Major in Surgical Technology (SURT) Associate Degree in Applied Science – 66 Semester Hours

The Surgical Technology Associate Degree in Applied Science program is designed to prepare individuals for work closely with surgeons, anesthesiologists, registered nurses and other surgical personnel in delivering patient care and assuming appropriate responsibilities before, during and after surgery. The primary responsibility of the surgical technologist is to maintain the sterile field while ensuring that all other members of the surgical team adhere to aseptic technique.

The qualified candidate will have excellent eye-hand coordination, effective communication skills, an affinity for detail and the ability to function well in stressful situations. Knowledge of human anatomy, surgical instrumentation, supplies and procedures allows the surgical technologist to function as an integral member of the surgical team. Program graduates will be eligible to take the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) certification examination for designation as a Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) and will be qualified for employment in many diverse areas of the health care systems, such as the following: operating rooms, emergency rooms, labor and delivery, GI and cardiac catheterization labs, ambulatory surgery centers, sterile supply, cell saver technologist, private physician’s scrub surgical technologists, instrument sales representatives and veterinary assistants.

The Surgical Technology Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) 9355 – 113th St. N. #7709, Seminole, FL 3375, Phone (727) 210-2350, www.caahep.org, upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA), 19751 East Main Street, Suite 339 Parker, CO 80138, Phone (303) 694-9262, www.arcstsa.org.

Application for admission to the Surgical Technology program is based on a competitive admission process: therefore, meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee acceptance into the program.

The program has a limited enrollment and students must apply for admission. An applicant may obtain an Admission Eligibility Verification and Application form from the Surgical Technology Program Manager and/or Health Sciences Administrative Assistant in the Health Sciences Center. It is the applicant’s responsibility to complete the Admission Eligibility Verification and Application form correctly and submit the form to the Surgical Technology Program Manager by the deadline.

The program admits one (1) cohort each academic year in the Fall semester. The application deadline is June 1st or until all seats in the admission cohort have been filled.

COL 105 Freshman Seminar (3) is recommended for all first time college students during their first semester.

Admission Criteria:

The following must be satisfied PRIOR to submitting a Surgical Technology program application:

• Graduate of an accredited high school or possess a General Education Development (GED) certificate.
• Meet the general enrollment requirements of Central Carolina Technical College (see general college admissions requirements).
• Meet the admission requirements for Health Sciences students (see Health Sciences program requirements).
• The Registrar must have receipt of all official transcripts (including high school and all regionally accredited institutions).
• Completion of all developmental courses.
• Completion and grade of “C” or higher in general education program courses, if taken pre-admission.
• Meet one of the following entry options:
  1. The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT): 480 Evidence-Based and Writing and 500 Math.
  2. The American College Test (ACT): 19 composite.
  3. The Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS): “Proficient”, “Advanced” or “Exemplary”.

Combining scores from separate tests (SAT, ACT, or TEAS) from different dates is not allowed. Test scores older than five years are not accepted. Version 5.0 of the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS V) may be substituted for the TEAS. There may be a waiting time of 30 days between repeat testing.

The applicants will be ranked baked upon scoring on SAT, ACT or TEAS entry option.

Additional Admission Points – will be added to an applicant’s total points, if the applicant has completed:

• AHS 102 (Medical Terminology), BIO 112 (Basic Anatomy and Physiology) and BIO 115 (Basic Microbiology) with a grade of “C” or higher prior to submitting admission application.
• A regionally accredited post-secondary degree, dimple, or certificate prior to submitting admission application. Only post-secondary degrees, diplomas or certificates accepted by the college Registrar prior to the application deadline will be considered. Points will be awarded based on the highest degree earned. Two or more degrees will not be counted. For example, if an applicant has completed a Baccalaureate Degree as well as an Associate Degree, the applicant will only receive points for the Baccalaureate Degree or if an applicant has two Baccalaureate Degrees, the applicant will only receive points for one of the two Baccalaureate Degrees.

*BIO 210 and BIO 211 may take the place of BIO 112. 

**BIO 225 may take the place of BIO 115. ***Upon successful completion of SUR 123 Sterile Processing Technology and SUR 125 Sterile Processing Practicum, the student may be eligible to take the **BIO 225 may take the place of BIO 115.

***Upon successful completion of SUR 123 Sterile Processing Technology and SUR 125 Sterile Processing Practicum, the student may be eligible to take the certification exam for sterile processing.

This program is aligned with the following career cluster: Health Science. 

Progression Standards – After Program Entry

Failure to meet progression standards results in suspension from the program

• After admission, students must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA in program curriculum courses in order to progress.
• Must earn a minimum of a “C” or higher in each required curriculum course. Based on availability of space, students may retake program curriculum courses completed with less than a “C”.
• Must successfully complete all components of a course (theory, clinical, lab skills proficiency) in order to pass the course. Students who fail to complete a component will receive a grade of “F” for the course regardless of the time in the semester and are not eligible to receive a “W” or “WA” through the withdrawal process.
• Students must complete all course requirements within three years of starting date of first SUR courses (SUR 101/SUR 102).
• Students are limited to two attempts at successful completion of any surgical technology program course (including Central Carolina Technical College). A withdrawal “W”. “WA” or “WF” constitutes an attempt at a program course and will count as one attempt to complete the program.
• Students must maintain current Basic Life Support (BLS) for Health Care Provider certification through the American Heart Association and submit an annual tuberculin skin test (TST) to remain in the program. Online certification/recertification is not accepted.

Transfers or Readmissions

• Students who have withdrawn or have been suspended once from the Surgical Technology program at CCTC or any other educational institution must request admission/readmission to the program.
• Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 for readmission or transfer.
• Students who have been suspended more than once will be dismissed from the Surgical Technology program and will be ineligible for admission or readmission. However, students may petition the Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences for special consideration if they have experienced extenuating circumstances. The final decision for an exception rests with the Dean.
• Students seeking transfer must meet all admission requirements and submit syllabi, course outlines and catalogs from the former institution to the program manager for review. Transfer evaluations are considered on an individual basis.
• Students seeking transfer or readmission must follow specific guidelines to ensure theoretical knowledge and clinical competencies are current.

SUR courses with a laboratory/clinical practicum component may have flexible schedules. Students may be required to attend classes between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Following is a list of courses required to complete this program. Since some courses are offered once a year, courses should be taken in the following sequence in order to complete the program in a timely manner: