Blue River Career Programs adding Pharmacy Technician and Cosmetology to curriculum

Blue River Career Programs is adding two new educational opportunities after surveying nearly 500 students in Shelby County.

BRCP will begin offering a two-year Pharmacy Tech program beginning in 2027. A Cosmetology program will start in 2028.

Partnering with KLR Medical Certifications Training School, BRCP will offer high school juniors online training as a pharmacy technician. As seniors, the program offers work-based learning.

Seniors that want to start the program in 2027 will take online classes in the fall and do work-based training in the spring of 2028.

The online classes will not be on site at BRCP unless special arrangements are needed.

Adding a Cosmetology program has been on the BRCP radar for some time now, according to Jeremy Powers, Blue River Career Programs Director.

The facility, located at 801 St. Joseph St. in Shelbyville, services all five high schools in Shelby County.

“We are in a two-year planning phase for that,” said Powers. “It’s been a conversation going on for several years. It’s been finding the right time to do it and finding the space to do it. The board and I felt like it was the right time and it gives us a two-year runway to do it right.”

BRCP’s survey included four potential educational opportunities: Pharmacy Tech, Cosmetology, HVAC and Aviation Management. The responses from area students in grades 8-10 favored Cosmetology the most followed by Pharmacy Tech.

BRCP had a record enrollment this fall at 453 students – up 55 students from last fall. Classes are offered five days a week in two sessions – morning and afternoon.

Students from Shelbyville and Triton Central can start attending BRCP classes as sophomores. Students from Morristown, Southwestern and Waldron must be juniors or seniors to enroll.

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