Program Purpose:
To prepare students to become certified surgical technologists (CSTs). Surgical technologists are part of the team of medical practitioners providing surgical care to patients. Surgical technologists work under the supervision of a surgeon to facilitate the safe and effective conduct of surgical procedures, ensuring that the operating room environment is safe, that equipment functions properly and that the procedure is conducted under conditions that maximize patient safety. Surgical technologists possess expertise in the theory and application of sterile and aseptic technique, which they combine with knowledge of human anatomy, surgical procedures, and instruments and technologies to facilitate a physician’s performance of invasive therapeutic and diagnostic procedures.
Upon successful program accreditation, graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification exam administered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA).
Employment Types:
Certified surgical technologists work in operating rooms, ambulatory surgery centers, central supply, labor and delivery areas, cardiac catheterization laboratories, private physician offices, and other settings where invasive procedures are performed.
Program Length:
49 credit hours
Admission Requirements:
Applicant must have earned a standard high school diploma or GED diploma.
Applicant must be college-ready, which means the applicant does not need developmental education courses in English, reading and/or mathematics. This requirement may be satisfied by one or more of the following options:
- The Florida Statute on Developmental Education exemption
- Adequate placement scores on the Florida Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT) or other college placement scores accepted by TCC
- Completion of developmental education courses
- Completion of at least ENC1101 College Composition and one general education Mathematics State Core course
Program Application:
The Amy Lynette Bailey Surgical Technology program accepts students for each Fall and Spring semester. This is a limited-access program with a limited number of seats per class.
Applicants must submit a TCC admission application (www.tcc.fl.edu/apply) and a separate healthcare program application. Applicants may access the healthcare program application through their TCC Passport account.
See Additional Healthcare Program Requirements for important information.
Academic Division:
Healthcare Professions, Ghazvini Center for Healthcare Education
Contact:
(850) 558-4500 or healthedu@tcc.fl.edu
View Information about Graduation Requirements and Year of Entry .
Note: Students who wish to earn an A.S. degree in this field may complete the general education requirements listed for Health Science, A.S. (2161) either before or after they take the required surgical technology courses.