Surgical Technology
If your answer is "yes," pursuing a degree as a surgical technologist is the career field for you! As a surgical technologist, you work with the operating room team before, during, and after surgery to deliver quality patient care.
Surgical technologists prepare the instruments and set up the trays that the surgical team will utilize. During the procedure, technologists pass instruments to the surgeon and generally assist where needed.
This 18-month associate degree program delivers the knowledge and skills necessary for graduates to enter the field of surgical technology and take the national certification examination for surgical technology.
- Earn an Associate of Applied Science degree
- Complete in as little as three semesters
- Progress through the classes and internship with other students, together as a group
- Take the certification exam during the last semester of coursework
- Become a competent, entry-level surgical technologist with the knowledge and skills needed to join a surgical team
Surgical Technology Program Success 2023
- Overall Program Completion: 73%
- Job Placement: 100%
- 1st Time CST Exam Pass Rate: 63%
Surgical Technology Accreditation
The surgical tech program is accredited by CAAHEP - Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education.
www.caahep.org
727.210.2350
25400 US Highway 19 North, Suite 158
Clearwater, FL 33763
Some programs and/or courses may require additional fees in addition to the base tuition and fees. High-cost course fees are used to support the maintenance and development of the course labs and are embedded within your general tuition.
The following courses have additional fees:
STE 1000, STE 1001, STE 1003, STE 2069, STE 2081
View the 2024-2025 Course Specific Fees
This program is eligible for federal financial aid.
Your first step is to connect with the Financial Aid office to discover how you can afford college. Our dedicated staff and support services help you wade through all the legal language and get you past the first hurdle to completing your educational goals.
In addition, CCD has $1,000,000 available in scholarships. Learn More!
What Can I Do with My Major?
The surgical technologist can work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, surgery departments and ambulatory surgery centers. The field of Surgical Technology is expected to grow by 6 percent over the next 10 years.
How Much Can I Expect to Earn?
The national median hourly wage is $29.03 an hour, and may be higher in Colorado.
The median annual wage for surgical technologists was $60,610 in May 2023.
The information provided here is by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook.
- Apply knowledge of the biological sciences as they relate to surgical procedures in the operating room.
- Competent in the knowledge and use of sterile and aseptic techniques as they apply to their scope of practice.
- Be an effective communicator with patients and all members of the healthcare team, ensuring that confidentiality and all legal and ethical principles are practiced.
- Coordinate all aspects of each surgical procedure utilizing critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
The Program completion data below is defined as the number of students who complete the Surgical Technology Program within the stated program length of 18 months. Students accepted into the program in the Fall semester but withdraw before census date are not included in this data.
| Total of 2023 Graduates | Total Students Employed in their Field of Study |
|---|---|
| 19 | 13 |
| Class Of | Program Completion | CST First-time Exam Pass Rate | Job Placement |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 - 2018 | 79% | 90% | |
| 2018 - 2019 | 79% | 80% | |
| 2019 - 2020 | 60% *** | 100% | 100% |
| 2020 - 2021 | 79% | 80% | 96% |
| 2021 - 2022 | 87% | 54% | 100% |
| 2022 - 2023 | 73% | 63% | 100% |
*** COVID impacted student clinical placement and program completion.
The application for Spring 2025 is currently open. Application closes on November 14, 2024.
Please follow the instructions below and gather the appropriate documents before you complete our online application.
If you haven’t done so, you must be a current CCD student to enroll in the Surgical Tech Program. The CCD application is free. Please select Associate of Applied Science as the degree option when applying. In order to get transfer credit from classes taken outside of CCD, official transcripts from those colleges must be submitted to CCD’s Admissions, Registration and Records office. CCD will accept e-transcripts.
Prerequisites for This Program
The program application will ask you to list the course(s) you are currently enrolled in or have completed. Information needed: college/university, course number, date enrolled, semester/quarter hours, grade received, date completed/to be completed. You will also be asked to upload a copy of your unofficial transcript(s), which can be found by signing in to CCDConnect and downloading a copy.
BIO 2101 | 4 Credits
- Students must take this course before they enter the program and obtain a grade of “C” or higher.
- This course must be successfully completed by the end of the spring semester in the year of application to the program. This course must be completed before you can take BIO 2102.
- There is a seven-year expiration date on all science courses.
BIO 2102 | 4 Credits
- Students must take this course before they enter the program and obtain a grade of “C” or higher.
- This course can be in progress at the time of application but must be successfully completed by the end of the spring semester in the year of application to the program.
- There is a seven-year expiration date on all science courses.
HPR 1039 or 178 | 2 Credits
- Students must take one of these courses before they enter the program and obtain a grade of “C” or higher.
- The course can be in progress at the time of application but must be successfully completed by the end of the spring semester in the year of application to the program.
- All general courses are good for a lifetime.
ENG 1021 | 3 credits
- Students must take this course before they enter the program and obtain a grade of “C” or higher.
- This course can be in progress at the time of application but must be successfully completed by the end of the spring semester in the year of application to the program.
- All general courses are good for a lifetime.
MAT 1120 | 3 Credits
- Students must take this course before they enter the program and obtain a grade of “C” or higher.
- This course can be in progress at the time of application but must be successfully completed by the end of the spring semester in the year of application to the program.
- All general courses are good for a lifetime
Previous healthcare experience is preferred. Examples of acceptable healthcare experience: Nurse Aide, Phlebotomist, Unit receptionist, Emergency Medical Technician, Medical Assistant, Practical Nurse, Dietary Aide, etc.
To be accepted into the program, you will need the following:
Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Must be completed within a timeframe that will allow one certification to be valid through the program.
- You will be required to show proof of a (BLS) for the Health Care Providers Certification course through the American Heart Association once you have been accepted into the program.
Background Check and Drug Screen
- CCD’s Surgical Technology program requires that a background check and drug screen be completed prior to your admittance into the program.
- No history of criminal offenses; please read the CCCS list of disqualifying offenses.
- You may order the background check and drug screen at the Colorado Community College System’s CastleBranch website. Once your order is complete, we will collect your receipt, and CCD’s Human Resources will contact us upon your approval/denial. You do not need to wait until you have the background screening results before proceeding with the application. You will be contacted by the program administrator upon approval/denial.
- You will need to upload the confirmation page of the background check to the online application.
Answer These Questions
- Have you ever been placed on academic probation or dismissed for any reason from school, college, or university?
- Have you ever been convicted of either a felony or misdemeanor, excluding minor traffic offenses?
Current Physical Exam
Vaccinations
- A negative Tuberculosis (TB) skin test OR QuantiFERON (QFT) Gold test OR clear chest x-ray image
- Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine (2 doses)
- Varicella vaccine or negative titer
- Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap) vaccine (within the last 10 years)
- Flu vaccine: The seasonal flu vaccine is only required of applicants applying to the program between the months of October through March
- Hepatitis B vaccine: You must have the initial dose of the three-dose series to begin the program
- COVID-19 vaccine: You must have the initial dose of the two-dose series to begin the program
Fall 2024 Info Session dates:
- Thursday, August 1 - 3:00pm
- Thursday, September 5 - 3:00pm
- Thursday, October 3 - 3:00pm
- Thursday, November 7 - 3:00pm
- Thursday, December 5 - 3:00pm
Meeting ID: 215 444 504 344 | Passcode: 3kLUv6
As part of the application process, you will be asked to write a 500-word or less essay that includes the following topics: What do you know about the profession of Surgical Technology, and what interests you about it? What character qualities do you feel that you bring into this profession? Also, include any healthcare training and work experience and include the location of this work experience (i.e., clinics, hospitals, etc.)
Applications will be reviewed, and selected candidates will be invited to participate in an interview. After the interview process, a certain number of applicants will be offered a spot in the program.