Lake Area Technical College

Agriculture - Agri-Business Option

Lake Area Tech is a strong and active presence in the world of agri-business. For more than 50 years we've been training the employees and owners of the region's agricultural supply businesses. Because we are well-established and have an outstanding reputation for skilled graduates, you can feel confident about job opportunities all over the Midwest. If you have agriculture in your blood, love business and working with people, this option is for you!

Agriculture - Agri-Production Option

Because of the enormous changes that have taken place in agriculture, today's farm owners and managers must have comprehensive knowledge of crops, growing conditions, and diseases to make successful decisions. At LATC, you'll be immersed in the latest and best farming techniques. You'll also get a healthy dose of modern economics and savvy business practices. Agri-Production is designed for graduates who plan to own or manage a farm or livestock operation and want to succeed!

Agriculture - Commodity Merchandising Option

As a leading industry in South Dakota, agriculture provides premium career opportunities. In particular, the area of commodity merchandising—which unites buyers and sellers of grain, manages investments, and offers financial advice—is an important and vital part of the ag industry. As grain markets evolve with technology and globalization, there is an ever- increasing demand for qualified field experts who can build and manage profitable local grain businesses.

Agriculture - Livestock Production and Management Option

Lake Area Tech's Agriculture program option, Livestock Production and Management, combines the previous studies of Large Animal and Ranch Management. Students will acquire valuable knowledge and experience needed to work and succeed in modern livestock operations, feed supply companies, and animal health businesses in addition to high-demand jobs in the ag- production industry.

Agriculture - Precision Technology Option

Geospatial technology has revolutionized the operation of today's successful farms. GPS and GIS now allow farmers to optimize input, reduce waste, and generate maximum yields. Designed for use in all types of agricultural systems, precision technology has improved the production of everything from row crops to dairies. Now you can learn to use this valuable technology to its highest potential.

Auto Body & Paint Technology

A great option for creative and detail-driven people, the Auto Body & Paint Technology program will send you into the manufacturing and automotive industries with the solid training you need to shine in the business of collision repair, painting, and detailing. This program focuses on teaching students to master the foundational aspects of the field.

Automotive Technology

Be ready to hit the ground running. When employers advertise for auto repair technicians, they're looking for someone with a solid technical background who has experience using the latest diagnostic equipment. That can be you. Lake Area Tech's Automotive Technology program is tailored to meet those industry demands. Because of that, our graduates are highly successful in obtaining top-notch jobs.

Aviation Maintenance Technology

Graduates of our Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified program can look forward to excellent pay, unique travel privileges, great fringe benefits, and the ability to work anywhere in the world.

Aviation Professional Fixed-Wing Pilot

Lake Area Tech's 18-month Professional Fixed Wing Pilot Associate of Applied Science degree is designed for students interested in a career in the professional pilot industry. The program will prepare individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to the field of aviation relative to employment as a professional fixed-wing pilot. Students will train in various aircraft to earn their FAA Certificates and Ratings.

Building Trades Technology

Building a bright future in the construction and carpentry world begins right here at Lake Area Tech! Do you have a flair for design? A way with a hammer? An eye for detail? Then our Building Trades Technology program might be just what you're looking for. In only 18 months, your new and diverse career could be a reality!

Business - Accounting Option

As a graduate of this option you will be able to set up and use any existing accounting system. No matter what the economic situation, businesses and organizations everywhere need individuals to manage their financial information. In other words - the job prospects are good!

Business - Entrepreneurship Option

Always wanted to start your own business? Lake Area Tech's Business/Entrepreneurship program option is designed to help you succeed. Whether you are an enterprising student in a current technical program, a returning graduate, or someone with ideas and drive who wants additional creative, managerial, financial, and productive skills - this option is designed for you. Our economy needs new thinkers, leaders, and owners!

Business - Human Resource Option

Human Resource professionals help companies find, hire, and keep the most effective employees. As an HR associate, you might specialize in a specific HR department (payroll, benefits, safety, etc.), work with a small HR team, or—depending on the size of the company—you might manage HR all on your own!

Business - Marketing & Management Option

The Marketing & Management option offers world-class business training. Our experienced faculty will teach you the evaluation of customer needs, price determination, promotion and advertising, social media marketing, data analysis, sales strategy, government regulations, supervised occupational experience/internship, and much more.

Business - Photography/Media Option

Offering a unique mix of photography and business training, this option will prepare you to launch your own photography business or work in the artistic/visual communications field. Graduates of this option will earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in Business.

Child Care Development

Get your start in early childhood care with the 9-month Child Development diploma. This streamlined option prepares students for immediate entry into the workforce, offering practical training in caring for and supporting young children.

Child Care Management

Prepare to take on leadership roles in the growing field of early childhood education. The Child Care Management program equips students with the tools needed to manage and operate child care centers, with a strong focus on child development, business operations, and effective communication.

Community Health Worker

Make a difference in the lives of others in one semester with an exciting career as a Community Health Worker—a new role in healthcare. A Community Health Worker (CHW) is a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding of the community served. Lake Area Tech offers students the opportunity to complete the online Community Health Worker certificate in an 8 week, 12 credit course of study.

Computer Information Systems - Graphic Design & Digital Communications

At Lake Area Tech, our Graphic Design & Digital Communications program does more than teach design, it prepares you for a high-demand, high-impact career in today's digital world. If you're creative, tech-savvy, and ready to turn ideas into powerful visuals, this 18-month program is built for you.

Computer Information Systems - Networking & Cyber Security

In a digital-first world, where every business relies on secure networks and data, the need for cybersecurity experts has never been greater. At Lake Area Tech, our Networking & Cybersecurity program trains you to take on the tech challenges of today, and the threats of tomorrow. Whether you're securing corporate data, defending against hackers, or building robust networks, this program will prepare you for a career in one of the fastest-growing industries in the world.

Computer Information Systems - Software Development & Database Administration

Every app you use, every digital system you depend on, every AI tool you see trending, it's all built by software developers. At Lake Area Tech, our Software Development & Database Administration program prepares you to step confidently into one of the most in-demand careers in the world.

Cosmetology

Cosmetology professionals help people look and feel their best. The Cosmetology program at Lake Area Tech offers a team of talented instructors who train full-time students of all ages. Students are eager to work in this exciting and rewarding industry. The program believes education should be an adventure—and that the learning experience should be both progressive and fun.

Dental Assisting - Certified

Looking for a career that's exciting, meaningful, and in high demand? Dental Assisting could be your perfect fit. Dental assistants play a key role in patient care, working side-by-side with dentists as the dentists “extra hands” to help people feel confident and have a healthy smile. It's a fast-paced, people-focused job with opportunities to grow. At Lake Area Technical College, our Certified Dental Assisting program prepares you for success with hands-on learning and real-world experience.

Diesel Technology

Diesel-powered equipment is essential to this country's operation and economy. Diesel equipment is used to plant, fertilize, and harvest on American farms. Diesel trucks, trains, and ships carry grain and livestock to market and keep manufactured products en route to stores. Powerful diesel machines also build and repair roads, dams, levees, and prepare the ground for building projects.

Electronic Systems Technology

If you're the kind of person who wants to understand how things work, and how to make them work better, the Electronic Systems Technology (EST) program at Lake Area Tech is a great place to start. Electronic systems are everywhere: in manufacturing, medical equipment, automation systems, digital signage, and more. These systems are the backbone of modern industry, and there's a growing need for technicians who know how to build, maintain, and troubleshoot them.

Energy Operations

Energy powers everything we do, and behind every plant or facility is a team of skilled operators keeping it all running. At Lake Area Tech, our 20-month Energy Operations program prepares you for a career in operating and maintaining the systems that produce and process energy across multiple industries. Whether it's coal, hydro, wind, nuclear, ethanol, or bio- diesel, this program gives you the tools to step into one of the most essential and stable career fields out there.

Energy Technology

If you're someone who likes solving mechanical problems, working with your hands, and being part of something that keeps the world running, the Energy Technology program at Lake Area Tech could be a great fit. This 20-month program is designed to meet the growing demand for skilled technicians in power generation, industrial maintenance, and process technology fields that are essential to keeping modern industry moving.

Financial Services

Financial Services is a diverse and exciting field. As a graduate, you could build a career in accounting, banking, insurance, or investing. Lake Area Tech graduates are known for having the right mix of knowledge and real-world experience. Within the Financial Services program, students can choose from three high-demand options: Agri-Financial Services, Business Accounting, or Consumer Financial Services. If you enjoy working with people and money, this program could be the perfect fit.

Heavy Equipment Operator

Graduates of Lake Area Tech's Heavy Equipment Operator program enter a field with high demand for qualified workers in commercial and industrial construction, heavy equipment operation, and earthmoving. Job opportunities are strong, and we'll help you get there.

Law Enforcement

Are you looking for variety and action? Do you consider yourself fair, confident, and inquisitive? Then read on to learn more about our 18-month Law Enforcement program.

Med/Fire Rescue

In crisis situations, people's lives often depend on the quick and highly skilled reaction of emergency medical technicians (EMTs), paramedics, and firefighters. The fast pace and intense situations in this field require emergency personnel to be emotionally steady, focused, compassionate, and physically strong.

Medical Assisting

Medical assistants are multi-skilled health professionals specifically educated to work in a variety of healthcare settings performing clinical and administrative duties. The practice of medical assisting necessitates mastery of a complex body of knowledge and specialized skills requiring both formal education and practical experience that serve as standards for entry into the profession.

Medical Laboratory Technician

Medical laboratory is a rewarding, challenging field that is absolutely vital to the world of healthcare. Did you know over 70% of objective clinical data that physicians use to determine treatment comes from tests that medical laboratory technicians (MLTs) perform on patient samples?

Natural Resources Management

Natural Resources Management (NRM) refers to the sustainable utilization of major natural resources, such as land, water, air, minerals, forests, fisheries, and wild flora and fauna. Together, these resources provide the ecosystem services that provide better quality to human life, as cited in Science Direct, 2024.

Nursing - Practical Nursing

Nursing—few career fields are as rewarding or as challenging. Nurses use the latest medical technology at the direct and critical level of patient care. The best nurses are also responsible, compassionate, and ultimately motivated by a sincere desire to help people.

Nursing - Registered Nursing

The Professional Registered Nursing Program at Lake Area Tech is an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree program. It prepares students who are Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) to advance into professional nursing through a combination of theory, clinical, lab, and simulation experiences.

Occupational Therapy Assistant

Occupational Therapy promotes health by enabling people to engage in activities of daily living. Under the supervision of an Occupational Therapist, Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTAs) assist people in overcoming physical, mental, and emotional barriers. When addressing client needs, OTAs commonly use what is individually familiar and enjoyable to that person to teach injury prevention, improve functional ability, and/or adapt equipment/environment/task to improve quality of life.

Physical Therapist Assistant

Under the supervision of physical therapists, physical therapist assistants (PTAs) help patients who are suffering from physical mobility impairments, movement dysfunctions, and pain. As a PTA, you might implement treatment plans of care that incorporate therapeutic exercises, rehabilitation, therapeutic heat and cold, soft tissue mobilization, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, traction, and more!

Precision Machining

Virtually everything manufactured in U.S. industries—automotive, space, medical, green, etc.—can be traced back to the work of a machinist. Trained in the working properties of metals, machinists use manual and cutting-edge computer- controlled methods to make precision-machined products. There is a constant and unmet need for these “surgeons of steel” in American manufacturing, as they supply highly respected skills and expertise to an area's business and infrastructure.

Robotics

Automation is shaping the future of nearly every industry, from agriculture and manufacturing to energy, healthcare, and even space exploration. At Lake Area Tech, our Robotics program is designed to give students the skills and experience needed to step confidently into this high-demand field. We've invested in a state-of-the-art Robotics Lab filled with industry-relevant equipment and technologies so students can learn by doing, not just by reading about it.

Social Work

This two-year program is the first of its kind in South Dakota and will prepare students to enter a variety of social work settings including shelters, healthcare facilities, schools, counseling offices, and governmental offices.

Surgical Technology

Do you thrive under pressure? Want to be part of a life-saving team in the medical field? Lake Area Tech's Surgical Technology program could be your perfect fit.

Uncrewed Aerial Systems (Drones)

There's a growing need for professionals who can operate and maintain uncrewed aircraft systems in our region. The Uncrewed Aerial Systems (Drones) Certificate prepares students for careers as UAS operators, pilots, and technicians. Coursework covers the laws and ethical practices for flying drones, and graduates will be ready to earn the FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate.

Welding Technology

Welding is more than just sparks and steel—it's a skill that powers industries. From construction and pipelines to robotics and aerospace, trained welders are in high demand across the country.