Additional Program Information
The Surgical Technology Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Program (CAAHEP). CAAHEP awards accreditation to ST and SA programs upon the recommendation of ARC/STSA. The program must have the following goal defining minimum expectations: “To prepare competent entry level surgical technologists (or surgical assistants) in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.” Surgical technologists are members of operating room teams, which most commonly include surgeons, anesthesiologists and circulating nurses. Before an operation, surgical technologists help prepare the operating room by setting up surgical instruments and equipment, sterile drapes and sterile solutions. They assemble sterile equipment and ensure it’s working properly. During surgery, technologists pass instruments and other sterile supplies to surgeons and surgical assistants. They may hold retractors, cut sutures, and help count sponges, needles, supplies and instruments.
Student must apply and be selected prior to be admitted to the program. Evaluation for admission to the program includes, but not limited to, successfully completing program prerequisites, cumulative GPA, previous healthcare experience, and TEAS V examination. Students accepted to the program are required to provide evidence of meeting immunization requirements, drug and background screenings and evidence of personal health insurance as described on the Health Sciences Webpage. This program prepares students to take their national certification exam and to gain employment after graduation as certified surgical technologists.
The Surgical Technology Program leads to an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree and the program is completed within 12 months of acceptance into the program.
The program requires the following:
- Assignment to a cohort of approximately 25 students every Fall semester with full time attendance throughout the program to include summer enrollment.
- Complete 120 cases of combined general surgery (requires 30 cases with 20 in First Scrub Role) and surgical specialties (requires 90 cases with 60 cases in First Scrub Role).
- Content and clinical practice experiences are designed to sequentially develop, apply, critically analyze, integrate, synthesize and evaluate concepts and theories in the performance of surgical procedures. Through structured, sequential, competency-based clinical assignments, concepts of team practice, patient-centered clinical practice and professional development are discussed, examined and evaluated.
- All students must be able to meet the clinical and classroom schedules.
- Special Tuition Fee of $700/ every Fall, Spring and Summer of the program.
Upon completion of this program, the graduate must successfully complete the Certified Surgical Technologist Exam by The National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting to work as a Surgical Technologist. Note: House Bill 643 states that in the State of Texas as of Sept 1, 2009, all surgical techs that graduate after Sept 1, 2009, must graduate from an accredited school and must sit for the CST exam to become certified before they can be employed.
Program Accreditation
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), 25400 U.S. Highway 19 North, Ste. 158, Clearwater, FL 33763, ph: (727) 210-2350.
For more details about the program, visit our webpage at: http://alamo.edu/spc/surgical/
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