Surgical Technology, Certificate

The Certificate Surgical Technology program is designed as a four-quarter program for full-time students. The program prepares individuals to assist in the care of the surgical patient in the operating room and to function as a member of a surgical team. Students apply theoretical knowledge to the care of the surgical patient and develop skills necessary to prepare surgical supplies and equipment, maintain aseptic conditions, and assist surgeons during surgery.

Goals/Learning Outcomes

The goal of the South College Surgical Technology program is to prepare competent entry-level surgical technologists in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.

Graduates of this program of study will:

1. Demonstrate competency in the background information, content, and skills required for performance as a surgical technologist in the operating room;
2. Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively with all members of the health care team in terms of staff and patient needs;
3. Exhibit conduct that reflects practice standards that are legal, ethical, and safe.

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be eligible to sit for the Certified Surgical Technologist Certification Examination as administered by The National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting.

Programmatic Accreditation

The Certificate in Surgical Technology program offered at the Asheville campus is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org),(25400 U.S. Highway 19 North, Suite 158, Clearwater, FL 33763, 727-210-2350), based upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC-STSA). The program has been placed on Probationary Accreditation as of January 17, 2020. The program is moving forward with requirements to address this status.

Admission

Student applying to this program must:

1. Be generally admitted to South College;
2. Meet specific health and/or essential functions pertinent to the responsibilities performed by the Surgical Technologist;
3. Complete five (5) hours of observation in a surgery suite as scheduled/approved by the Program Director.
4. Students will be required to consent to a drug screening and background check prior to beginning clinical rotations. Failure to pass the screenings may disqualify a student as a candidate for admission.
5. Clinical sites are dispersed; students may have to drive outside of the Asheville area for clinical rotations.

Students will be accepted on a conditional basis until all admission requirements are met. Readmission to the program is limited to one time on a space available basis.

The Certificate in Surgical Technology program is offered at the Asheville campus.