the field and has seen a good number of students find gainful employment.

“I’ve run a successful consultancy and CRM development firm for the last five years,” Fuller said. “We then started an education program that has gotten over 200 people jobs in this space.”

It was a nationwide program with students from various locations, most of whom secured remote jobs. The program operated asynchronously. He matched students with employers and sold a company specializing in education for revenue operations and CRM but retained access to use the curriculum locally.

“I’m starting this from scratch,” Fuller said. “It’s a little outside of what Dixie Tech is known for.”

Fuller said that this opportunity is unique because not many tech field career options do not include a requirement of being able to program.

“It’s a tech career that has the growth of a tech career and a lot of the growth of a software development type role,” Fuller said. “Except you don’t need to learn how to code.”

He highlighted the potential impact on St. George’s economy.

“San Diego has biotech. Seattle has Amazon and Microsoft. There’s Silicon Valley. While St. George has had some growth in software, aviation, aeronautics, aerospace and engineering, there is no one industry that you can say, ‘Yeah, St. George is known for that,’” Fuller said.

Although it is a niche industry today, Fuller envisions a future where St. George becomes a hub for CRM and revenue operations.

“If we play our cards right, we can bring the right employers to town and help our students get remote jobs or start businesses in this space,” Fuller said.

Enrollment for the initial cohort is limited to 30 students, with 20 already expressing strong interest and is designed to be “highly practical” and “hands-on.” This is the first time a program like this has been offered at Dixie Technical College.

The hybrid model includes six hours of on-campus instruction and 14 hours of off-campus work each week, spanning eight months.

Fuller said students will gain real-world experience by working on actual projects for local organizations.

“You’re not just listening to a lecture; you’ve already done that at home,” Fuller said. “You’re coming into work and building CRM systems for local organizations.”

This eight-month program costs $3500, but Fuller says most students should qualify for financial aid and “won’t have to pay that much.”

Some 70% of students secure jobs or start their own businesses afterward.

The CRM and Revenue Operations Program commences Aug. 12 with classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30-8:30 p.m.

There will also be a new Culinary Arts cohort scheduled to begin on July 22, with classes running Monday-Friday, from 2:30-8:30 p.m.

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