Surgical technology

• Overall GPA of 2.5 or higher.
• “B” or higher in Intro to Anatomy and Physiology, or “C” or better in BIO121, BIO122 or BIO123.
• “B” or higher in MTH022 or MTH023 or math proficiency, or “C” or better in college-level math course.
• Background check.

You must be at least 18 years old and a high school graduate or equivalency to start taking technical courses.

• Apply to Stark State College.
• Meet with an admissions counselor.
• Print the surgical technology application.
• After the first semester, contact your program advisor for assistance with scheduling.
• Complete the course and GPA requirements.
• Complete required background checks.
• When you have completed all application requirements, contact the surgical technology program coordinator at 330-966-5458 for an appointment to review your application. You must bring the completed application and background check eligibility notification to the appointment.

Graduates of Stark State College’s surgical technology program are awarded an associate of applied science degree. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA).

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
9355 113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775-7709
www.caahep.org
Phone: 727-210-2350
Fax: 727-210-2354

CAAHEP is the organization that grants accreditation to surgical technology programs in the United States. To achieve this end, it utilizes an “outcomes based” process. Programmatic outcomes are performance-based indicators that reflect the extent to which the educational goals of the program are achieved and by which program’s effectiveness is documented.

• Cognitive Domain: 1. Apply fundamental concepts of Human Anatomy and Physiology to principles of safe patient care. 2. Recognize potential hazards in the operating room environment. 3. Relate the roles and responsibilities of the surgical technologist to the perioperative patient experience.
• Psychomotor Domain: 1. Demonstrate fundamental surgical technology skills in general and surgical specialty procedures. 2. Accurately apply the principles of asepsis across in sterile and unsterile roles. 3. Demonstrate effective use of verbal and written communication skills as a member of the surgical team.
• Affective Domain: 1. Respect the physical, psychosocial, and spiritual needs of surgical patients. 2. Demonstrate professional responsibility in performance, attitude, and personal conduct. 3. Adhere to the recognized scope of practice in providing optimal patient care. 4. Display a strong surgical conscience in the application of aseptic technique.

As a surgical technologist (also known as an operating room technician), you can work in hospitals, outpatient surgery centers and some physicians’ offices performing tasks like:

• Selecting and opening sterile supplies.
• Checking non-sterile equipment.
• Observing vital signs.
• Positioning the patient for surgery.
• Connecting and applying the patient to surgical equipment.
• Preparing incision sites.
• Assisting during surgery by passing sterile supplies and instruments, holding instruments and handling specimens.
• Counting supplies such as sponges and instruments.
• Maintaining a sterile environment.
• Assisting after surgery by applying dressings to incision sites.

We strongly discourage working full-time while you’re in the program, as you must maintain flexible hours. Your clinical experiences will be three to four days a week, with days lasting from eight to 10 hours long.

Schedules vary each semester, but they often require attendance five days per week during the day.

Stark State’s surgical technology program has articulation agreements with different colleges and universities to help you advance your degree. Reach out the surgical technology program coordinator to discuss your options.

You must complete a minimum of 120 cases, as outlined below. To ensure each student meets our accreditation and graduation requirements, we ask you to complete 130-plus scrub cases.

General surgery

• You must complete a minimum of 30 cases in general surgery.
  • Of these cases, 20 must be performed in the FIRST SCRUB (FS) or solo (SS) role.
  • The remaining 10 cases may be performed in either the FS or the SS role.
    • If you complete more than 30 general surgery cases in either the FS or SS role, they will still count toward the total required 130 cases.

Specialty Surgery

• You must complete a minimum of 90 cases in various surgical specialties, excluding general surgery.
  • A minimum of 60 cases must be performed in the FS role and distributed among a minimum of four surgical specialties.
    • A minimum of 10 cases in five (our program requirement) (four-is accreditation requirement) different specialties must be completed in the FS role (for a total of 50 cases).
    • The additional 20 cases in the FS role may be distributed among any one surgical specialty or multiple specialties.
  • The remaining 30 scrub cases may be performed in any surgical specialty in either the FS or SS role.

Diagnostic endoscopy

• These cases may be counted to a total of 10 of the required 130 cases.
• This cannot be counted as one of the five different required specialties as described above.

Surgical specialties (excluding general surgery)

• Cardiothoracic
• Genitourinary
• Neurologic
• Obstetric and gynecologic
• Ophthalmologic
• Oral/Maxillofacial
• Orthopedic
• Otorhinolaryngologic
• Peripheral vascular
• Plastics and reconstructive
• Procurement and transplant

As a surgical technologist, you must have the necessary clinical skills to carry out your duties and responsibilities safely and effectively. This includes requirements based on hearing, mobility, physical endurance and strength, motor skills, tactile senses and visual acuity. Contact the program coordinator for the full list of criteria.

View the estimated program costs for the academic year.