Header Two
Process Technology
Why Process Technology
Process technicians are the people who keep industrial facilities running safely and efficiently — monitoring equipment, controlling unit operations, and troubleshooting problems before they become shutdowns. Southeast Louisiana's refineries, chemical plants, LNG facilities, and food and beverage manufacturers depend on them, and demand for qualified operators remains strong across the region.
Delgado's Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Process Technology is a 60-credit program developed in consultation with regional employers. You'll study the operating processes common to industrial plants — pumps, compressors, heat exchangers, distillation, boilers, cooling towers, and reactors — and learn to read the instrumentation and control systems that tie them together. Coursework combines classroom instruction with hands-on lab training, so you graduate ready to step into an entry-level operator role.
Process Technology aligns with Louisiana Economic Development's priority sectors in energy and advanced manufacturing.
What Process Technicians Do
|
Operate & monitor. Run process units from the field and the control room, tracking flow, level, pressure, and temperature. |
Troubleshoot. Spot process deviations, find root causes, and take corrective action before problems escalate. |
|
Protect people and the environment. Apply safety, health, and environmental rules in everything you do, every shift. |
Inspect & document. Conduct area inspections, log readings, and keep accurate shift records for the next crew. |
|
Handle materials. Manage product movement, sampling, and loading operations across the site. |
Improve the plant. Contribute to projects that make units run safer, cleaner, and more efficiently. |
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of Delgado's Process Technology program will be able to:
- Safely operate and monitor common process equipment and systems — including distillation, fired boilers, refrigeration, cooling towers, and reactors — as an entry-level process technician.
- Apply critical thinking to analyze process data, diagnose equipment and system problems, and carry out structured troubleshooting.
- Practice environmental, safety, and health standards consistent with OSHA and industry expectations.
- Communicate clearly, in writing and in person, with shift teams, supervisors, maintenance, safety personnel, and contractors.
- Work effectively as a member of an operations team and demonstrate professional and
ethical conduct in the workplace.
Stackable Credentials: Earn as You Go
You don't have to wait two years to put your training to work. The program is built as a ladder — each credential stacks toward the next, and each one has value with employers on its own.
Process Technology Plant SafetyCareer & Technical Certificate (C.T.C.)Complete your first-semester core — Introduction to Process Technology and Plant Safety, Health & Environment — and earn your first industry-recognized credential. |
Process Technology Support TechnicianCertificate of Technical Studies (C.T.S.)Add plant equipment, instrumentation, and systems coursework to qualify for operator-support and technician-helper roles while you finish your degree. |
Process TechnologyAssociate of Applied Science (A.A.S.)Complete the full 60-credit program — including unit operations, troubleshooting, and a capstone or internship — and enter the workforce as an entry-level process operator. |
Curriculum Snapshot
The A.A.S. combines general education (math, science, English, and computer applications) with a technical core in process technology. A typical full-time sequence:
Recommended Full-Time Academic Map
First Semester
- CITS 100 - Introduction to Computer Applications
- MATH 130 - College Algebra (MATH 030 corequisite course may also be required)
- PTEC 102 - Introduction to Process Technology
- PTEC 105 - Safety and Environmental Principles
- CMST 130 - Fundamentals of Communication
Second Semester
- PTEC 131 - Process Instrumentation I
- PTEC 141 - Process Technology Equipment
- ENGL 101 - English Composition I
- PHYS 101 - Introduction to Concepts in Physics
- PHYS 107 - Introduction to Concepts in Physics Laboratory
Third Semester
- PTEC 150 - Process Quality Control
- PTEC 242 - Process Technology Systems
- PTEC 263 - Fluid Mechanics
- CHEM 101 - Chemistry I (non-science majors)
- CHEM 107 - Chemistry I Lab (non-science majors)
- Humanities Elective - Humanities Requirement
Fourth Semester
- PTEC 132 - Process Instrumentation II
- PTEC 243 - Process Technology: Unit Operations
- PTEC 244 - Process Troubleshooting
- PTEC 297 or STEM Elective - Process Technology Practicum or STEM Elective
- Social/Behavioral Science Elective - Social/Behavioral Science Requirement
Careers & Earning Potential
Process technology consistently ranks among the highest-paying career paths available with a two-year degree in Louisiana. Graduates work as process operators, board operators, loading and materials coordinators, quality inspectors, and — with experience — shift supervisors, in industries including refining, petrochemicals, LNG, water treatment, food and beverage, and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Hands-On Training
Operators learn by doing. Delgado's program pairs classroom theory with lab work on real industrial hardware — pumps, valves, piping systems, heat-exchange equipment, and instrumentation loops — plus control-room simulation software that mirrors the distributed control systems (DCS) used in modern plants. Students practice startup, shutdown, and upset-response scenarios in a safe environment before they ever step onto a live unit.
How to Get Started
- Apply to Delgado. Submit the free online application for admission.
- Complete financial aid. File the FAFSA (Delgado school code 002050) and ask about scholarships for high-demand programs.
- Meet with an advisor. Build your schedule, review transfer or prior-learning credit, and choose day or evening options.
- Register and start. Fall, spring, and summer entry points are available.