ST13

Program Description

The Surgical Technology degree program prepares students for employment in a variety of positions in the surgical field. The Surgical Technology degree program provides learning opportunities which introduce, develop, and reinforce academic and technical knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for job acquisition, retention, and advancement. Additionally, the program provides opportunities to upgrade present knowledge and skills or to retrain in surgical technology. Graduates of the program receive a Surgical Technology degree and are qualified for employment as surgical technologists.

The Gwinnett Technical College Surgical Technology program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Review Committee on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARCSTSA.org).

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
25400 U.S. Highway 19 North, Suite 158
Clearwater, FL 33763
Phone: 727.210.2350
Fax: 727.210.2354
www.caahep.org

ARCSTSA
6 W. Dry Creek Circle, Suite #110
Littleton, CO 80120
Phone: 303.694.9262

Students will become certified as a surgical technologist by taking the National Surgical Technologists Certification Exam administered through the (NBSTSA) National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting. This program is only offered full-time, during the day. (Program Length: 3 Semesters plus prerequisite core completion.)

View the Surgical Technology AAS Program Fact Sheet  for additional information.

Prerequisites

Length of time to complete prerequisites varies depending on applicants’ transfer credit and/or testing results. The time to complete prerequisites is not included in the total program length. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the admissions office once pre-requisites have been completed. In order to begin the clinical requirements, students must complete a tuberculosis skin test, supply proof of immunization, undergo a background check, and submit to a drug screen test. File completion does not guarantee acceptance into the program. Prerequisites must be completed by the program deadline. (FYES 1000 , ENGL 1101 , PSYC 1101 , MATH 1111 , ALHS 1090 , BIOL 2113  and BIOL 2113L , BIOL 2114  and BIOL 2114L , BIOL 2117  and BIOL 2117L , ENGL 1102 ) Minimum 3.0 GPA. Please see the competitive health application at http://www.gwinnetttech.edu/enrollment/forms-documents/ for additional information.

Special Admission for Current Surgical Technologists

Applicants who have previously completed a Surgical Technology diploma program may apply for admission to the associate degree program in order to complete the degree-level General Education Core Courses and Essential Technical Courses. Applicants must submit transcripts showing successful completion of a TCSG accredited Surgical Technology diploma program. In addition, applicants must submit proof of current Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) certification. A minimum of 40% of program requirements must be completed at Gwinnett Tech in order to earn the Surgical Technology Degree.

Graduation Requirements

All surgical technology students are required to pass a comprehensive exit exam with a score of 70 percent or better in order to complete the program. The comprehensive exam is administered in SURG 2240 , Seminar in Surgical Technology. Students must complete a minimum of 120 total scrub cases: 80 first scrub; 40 second scrub. Cases must be comprised from the following: Students are required to complete a minimum of thirty (30) cases in General Surgery, with twenty (20) of those cases in the First Scrub Role (as defined on page 175 of the CCST6e). Students are required to complete a minimum of ninety (90) cases in various surgical specialties, with sixty (60) of those cases should be in the First Scrub Role and evenly, but not necessarily equally distributed between a minimum of at least five (5) surgical Specialties. Fifteen (15) First or Second Scrub cases is the maximum number of cases that can be counted in any one surgical specialty.

Employment Opportunities

Hospitals and other institutions that have operating room, delivery room, and/or emergency room facilities; government agencies such as Veterans Administration Medical Centers and the Armed Forces; Instrument and Equipment Sales