Associate of Applied Science Surgical Technology (next cohort starts Summer 2027)

Associate of Applied Science Surgical Technology

The Associate of Applied Science Surgical Technology Program is a two-year degree program that integrates didactic, laboratory, and clinical training in which students will develop the necessary skills to become an entry-level Surgical Technologist in various types of healthcare settings.

This program prepares students to sit for the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) examination.

What is a Surgical Technologist?

Surgical Technologists are essential members of the surgical team who work alongside surgeons, nurses, anesthesia professionals, and other healthcare providers. They prepare the operating room, organize instruments and supplies, establish and maintain the sterile field, anticipate the needs of the surgical team, and help promote safe patient care throughout the surgical procedure.

Surgical Technologists may work in hospital operating rooms, ambulatory surgery centers, physician or dental offices, sterile processing departments, and other surgical-services settings.

Program Rationale

The Surgical Technology Program prepares students with the knowledge, technical skills, clinical experience, and professional behaviors needed to enter the surgical technology profession. The curriculum also provides a foundation for continued professional development and further education in surgical services and other healthcare disciplines.

Program Goal

“To prepare entry-level Surgical Technologists who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession.”

Program Description

Surgical technologists are allied health professionals who are a critical part of the medical teams providing surgical care. Working under the supervision of a surgeon to help ensure safe and effective invasive and non-invasive surgical procedures, a surgical technologist combines knowledge of: human anatomy, surgical procedures, surgical instrumentation, and technologies along with theory and application of principles of asepsis and sterile technique. Surgical technologists have the important responsibility to defend and maintain the sterile field ensuring all surgical team members observe proper aseptic techniques for each patient.

The Associate of Applied Science Surgical Technology Program aligns with the AST Core Curriculum 7^th ed for Surgical Technology. This ensures the student learns essential concepts in healthcare sciences, including but not limited to anatomy and physiology, pharmacology and anesthesia, medical terminology, microbiology, and pathophysiology.

This program prepares students to sit for the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) examination.

Programmatic Accreditation

The Associate of Applied Science Surgical Technology Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting.

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs www.caahep.org
9355 113th St N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
727-210-2350

Program Learning Outcomes

“Prepare competent entry-level surgical technologists in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.”

Cognitive (Knowledge)

• Prepare surgical technology students to sit for the National Board Exam for Surgical Technologists and Surgical Assisting.
• Prepare students with appropriate knowledge in anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, microbiology, pathophysiology, and technological sciences, as well as key surgical technology concepts relative to preop; intraoperative, postop; perioperative case management and assistant circulator role.
• Develop effective communication skills including reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills as necessary in the surgical setting.
• Develop critical thinking, reasoning, problem solving, anticipation, and prioritization skills in the surgical setting, to effectively create and organize the sterile field for efficiency, safety, and conservation of financial resources.

Psychomotor (Skills)

• Prepare surgical technologists to scrub in the primary role in Endoscopy, General, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Otorhinolaryngology, Genitourinary, Orthopedic, Oral and Maxillofacial, Plastic and Reconstructive, Ophthalmic, Peripheral Vascular, Cardiovascular, and Neurological specialties.
• Engage students in a clinical experience under the supervision of an experienced Surgical Technologist to document competency in the minimum required cases in the appropriate roles in both general and surgical specialties.

Affective (Behavior)

• Develop a sense of professionalism and ethics to work with others in a constructive manner in the medical field.
• Prepare students to serve diverse patient populations with an ability to meet their individual needs; these populations include those of diverse ethnicity, religion, disability, gender, age, and sexual orientation.

Program Curriculum

The Surgical Technology Program consists of 65 credit hours and includes approximately 844 hours of clinical education. In addition to general education coursework, instruction covers surgical specialties and procedures, instrumentation, sterile technique, patient care, surgical pharmacology, professional practice, ethics and law, and sterilization. Program-specific classroom and laboratory courses are taught on campus during weekdays.

Students complete clinical education during three consecutive semesters, applying classroom knowledge and laboratory skills in an operating room setting under the supervision of a qualified perioperative preceptor. Clinical experiences are scheduled during daytime hours on weekdays.