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:
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age at the time they enter the program, must complete all admission requirements to the College, and must have acceptable scores on the SAT, ACT or Florida Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT). Applicant must be eligible to enroll in at least ENC1101 College Composition and MAT1033 Intermediate Algebra and have college-level reading skills as demonstrated by acceptable PERT scores or by previous college enrollment.
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 and attend the Surgical Technology Program information session to obtain and submit a program application.
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
Note: Students who wish to earn an A.S. degree in this field may complete the general education requirements listed for Health Science - Surgical Technology Specialist, A.S. (2161) either before or after they take the required surgical technology courses.