Associate of Science Surgical Technology w/ Con Sterile Processing
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In our Associate of Science in Surgical Technology program, you’ll receive hands-on training and education that equips you to help surgeons and patients before, during, and after surgery. You’ll study pharmaceutical drugs, sterilization, surgical procedures, and relevant lab testing. You’ll also discuss clinical care, including how to position, prep, and drape patients. In addition to spending time in our Surgical Technology classrooms and labs, you’ll gain clinical experience in operating rooms at hospitals and outpatient surgery centers.
For the Sterile Processing concentration, you’ll take an additional course on how to disinfect, prepare, process, store, and issue sterile and non-sterile supplies and equipment. The course also covers operating and monitoring sterilization units and processes. After completing this course, you’ll be eligible to sit for the Sterilization Processing and Distribution Technician Certification Exam offered by the Certification Board for Sterilization Processing and Distribution (CBSPD).
Develop Essential Skills in:
- Surgical patient care
- Decontamination and sterile processing
- Surgery preparation and support
- Pharmaceutical drug use and effects
- Instrumentation and supply handling
See All Surgical Technology Programs
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Tuition and Fees
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Examples of Scholarships and Grants That May Be Available (Check with Your Campus Financial Aid Office For More Information)
South College Promise
TN Promise
Concentrations in this Program
Ready For Your Next Step
You May Enjoy This Line of Study If You…
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Enjoy being a key member of the team and a high-performance group -
Thrive on being in the middle of what’s going on -
Are fascinated by surgery and the complexity of the human body -
Pay attention to detail and prioritize patient safety -
Work best under pressure in fast-paced, rapidly changing environments where accuracy and timing are crucial -
Can be counted on to act professionally and ethically
Go even further with South College!
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:
- Demonstrate competency in the background information, content, and skills required for performance as a surgical technologist in the operating room.
- Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively with all members of the health care team in terms of staff and patient needs.
- Exhibit conduct that reflects practice standards that are legal, ethical, and safe.
Additional Information
Professional Certification Acknowledgement
Currently there are no requirements for state licensure for Surgical Technologists. Professional certification is required to practice as a Surgical Technologist. The National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting currently sets certain eligibility criteria to take the surgical tech certification exam. Graduates of an accredited program in surgical technology or surgical first assisting programs can take the exam with a notarized letter from their program director stating their graduation date, with a copy of their transcript.
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 application and self-study for the Associate of Science in Surgical Technology program offered at the Knoxville campus to the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org, 9355 – 113th St. N, #7709, Seminole, FL 33775, 727-210-2350) has been submitted and a site visit scheduled for pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. This step in the process is neither a status of accreditation nor a guarantee that accreditation will be granted. Accreditation must be awarded to the program prior to graduates being able to attempt the required certification examination to practice as a Surgical Technologist.
State Law Overview
The following states have passed law related to the education and certification of surgical technologists. This includes graduation from a CAAHEP-accredited surgical technology program, obtain the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST®) credential from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA), and maintain the CST® credential by completing mandatory continuing education (CE) hours.
NOTE: When a state passes this law, nothing in the law prevents an employer from requiring all of its surgical technologist employees (not just new-hires) to meet the full requirements of the law regardless of whether the employee fits into the “grandfathered” or “military” exceptions.
Indiana (2009)
Massachusetts (2012)
Nevada (2017)
New Jersey (2011)
New York (2015)
Oregon (2016)
Pennsylvania (2020)
South Carolina (2018)
Tennessee (2013)
Texas (2009)
Idaho (1991) – Idaho has an administrative rule requiring that surgical technologists (referred to as “operating room technicians” in the rule) either complete a CAAHEP-accredited program OR satisfy the NBSTSA requirements for CST/certification.
The following states require surgical technologists to register in order to work in the state:
- Colorado (2016) (CST not required for registration)
- North Dakota (2011) (“Unlicensed Assistive Person” registry; CST not required for registration)
- Washington (2010) (CST not required for registration)
The following states offer optional registration/title protection for surgical technologists:
- Arkansas (2017) (Must be a CST in order to qualify for the registry/title protection)
- Illinois (2004) (Must be a CST in order to qualify for the registry/title protection)
- Virginia (2014) (Must be a CST in order to qualify for the registry/title protection)
CST Exam Pass Rate
First-Time Pass Rate for NBSTSA CST Exam (Knoxville campus):
September 2021 Graduating Class – 100%
March 2022 Graduating Class – 80%
September 2022 Graduating Class – 100%
Admission Requirements
Students applying to this program must:- Be generally admitted to South College;
- Meet specific health and/or essential functions pertinent to the responsibilities performed by the Surgical Technologist;
- Successfully complete STE 1000 Introduction to Surgical Technology, STE 1100 Patient Care Concepts I, and STE 1101 Patient Care Concepts I Lab courses;
- Students will be required to consent to a drug screening and background check prior to beginning clinical rotations. Failure to pass the screenings will result in non-admission;
- Clinical sites are dispersed; assigned sites may exceed 75 miles from South College. It is the responsibility of the student to allow for the proper travel time to ensure prompt arrival at the clinical facility.
Accreditation
Beginning in the year 2000, only graduates of a surgical technology program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) may take the certification exam. Beginning in July 2006, surgical technologists practicing in the state of Tennessee must be certified or a graduate of a CAAHEP-accredited program. This accreditation is provided in collaboration with the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST).
Asheville, Atlanta, Knoxville, Nashville, Orlando, and Pittsburgh
The Associate of Science in Surgical Technology program offered at the Asheville, Atlanta, Knoxville, Nashville, Orlando, and Pittsburgh campuses is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org), 9355 – 113th St. N, #7709 Seminole, FL 33775, 727-210-2350, upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC-STSA) (www.arcstsa.org).
Indianapolis
The Associate of Science in Surgical Technology program offered at the Indianapolis campuses have a site visit scheduled for pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org). This step in the process is neither a status of accreditation nor a guarantee that accreditation will be granted.
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Yes! South College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award degrees at the doctorate, educational specialist, master’s, baccalaureate, and associate levels, as well as certificates. With over 100 programs and concentrations and campuses on multiple states the state authorizations have been obtained. Visit the link to see the full listing. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the appropriate licensing board to confirm whether a South College program will meet the requirements for professional licensure in that state. South College will assist with this information for fully online programs. For on-ground/hybrid programs, the institution ensures that the program meets requirements for the state in which the campus is located.
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South College offers a wide range of degree and certificate programs in areas such as business, healthcare, legal studies, education, criminal justice, and technology. At this time, we do not currently offer housing options. Our expansive online study and hybrid options allow our students to learn wherever they are located, and often with the flexibility of their own convenient time. With academic advisors that support the students throughout their tenure at South College, along with tutors, study groups, and a student success team, students at South College have resources at their fingertips to assist them in their educational pursuits and may be able to guide towards housing areas close to the campus of their choice. The individual attention and support provided by our faculty and staff helps to set us apart. Students interested in a more personalized learning experience are often attracted to South College over other larger universities and colleges in our campus locations. Request more information about South College today!
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South College is a regionally accredited private co-educational, institution with non-residential campuses in Knoxville and Nashville, Tennessee; Asheville, North Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; Indianapolis, Indiana; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Orlando, Florida. Students can pursue academic programs at all levels, including professional certificates and associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. New academic programs are added frequently in response to local, regional, and national employment trends, and South College is committed to providing programs at all levels with innovative course content and teaching platforms. Explore all the programs and come back often as we regularly add new programs that may spark your interest!
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Since its founding 141 years ago, South College‘s mission has been to serve students who want a hands-on, professional focused education. Today this means offering traditional classroom experiences along with accelerated, hybrid, and online learning options. It means small class sizes, modern labs, and campuses that are convenient to large numbers of students. Most of all, it means experienced instructors who provide real world experiences in their classes and lead in-depth discussions on the concepts taught. South College also offers non-traditional distance-learning programs, allowing students to earn a college degree online providing more flexibility with the same level of quality education and experience from all academic programs offered. This option is great for potential students who are working a full-time job or are not in travel distance to one of the learning sites. Online vs. campus? You decide. Get the student experience you desire in the program that fits your style best on your road to success!
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As an institution of higher education, South College recognizes its responsibility to society and supports both institutional and individual commitments to service. South College encourages its administration, faculty, and staff to invest their knowledge, experience, and expertise in community, professional, and institutional service. South College’s core values of excellence, responsibility, and integrity serve as the foundation for assessing the quality of institutional, school/departmental, and individual performance in achieving this mission. South College is grateful for the service and sacrifice of our military and their families. We are happy to provide the South College Military Grant to support our military – past and present – in the pursuit of their education and skill development. The South College Application Fee is waived for all active-duty military members, veterans, their spouses, and their dependent children who receive this Grant.
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