Brandi Dunn, BSN, RN Registered Nurse As a graduate of NCTC’s Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program, I am so grateful to all of the staff who went above and beyond to instill the nursing knowledge that I use every day. My first “real nursing job” was in dialysis, which was perfect since I had done a dialysis clinical at NCTC. In no time, I advanced to a Clinic Coordinator position and...

Ashley Stratton Firefighter/Paramedic, City of Lewisville It took me two years to decide to enroll at NCTC. I lacked confidence, and I didn’t know if I would be able to get a job because of my “colorful” past. I started in the EMT/Paramedic program but experienced the fire service during our ride outs. My heart led me straight into NCTC’s Fire Academy after the paramedic program. As a...

Mitch Dieter Production Forman In my senior year of high school, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life, but an NCTC Career Day led me to the Petroleum Technology program. I completed an Associate of Science degree that included a one year Oil and Gas Technology Level 1 Certificate. I was lucky to be selected for a summer internship with Chevron that turned into six years and three...

Mason Ramon, RT(R)(CT)(ARRT) Radiologic Technologist Before I joined the Radiology program at NCTC, I felt like I had no direction. I got little to no satisfaction working a dead end job and living paycheck to paycheck. Now three years into my career in radiology, I work in the Computed Tomography (CT) Department at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital. I am able to provide for my growing...

Rufino Mendez Pressure Vessel Welder I completed a Level 1 Workforce Certificate in Welding Technology in August 2017 at NCTC. My instructor saw that I was a talented welder with a good work ethic, so he recommended me for a position at Trident Process Systems. At Trident, I’ve worked my way up to a pressure vessel welder position, where I weld vessels to meet very strict standards. My...

How can you go wrong with a business management degree? Are you interested in positioning yourself for a better entry-level opportunity, or perhaps vying for a promotion in your current job? Whether you want to work for a large corporation or go into business for yourself, North Central Texas College’s Business Management program can prepare you for a rewarding career.  You will have the...

Do you have knowledge and/or prior work experience that could help you pursue an education in Business Management, Business Office Technology or Criminal Justice? Would you like to shorten the time it takes for you to complete education certificates in these programs? Can you benefit from book and tuition scholarships, access to a Success Coach, and the ease of completing these programs...

For Shannon Campbell, time is precious. As a single mom of a 10-year-old son, she also works full time at the Richeson Group, a Dairy Queen franchisee. So, for Campbell, the opportunity to take advantage of the NCTC Fast Start IV Grant and expedite the completion of her degree made perfect sense. Funded by the Texas Workforce Commission, the Fast Start IV Grant offers an expedited...

The flexibility and options within the higher education system in the U.S. can be both exhilarating and confusing. Educational goals are often tied to a particular level of completion and the corresponding certificate or degree.  Not sure what’s what in that realm?  Read on!   We end here, but higher education options don’t end with the Bachelor’s degrees.  A Master’s...

Tony Cabral is a senior at Gainesville High School and this May he will earn a Level I Certificate at North Central Texas College before graduating from high school.  Cabral got a jump start on his career by participating in the dual credit Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Program through North Central Texas College.  Working in the industry has helped to reinforce the skills...

You’re thinking about becoming a nurse, but unsure of your options. We know that jobs for nurses are projected to grow by 15 percent in the next decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, so this “most trusted profession” is a great consideration when factoring in job security. According to a study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the state of Texas has the second-best...

CNA to LVN If there’s one thing many NCTC students can agree on, it’s the unwavering support and encouragement they receive from their instructors. And, for Kristy Hughes, that is equally true. “My instructor, Margrette Thygesen, is amazing, down to earth and has many years of experience,” said Hughes. “I feel she gave me everything I needed to be successful in my career. Even after...

Ever thought about how nursing students get the hands-on training they need to provide expert care with compassion in situations rife with stress and super-charged emotions? NCTC’s LVN and ADN-RN programs rely on simulation to help students integrate theory with practice while making real-time clinical decisions in an environment that poses no risk to patients. Plus simulation provides a...

If there’s anyone who understands what it really means to overcome adversity, it’s Marnee Smith. As a young, single mother, Smith struggled to survive and take care of her family. “I recognized that education was crucial to providing a stable life for my children and me,” stated Smith, “so I earned a certificate as an administrative assistant and began working in an office.” Not...

Ask Shelly Myers if after 25 years she ever thought she would go back to school, and she won’t hesitate to explain why she did it. “Enrolling in the instrument technician/sterile processing technician program not only provided me the skills to gain immediate employment, but also provided me a valuable educational foundation toward the surgical technology program,” said Myers. Within just...

If you are searching for a creative career with rapid growth and a wide range of career options, you should consider NCTC’s Cosmetology or Esthetics programs. “During the last decade, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of services offered, product sales and technology. This is a talent industry,” says Stephanie Lindsey, Division Chair-Human Services and Hospitality.  “Most...

“Cosmetology is a really fun, amazing field to work in where there’s always opportunity to expand and grow.  You never have to feel stagnant in this profession unless you just plain give up,” says Cassie Lewis, a current Esthetics student. Cassie always wanted to get her Cosmetology license but found other schools too expensive. She studied Cosmetology on the NCTC Gainesville Campus...

The North Central Texas College Equine Program is located on the Gainesville Campus about an hour’s drive north of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex in the HEART of HORSE COUNTRY! A large number of top, equine, commercial breeding and training operations in the US are concentrated within a 30-mile radius of the Gainesville Campus. In fact, of the approximately 9.2 million horses in the US, nearly...

Studying Agriculture at NCTC provides students with an opportunity to branch into many diverse areas of employment and/or provides a pathway to purse a baccalaureate degree, and that’s exactly what Laney Burnett chose to do after studying Agriculture for two years at NCTC. While at NCTC she completed both university transfer and technical Agriculture courses each semester to better prepare...

Choosing a career path is an important decision. NCTC is dedicated to providing education to fit a wide variety of career goals. Choose from certificates, associate degrees and transfer studies to prepare you for careers that support your unique interests and ambitions. Creative: Art, Design and Communication Bursting with ideas and looking for a way to bring them to life? Whether on stage,...