Surgical Technology Technical Certificate

Overview

Work on the cutting edge.

The Surgical Technology Technical Certificate prepares you to be an instrumental member of the operating room team during surgical procedures. Build solid foundational knowledge in anatomy, medical terminology, and microbiology. Become a successful surgical technologist prepared for all major specialties in the operating room with extensive classroom time and practical clinical experience. Gain the abilities to:

Recognize elements of good patient care and prioritize them before less important elements in the operating room.
Behave professionally in a stressful environment with demanding personalities while remaining calm and focused.
Accurately plan for and perform duties of a surgical technologist in the scrub role in common surgical specialties.

Employment

Most surgical technologists work in hospital-based operating rooms.
Surgical technologists may also work in dental and veterinary surgical settings.
Some surgical technologists work for surgeons in a private capacity.
Medical device manufacturers also employ surgical technologists for technical support and sales.

Learn about employment for surgical technologists, the nature of the work, job outlook, wages, related occupations and more:

Consumer Information

Gainful Employment Disclosures: Surgical Technology

If you have additional questions regarding the application, selection, and admission process for the Surgical Technology program at Nashville State Community College, please send an email to SurgTech@nscc.edu and put Surgical Technology Application and Admission in the subject line.

Application and Selection Process

The deadline to submit applications for the Fall 2021 Surgical Technology program has passed.

Program Eligibility

You must have done the following to be eligible to apply to our programs:

Completed your application to Nashville State Community College (declare Health Sciences A.S. as your major)
Taken any necessary placement tests (Accuplacer, Michigan Test) if you need them
Enroll in any Learning Support or English as a Second Language (ESOL) classes you place into (these must be successfully completed prior to starting the program in the fall).

Application Process

Complete the application process to Nashville State Community College, including any necessary placement testing.
Successfully complete any placement requirements in English as a Second Language (ESL), Learning Support English, Learning Support Reading, and Learning Support Math.
Apply to the Surgical Technology Program during the spring prior to desired enrollment (fall).
Complete Reasoning and Critical Thinking Assessments.

Selection Process

Applicants will receive points from Assessments and from any successfully completed program coursework completed prior to selection.
Applicants with the most points will be seated by rank order until seats are filled.
The remaining applicants will be offered a place on the waiting list.
Wait-listed applicants will be offered program seats vacated prior to the start of the fall semester.

The Program Coordinator's email address is Van.Bates@nscc.edu

Advising and Curriculum

Advising

See your advisor early to ensure you take the courses you need to complete the 33 credit-hour technical certificate. Find Your Advisor Online

Surgical Technology Technical Certificate Advising Sheet
2021-22 Advising Sheet
2020-21 Advising Sheet
2019-20 Advising Sheet

Technical Certificate Fact Sheet
Surgical Technology Program

Curriculum

The Surgical Technology Technical Certificate consists of:

Eight didactic courses (Medical Terminology, Basic Anatomy/Physiology, Orient. to Surgical Technology, Surgical Pharmacology, Surg. Tech. & Patient Care I, Surg. Microbiology & Asepsis, Surgical Procedures I, Surgical Procedures II);
One lab class (Surgical Patient Care II); and
Three courses that provide the student with clinical experience (Clinical Practicum I, Clinical Practicum II, and Clinical Practicum III).

Required Courses

BIOL 1000* – Medical Terminology*
SURG 1304* – Basic Anatomy/Physiology*
SURG 1102 – Orient. to Surgical Technology
SURG 1305* – Surgical Pharmacology*
SURG 1410 – Surg. Tech. & Patient Care I
SURG 2310* – Surg. Microbiology & Asepsis*
SURG 2420 – Surgical Patient Care II
SURG 2321 – Surgical Procedures I
SURG 2330 – Surgical Procedures II
SURG 2103 – Clinical Practicum I
SURG 2201 – Clinical Practicum II
SURG 2302 – Clinical Practicum III

* These courses count toward the Surgical Technology certificate and may be taken prior to acceptance into the program. Taking these courses does not guarantee acceptance into the program.

Enrollment in classes with class numbers beginning in “SURG” except 2310 and 1305 requires interview and instructor’s approval.

Please see the NSCC Catalog for course descriptions and syllabi.

Accreditation

The Surgical Technology program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Review Council on Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting.

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
1362 Park Street
Clearwater, FL 33756
727-210-2350
www.caahep.org

Accreditation Review Council on Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting
6 W. Dry Creek Circle, Suite #110
Littleton, CO 80120
303-694-9262
Fax: 303-741-3655
info@arctsa.org

Students successfully completing the program will be eligible to sit for the Surgical Technologists Certifying Exam and receive certification from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (formerly LCC-ST).

For more information on the field of Surgical Technology, please visit the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST) website.

NSCC Surgical Technology Program Goal Statement

The Surgical Technology program is an educational experience that produces competent entry-level surgical technologists in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains and prepares them to successfully complete the National Certification Exam. The program provides the qualified and motivated applicant with experiences in a learner-centered environment that is supportive and responsive to their individual needs. Learning experiences are facilitated by qualified faculty and/or preceptors and are designed to help the student learn to independently apply sound theory to practice.

Contact Information: Van Bates 615-353-3708, Office: D-30, E-mail: van.bates@nscc.edu

Student Testimonials

"Nashville State offers an intimate learning environment. You know your instructors and they know you."
– Blair Mitchell, U.S. Navy Veteran, Surgical Technology Student '20

"The relationships Nashville State has with the local universities makes the transition easy for those looking to further their education."
– Blair Mitchell, U.S. Navy Veteran, Surgical Technology Student '20

"My success is a testament to the quality of instruction I received at Nashville State."
– Blair Mitchell, U.S. Navy Veteran, Surgical Technology Student '20