The Texas House has approved bill that would fund community colleges, such as Kilgore College, based on their performance.

KILGORE — Kilgore College and Christus Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview have teamed to reactivate the surgical technology associate of applied science degree.

Officials said the program is returning because of significant demand for surgical technologists and because of a need for those positions at Christus Good Shepherd.

Classes are being held at Kilgore College-Longview and Christus Good Shepherd.

“Kilgore College not only provides opportunities, but even more so what we do is we try to visit with as many business and healthcare industries in the region to determine what’s needed,” said Dean of Health Sciences Larry Guerrero. “What’s needed for the economy, what’s needed for the market and how we can best supply the economy and the market with credentialed students that graduate.”

When medical students participate in clinical rotations at Christus Good Shepherd, they will learn everything about surgical technology.

A surgical technologist is a health care professional who prepares an operating room for surgery. They work alongside the surgeon, surgeon’s assistants, nurses and anesthesia professionals.

With an associate’s degree, a graduate will be prepared for entry-level employment as a surgical technologist in Texas, where they can earn more than $39,000 per year.

A two-year (60-hour) associate’s degree from Kilgore College is all that is required to work as a surgical tech.

Job opportunities for surgical technologists have been growing at a faster-than-average rate of 9% since 2018 and will continue into 2028, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

This surge is expected to create nearly 10,000 new surgical tech jobs during the next 10 years.