Petroleum & Natural Gas Technician | Lackawanna College

Petroleum & Natural Gas Technician

At A Glance

Certificate program designed to offer industry-based education and training to students who desire quick entry into the gas industry.
Students pursuing this new certificate program should graduate in less than one year.

Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers earned a median annual wage in PA of $83,870 in May 2025.

Available at the School of Petroleum & Natural Gas in Tunkhannock.
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Welcome to Petroleum & Natural Gas Technician-Certificate Program

Looking to get into the petroleum and natural gas industry? Consider Lackawanna College’s Petroleum & Natural Gas Technician certificate. The program enables students to complete their training in less than one year.

Your Career Starts Here

The industry will need qualified workers with projections indicating about 50% of the current workforce is expected to retire in the next five to seven years. With a certificate, graduates can work in a variety of positions in the petroleum and natural gas industry.

More About the Program

The Petroleum & Natural Gas Technician certificate gives students hands-on training in the field.

The certificate program is the first step to a fulfilling career. You can work your way up in the field or continue on in your education, perhaps to earn an associate degree in petroleum and natural gas business administration or technology.

The Course Work

Coursework is focused on educating and training professionals for new careers in the oil and gas industries. Classes include Industrial Safety, PNG Handling & Processing, PNG Production, and more. These courses are offered exclusively at the School of Petroleum & Natural Gas in Tunkhannock, PA.

Tuition for the Petroleum & Natural Gas Technician certificate program is $9,995.

Additional Information

Lackawanna College is approved by the Pennsylvania State Department of Education to grant bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, and professional certificates and is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, which is designated as a National Accrediting Agency by the U.S. Office of Education.
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Q: Does Lackawanna College offer a PNG Technician certificate?

Yes. Lackawanna College’s School of Petroleum and Natural Gas at the Tunkhannock Center offers a 24-credit Petroleum & Natural Gas Technician certificate.

The certificate is offered exclusively at the Lackawanna College Tunkhannock Center, the home of the School of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

The certificate is a 24-credit, two-semester program. Approximately half of the credit hours are spent in lab.

The program cost is $9,995. 95% of Lackawanna students receive financial aid.

A high school diploma or GED is required. This is an open-enrollment certificate with rolling admissions; the next cohort begins Fall 2026.

Students may earn Snap-On Torque Applications and Procedures, Snap-On Mechanical Torque, Snap-On Electronic Torque, and Ariel Compression Basics 2.0 certifications, with First Aid, CPR, and AED also potentially available.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Pennsylvania annual median wage for petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers; and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025–2035, national employment growth. Figures reflect statewide wages and national employment projections and are not specific to Lackawanna College graduates. Lackawanna College does not guarantee employment or salary.