Surgical technology Temple College is extending the application deadline for students interesting in applying for its next Surgical Technology class.

Applications will now be taken through March 1 for the next class, which starts in May 2019.

Temple College offers both a certificate program in surgical technology and an associate degree program. Students can begin work as surgical technologists after completing the certificate program, and then continue their studies for an additional semester and earn an associate degree.

According to the Texas Workforce Commission, Surgical Technologists are the second-highest “in-demand” occupation in Central Texas, with an anticipated growth rate of 50 percent.

Graduates of Temple College’s Surgical Technology program in the past two years have had a 100 percent job placement rate.

Alicia Buck, director of the program, said surgical technology is a good career for people who would like to get into the workforce quickly, or for those who are already working in the medical field in entry-level positions who would like to advance to a higher-level career.

The next information session for interested students will be held Monday, Feb. 11, at 3 p.m. in Room 1814 of the Health Sciences Center.

For more information, visit www.templejc.edu/surgical-technology or contact Buck at alicia.buck@templejc.edu.