Surgical Technology

Specialized training for a specialized career.

The Surgical Technology program prepares students to work as valuable members of a surgical team, which most commonly includes surgeons, anesthesiologists, and circulating nurses. Surgical Technologists assist in surgical procedures under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, and other surgical personnel. They perform a variety of critical hands-on tasks, including:

• Preparing operating rooms by setting up surgical instruments and equipment
• Preparing patients for surgery by washing, shaving, and disinfecting incision sites
• Passing instruments and other sterile supplies to surgeons during surgical procedures
• Maintaining a proper sterile field throughout the surgical process
• Monitoring and assessing operating room conditions

Benefit from:

• A strong foundation in both the theory and techniques of surgical technology
• Hands-on learning in on-site surgical laboratories that simulate the surgical environment
• Valuable, practical experience gained through the completion of clinical practicums at off-campus healthcare facilities, under the supervision of instructors and professional practitioners
• Liberal arts and sciences courses that provide students with a foundation of skills and knowledge necessary to reason clearly and communicate effectively

Programmatic Accreditation and Certification

The Surgical Technology program offered at the Woodland Park campus is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA). Students who complete a CAAHEP-accredited Surgical Technology program are eligible to participate in the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) exam, a national credentialing exam administered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA).

The Surgical Technology program offered at the Woodbridge campus has a site visit scheduled for pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education programs (www.caahep.org). This step in the process is neither a status of accreditation nor a guarantee that accreditation will be granted.  At this time, students who enroll in this program at the Woodbridge campus are not eligible to participate in the CST exam.  However, graduates will be eligible to participate in the Tech in Surgery (TS-C) examination administered by the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT).

Seventy-six percent of Berkeley College’s Surgical Technology students who graduated from the CAAHEP accredited program between August 1, 2017, and July 31, 2018, passed the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) exam on their first attempt. This pass rate is in line with the national average of 75.9 percent, according to statistics from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting.

Degree Program

• A.A.S., Surgical Technology