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Are you looking to make a difference in your place of work each day? Become a surgical technologist, and help make surgeries safer and more successful.

Pathway Description

The Surgical Technology program prepares students to function as members of the surgical team in hospitals and clinics with registered nurses and surgeons in the operating room. Coursework taken during high school will transfer into the Surgical Technology Associate of Applied Science degree at WITCC. 

Job openings are available nationwide for graduates of the surgical technology program. Employment of surgical technologists is projected to grow 15 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations. (Bureau of Labor Statistics). 

Admission to the surgical technology program requires applicants to meet program-specific criteria. Students must achieve a grade point average of 2.00 (C) or above in all program requirements.

Key Competencies

  • Explain the roles and responsibilities of a surgical technologist.

  • Describe the roles of various members of the surgical team.

  • Identify surgical instruments and the purpose of each.

  • Knowledge of proper sterilization procedures for surgical instruments and equipment.

  • Identify the basic structural levels of body organization, anatomical structure, and body cavities.

  • Explain the basic concepts of microbiology and principles of medical asepsis.

  • Use medical terminology related to general medicine and the operating room environment.

Courses

View the High School Course Guide for an in-depth look at the courses outlined below.

High School Credits:

7611     Medical Terminology (2)
7G88    Human Anatomy & Physiology I (2)
7G89    Human Anatomy & Physiology II (1)
7G26    Introduction to Surgical Technology (4)
7G77B  Patient Care Concepts (4)

Total College Credits: 16

Salary

Annual National Average Salary for Entry Level Surgical Technologist: $45,000

Career Opportunities

  • Surgical Technologist

  • Medical Equipment Preparers