(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Texas State Technical College’s Workforce Training and Continuing Education department will offer four new certification courses at the Harlingen campus this fall, including Fiber Optics – Broadband Technician, NCCER Basic Rigger, Phlebotomy Technician, and Remote Drone Pilot.
“The four programs we’re offering are short-term training that can lead to a high-paying job,” said Myra De Leon, TSTC’s executive director for Workforce Training and Continuing Education. “The jobs are in demand, and each certification is recognized by its industry.”
Instructor David Sanchez said the 105-hour Fiber Optics – Broadband Technician course lasts five weeks and will be taught in a hybrid format.
“Students will learn about the evolution of fiber optics, along with the integration, application and principles of fiber-optic transmission,” he said. “Individuals can enter the workforce as an entry-level telecommunications technician or a fiber optics installer.”
NCCER Basic Rigger instructor Orlando Luis Bultes said students in the 140-hour course can expect to learn how to perform rigging operations safely at construction sites.
“(They) will use various types of rigging equipment, understand rigging procedures and master essential safety protocols, (and) can pursue jobs such as a rigger, crane operator and other positions where rigging is essential,” he said.
Instructor Linette Jackson said the 86-hour Phlebotomy Technician course, which will include four weeks of training at TSTC and four weeks of clinicals at Valley Baptist Medical Center, will offer a fast-paced career pathway into the medical field.
“Students will learn how to draw blood, they will understand which tests the blood will be used for, and they will be familiarized with patient care,” she said. “Graduates of the program can find a job at a hospital, at a doctor’s office, in health insurance, or at a plasma donation center.”
The Remote Drone Pilot course will be divided into three consecutive days for a total of 24 hours. The certificate can aid workers in a variety of fields, including building inspection, real estate photography, and agriculture.
For more information about the courses and schedules, contact Myra De Leon at 956-364-4603 or myra.deleon@tstc.edu.
For more information about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.
