Dallas College

Technical Theater and Live Events


4 Certificates
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Do you enjoy live events? Are you interested in helping put on those spectacular shows that entertain thousands of people every day? Skilled technicians are in high demand, and Dallas College’s Technical Theater and Live Events Program can prepare you for a career in this field in as little as one year. ​​​

We offer four certificates that are in-demand and taught by industry professionals, setting you up for success in ​this rewarding industry.

Technical Theater and Live Events at a Glance

Dallas College offers many different ways to reach your career goals. Whether you want to jump into the workforce quickly or spend more time building advanced skills, we have the programs that fit your needs and timeline.

Certificate Programs

Estimated total tuition cost2:

$3,564

Estimated time to complete1:

1 year

  • North Lake
  • Richland3

Which Degrees and Certificates are Right for Me?

Credit Certificates

Dallas College offers credit certificates that provide focused, career-ready skills recognized by employers.

Can I Get a Job?

Dallas College offers a variety of certificates and degrees to help you gain the skills you need to start working right away.

  • These credentials are often considered Career and Technical Education (CTE).
  • These credentials are established with the assistance and cooperation of representatives from local business, to meet local and regional employment needs.
  • Higher-level certificates and degrees will typically lead to a higher salary in the workforce.
  • Workforce (CE) certificates can often be completed faster than traditional credit certificates but typically do not offer college credit.
  • Level 1, Level 2, Enhanced Skills certificates and others offer college credit and are often stackable to help you build skills as you work toward an associate degree.
  • Workforce credentials may give you college credit at Dallas College, but they may not transfer to other colleges or universities.

If you're unsure if this is the right path for you, you can talk to a pathway specialist for advice.

Pathway Specialist

Questions About Degrees and Certificates?

We know applying to college can be confusing. If you are not yet a Dallas College student, you have a whole team of recruitment coaches to help guide you through programs and the enrollment process.

Current students, contact your success coach (advisor) who can answer any questions you have about Technical Theater and Live Events programs and your degree and certificate options.

Contact a Recruitment Coach

What Can I Earn? Will There Be Plenty of Jobs?

Get hands-on training building sets or running sound or light boards, and you’ll be ready to shine behind the scenes in the live entertainment industry. Check out a few of the incredible career opportunities you’ll be ready for. Your future starts here!

Young Female Cinematographer With Blue Hair Adjusts Professional Camera In Studio, Showcasing Teamwork In Creative Film Production Environment, With Colleagues Collaborating In Background.

Audio and Video Technicians

$24/hr

Median Salary

196

Job Openings

+15%

Projected Outlook

Top Skills:

  • Monitoring
  • Critical Thinking
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Operations Monitoring
  • Complex Problem Solving
  • Active Listening
  • Service Orientation
  • Coordination
  • Speaking
  • Writing
young female electrician wearing yellow construction hat and holding a drill

Electricians

$27/hr

Median Salary

2778

Job Openings

+17%

Projected Outlook

Top Skills:

  • Troubleshooting
  • Repairing
  • Critical Thinking
  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Quality Control Analysis
  • Installation
  • Active Learning
  • Judgment and Decision Making
  • Coordination
man working behind a stage with large production lights

Lighting Technicians

$25/hr

Median Salary

17

Job Openings

+27%

Projected Outlook

Top Skills:

  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Critical Thinking
  • Complex Problem Solving
  • Writing
  • Monitoring
  • Active Learning
  • Operations Monitoring
  • Judgment and Decision Making
man using mixing console in music recording studio

Sound Engineering Technicians

$26/hr

Median Salary

44

Job Openings

+11%

Projected Outlook

Top Skills:

  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Critical Thinking
  • Complex Problem Solving
  • Writing
  • Monitoring
  • Active Learning
  • Operations Monitoring
  • Judgment and Decision Making

All jobs data gathered for Dallas/Fort Worth. Source: Dallas College Labor Market Intelligence and Lightcast4.

Find Out More About Dallas College

Sign up to receive additional information about Dallas College or call 972-669-6400.

School of Creative Arts, Entertainment and Design

Dallas College

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Earn College Credit for What you Already Know

I would like to know more about earning credit for what I know through job or life experience.

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1Length of time is based on catalog degree plans. Prerequisites may be required, which are not included in this estimate. For most programs, full-time student status is assumed, a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester.

2Cost for credit courses is based on tuition rates for program hours for Dallas County residents. The price of most required learning materials (books, software, supplies, etc.) is included with the price of tuition. Certain programs may have additional costs above the standard tuition. Continuing Education and Ed2Go courses may vary by program. Please review the Area of Study Overview and/or the Health Information Packets for additional costs and details. Visit our Paying for College site to learn more about cost, financial aid, scholarships and more.

3Each location offers a unique combination of certificate and degree options. Not all degree and certificate offerings are available for admission/start at all campuses every semester.

4A portion of Lightcast’s data comes from O*NET Online by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Lightcast has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.

Updated June 25, 2026