Biotechnology
How To Apply
Program Details
- Program Code3601
- Credential NameBiotechnology
- Credential TypeOntario College Diploma
- SchoolSchool of Engineering Technology and Applied Science
- Program TypeAdvancement program
- Program Length2 years/ 4 semesters
- Delivery ModeHybrid
- LocationMorningside Campus
- Emailabes@centennialcollege.ca
- Telephone416-289-5000, ext. 58256
Program Availability
- Program Overview
- Courses
- Career Options and Education Pathways
- Admission Requirements
- How to Apply
- Tuition and Fees
- Program Vocational Learning Outcomes
- Advising
- Co-operative Education
Centennial College's Biotechnology program will prepare you to work as a laboratory technician (in quality control and quality assurance) in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.
Biotechnology courses will provide practical application in industrial microbiology as well as chemistry (analytical), organic chemistry and biochemistry. Laboratory techniques, including appropriate safety procedures, will be extensively highlighted.
A special feature of this applied science program is its project-based approach, with independently-designed microbiology projects that will enhance your problem-solving and research skills.
You'll learn to:
- Isolate, enumerate and identify microorganisms from many types of samples (water, soil, air, the body, food, and pharmaceutical and cosmetic products);
- Prepare specimens for staining and become an expert light-microscopist;
- Become proficient in aseptic handling of materials;
- Accurately calibrate and use a range of instruments such as pH meters, UV-Vis spectrophotometers, and centrifuges;
- Prepare microbiological media and reagents and culture pathogenic microbes;
- Design and perform your own microbiology experiments;
- Use microorganisms to assay pharmaceutical products.
You may graduate in two years as a biotechnician or continue into a third year to study specialized topics such as advanced biotechnology and microbial genetics or systematic microbiology. With the third year of study, you'll graduate from the Biotechnology – Advanced offering.
Awards: The Biotechnology program is a repeat recipient of the Centennial College President's Academic Program Recognition Award for Outstanding Student Satisfaction.
Program Overview
Centennial College's Biotechnology program will prepare you to work as a laboratory technician (in quality control and quality assurance) in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.
Biotechnology courses will provide practical application in industrial microbiology as well as chemistry (analytical), organic chemistry and biochemistry. Laboratory techniques, including appropriate safety procedures, will be extensively highlighted.
A special feature of this applied science program is its project-based approach, with independently-designed microbiology projects that will enhance your problem-solving and research skills.
You'll learn to:
- Isolate, enumerate and identify microorganisms from many types of samples (water, soil, air, the body, food, and pharmaceutical and cosmetic products);
- Prepare specimens for staining and become an expert light-microscopist;
- Become proficient in aseptic handling of materials;
- Accurately calibrate and use a range of instruments such as pH meters, UV-Vis spectrophotometers, and centrifuges;
- Prepare microbiological media and reagents and culture pathogenic microbes;
- Design and perform your own microbiology experiments;
- Use microorganisms to assay pharmaceutical products.
You may graduate in two years as a biotechnician or continue into a third year to study specialized topics such as advanced biotechnology and microbial genetics or systematic microbiology. With the third year of study, you'll graduate from the Biotechnology – Advanced offering.
Awards: The Biotechnology program is a repeat recipient of the Centennial College President's Academic Program Recognition Award for Outstanding Student Satisfaction.
Courses
Career Options and Education Pathways
Companies Offering Jobs
Organizations that have hired past Biotechnology graduates include: Kisko Products, Hermann Laue Spice Company, Apotex Inc., Agropur - Divisional Natrel, Mill Street Brewery, Maxxam Analytics, Campbell Soup Company, bioMerieux, Griffith Laboratories, Cosmetica Laboratories Inc.
Program Highlights
- Eight up-to-date laboratories and modern wireless lecture facilities housed at the college's Morningside Campus enhance your learning.
- Thorough laboratory training, from the basics to professional skills, is provided, encouraging and developing teamwork skills.
- Qualified and caring faculty and staff provide individual attention in laboratory sessions.
- Training in Occupational Health and Safety, WHMIS, GMP, HACCP is to industry standards.
- There is a high program graduation rate and high rates of student satisfaction.
- Qualified graduates may apply to enter the third year of the Biotechnology -
Advanced program. - The Biotechnology, Environmental Technology and Food Science Technology programs share a common first year, which provides the flexibility to transfer between these programs before entering the second year.
Career Outlook
- Quality assurance technician
- Microbiology lab technician
- Chemist – calibration
- Sterile specialist
- Analytical chemist/microbiologist
- Microbiology laboratory analyst
- QC raw material analyst
Education Pathways
Graduates of this Biotechnology diploma program have the opportunity to apply learning achieved at Centennial for credits toward further study at the degree level. Listed below are institutions offering pathways for this program.
Please note that each receiving institution has minimum admission requirements in order to qualify for transfer credits, which are assessed by the receiving institution.
For more detailed pathways information, visit our website at //centennial.adv-pub.moveonca.com/outgoing-home/.
Use the following Education Pathways Checklist as a guide as you explore your options.
For pathways to other Ontario post-secondary institutions, please visit ONTransfer.
Educational Partners
Please visit our website at www.centennialcollege.ca/admissions/applying/education-pathways/outbound-pathways for more information on education partners.
Recognitions
OACETT
The Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists (OACETT) recognizes this TAC nationally-accredited program as meeting the academic standard for certification in the Certified Technician (C.Tech.) category as well as the OACETT language benchmark requirement.
Accreditation
This program has met the national educational standards of Canada’s engineering technology and applied science profession, as such, has received national program accreditation by Technology Accreditation Canada (TAC).
- Please note: The qualification requirements and costs for each external accreditation, designation, certification or recognition are set by the granting body — not by Centennial College. In order to qualify for any external accreditations, designations, certifications or recognition, students and graduates will need to follow the processes and meet the applicable requirements listed on the websites and in the materials of those external bodies.
Areas of Employment
Graduates typically start their careers as quality control technicians in a broad range of industries (food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals) and also in related government agencies.
Admission Requirements
Academic Requirements
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent, or mature student status (19 years or older)
- Grade 12 English (C or U), or equivalent (minimum grade required), or take the Centennial English Admission Test
- Grade 11 Mathematics (M or U) or Grade 12 Mathematics (C or U), or equivalent (minimum grade required), or take a Centennial College Engineering Math Skills Assessment for Admission
Additional Requirements
How to Apply
1. Apply Online
Domestic Students
If you are applying through the Better Jobs Ontario Program, please apply at the Employment Training Centre (Progress Campus). The Better Jobs Ontario Program is a funding initiative for those who have been laid-off and are in need of training. For more information go to Better Jobs Ontario Program.
If you have previously attended a full-time program at Centennial College, you may be eligible for a Program Transfer. Visit Enrolment Services at any Campus for information.
All other applicants must apply online at Ontariocolleges.ca. A non-refundable application fee of $150 must accompany applications. The fee is payable online, by telephone, online banking, by mail, or in-person to Ontariocolleges.ca. For more information go to Ontariocolleges.ca Application Fees.
International Students
Apply directly to Centennial College here.
2. Submit Documents
Domestic Applicants
Current Ontario high school students and graduates from Ontario high schools: Notify your guidance counsellor that you have applied to college and your school will forward transcripts to Centennial College via Ontariocolleges.ca.
Graduates of college/university, or high school outside Ontario but within Canada: You are responsible for requesting that your educational institute sends any required documents and transcripts to Ontariocolleges.ca.
Domestic applicants who attended school outside of Canada: If you are submitting transcripts to meet admission requirements, you must have the transcripts assessed by an independent credential assessment agency such as World Education Services (WES) or International Credential Assessment Service (ICAS). For more information go to Submitting your Transcripts.
International Applicants
Please refer to the International Education Application Guide.
3. Confirm Your Offer of Admission
Offers of Admission are sent by mail to eligible applicants. When you receive your offer, you must login to your account at Ontariocolleges.ca and confirm before the Deadline to Confirm noted in your offer letter.
You may confirm only one college and one program offer at a time.
You must confirm your offer by the Deadline to Confirm noted in your Offer of Admission letter or your seat may be given to another applicant.
When you confirm your Offer of Admission at Centennial College you are given access to your personal myCentennial account where you can check your email, grades, register for courses, pay tuition fees, and see your class timetable.
4. Pay Fees
Centennial fees statements are sent by email to your personal email account and to your myCentennial email account. Fees statements are not mailed.
You must make a minimum payment by the Fees Deadline noted in your Fees Statement or your seat may be given to another applicant.
5. Build Your Timetable (Register for Courses)
Build your timetable (web-register for courses) at my.centennialcollege.ca.
Fall registration begins mid-July
January registration begins mid-December
May registration begins mid-April
Your web-registration will not open if:
You have not submitted your minimum fee payment by the deadline
You received a Conditional Offer of Admission and you have not met the conditions of your offer.
Once you have paid your fees or have made appropriate arrangements, register for your courses online through myCentennial.
Tuition and Fees
Fees noted below are estimates only. Tuition is based on two semesters, beginning Fall 2025.
| Student | Tuition (2 Semesters) | Ancillary Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian | $2,721.00 | $1,602.68 | $4,323.68 |
| International | $18,254.00 | $2,100.63 | $20,354.63 |
Program Vocational Learning Outcomes
Program Vocational Learning Outcomes
Program Vocational Learning Outcomes describe what graduates of the program have demonstrated they can do with the knowledge and skills they have achieved during their studies. The outcomes are closely tied to the needs of the workplace. Through assessment (e.g., assignments and tests), students verify their ability to reliably perform these outcomes before graduating.
- Complete all tasks in compliance with pertinent legislation and regulations, as well as biotechnology standards and guidelines.
- Apply quality control and quality assurance procedures to meet organizational standards and requirements.
- Apply best practices for sustainability.
- Complete biotechnological applications using principles of chemistry, biology and biostatistics as well as basic principles of physics.
- Use appropriate laboratory procedures to carry out quantitative and qualitative tests and analyses.
- Carry out standard cell culture procedures under aseptic conditions.
- Carry out molecular biology procedures.
- Assist with the management of biological data to support biological scientists and researchers in capturing, organizing/summarizing and storing their data.
- Prepare, maintain and communicate scientific data effectively.
- Develop and present a strategic plan for ongoing personal and professional development to enhance work performance.
- Personality TestSTARTMatch your personality to a career
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Phyllis Sears, Biotechnology, GraduateMy time studying at Centennial College proved extremely helpful in developing my skills academically and socially. I studied in the Biotechnology Advanced co-op program, which provided me with a wide range of essential laboratory techniques and practices.
After completing a one-year co-op at a pharmaceutical company, I was offered a full time job once I graduated. I am now working as a microbiology analyst, and I owe it all to Centennial College.
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