Surgical Technology

This is a career and technical education program. Upon successful completion of all program requirements an Associate of Applied Science degree in Surgical Technology is awarded by Richland Community College. Eligible students sit for the National Certification Examination to become Certified Surgical Technologists (CST). Some courses may not transfer to four-year institutions.

The Surgical Technology Program is a selective admission program, and minimum criteria must be met in order to apply. Admission to the program is by application. Admission to Richland Community College does not guarantee acceptance to the program. The program begins each spring semester and takes four semesters to complete once admitted.

Career and Technical Education Options

This is a career and technical education program. Some courses may not transfer to four-year institutions.

• Associate of Applied Science in Surgical Technology
• Request an admission worksheet for the Surgical Technology Program – required if you want to apply to the program
  • After applying to the college and receiving a student ID, you can access the program’s Pre-Advisement Plan on myRichland
    • Log on to myRichland using the NetID and password. Students who have not attended Richland in more than a year should use their student ID number as their login and birthdate as their password (mmddyy format with no dashes or slashes) until they are registered for courses. Students who have never attended Richland should meet with an advisor
    • Select the “My Student Info” tab and click the “My Degree Info” link on the left side
    • Select the program of interest under “Health Professions Pre-Advisement” heading

Program Information

Personal responsibility is a key characteristic of health professionals. Surgical Technology candidates must review the pertinent information linked from this page as the first step in the application process. The Health Professions has a selective admissions process.

Overview

Career as a Surgical Technologist

Surgical Technologists perform tasks that require knowledge of asepsis and safe surgical procedures. Such tasks include preparing all supplies, instruments, and equipment for operative procedures; and passing instruments to the surgeon. Positions are available throughout the United States in delivery rooms, surgery centers, and other settings. Surgical Technologists serve as integral members of the surgical team and work closely with surgeons, anesthesiologists, registered nurses, and other surgical personnel in delivery of patient care.

Surgical Technology is a demanding, challenging, and satisfying profession. It requires clinical expertise, academic knowledge, thinking skills, physical stamina, and personal integrity.

The Surgical Technology profession is projected to grow 5% from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations. The current salary for new graduates’ ranges from $23-28 per hour. With successful completion of the certification examination, the salary may increase. In addition, several health care providers may offer sign-on bonuses.

Check the Occupational Outlook Handbook for the most current information.

For further career information, please visit the following Web sites:

• Association of Surgical Technologists (AST)
• Accreditation Review Committee on Education in Surgical Technology (ARC/STSA)
• The National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA)

Accreditation

Richland’s AAS Degree in Surgical Technology Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP, Web: www.CAAHEP.org). The Program is in the continuing accreditation cycle through the Accreditation Review Council for Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC-STSA, Web: www.arcstsa.org).

Program Mission and Goals

The Surgical Technology Program Mission reflects Richland’s Mission. The mission of the Surgical Technology Program is to provide students with the opportunity to obtain the knowledge and skills to become employed as entry level surgical technologists and become contributing members of the health care team.

The purpose of the Surgical Technology program is to prepare competent entry-level surgical technologists with the necessary cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains. The program will provide students with the opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to gain employment as surgical technologists and become contributing members of the health care team. This will be accomplished by meeting or exceeding the criteria set forth in the current Standards and Guidelines for an Accredited Educational Program in Surgical Technology.

Program Effectiveness

National Surgical Technologists Certifying Examination Pass Rate

Employment Rate as Certified Surgical Technologists

Program Costs

The total estimated cost for the Surgical Technology Program, based on full-time attendance, is approximately $17,210.00. Please be aware that costs may change. Tuition estimates are for in-district students.

Additional costs may include travel to clinical sites and campuses as well as the cost of meals. Clinical sites may include:

• St. Mary’s Hospital – Decatur, IL
• Decatur Memorial Hospital – Decatur, IL
• St. John’s Hospital – Springfield, IL
• Springfield Memorial Hospital – Springfield, IL
• OSF – St. Joseph’s – Bloomington, IL
• Eastland Surgicenter – Bloomington, Il
• Springfield Clinic ASC – Springfield, IL
• Carle Foundation Hospital – Urbana, IL

Students are required to supply their own transportation to these sites and assume all risks traveling to and from them.

Admission Information

Surgical Technology Admission Criteria

Unlike many academic and career and technical education programs at Richland, admission into the Surgical Technology Program is selective. Admission to Richland Community College does not guarantee acceptance to the program.

Students must meet the minimum admission criteria to be eligible to apply. Please read below for description of prerequisites and admission criteria. Once the criteria have been met, students should submit their application by the priority deadline of December 10th to be considered for the spring class.

Eligibility to Apply

Please read below to determine if you are eligible to apply. Current or former students may also use the Pre-Advisement Plan on myRichland to review unmet prerequisites. Questions may be directed to an advisor in the Student Success Center or the Surgical Technology Program Director.

Prerequisites and Admission Criteria

The following describes the criteria applicants must meet in order to apply to the Surgical Technology Program:

• Meet eligibility requirements for admission to the college
• Eligibility for BIOL 220
• Completion of SURGT 110, ENGL 101, PSYCH 110, and HLTH 140 with a “C” or better

*For most students, BIOL 101 is a prerequisite to BIOL 220 ( Microbiology). For these students, BIOL 101 applies to the degree as elective credit hours. However, if BIOL 101 is not required as a prerequisite to Microbiology, the student must substitute a 3-credit hour general education course.

Application Process

The Surgical Technology Program follows the Health Profession selective admissions process. Students use the online Pre-Advisement Plan on myRichland to apply during the designated application period. Students must check their email to verify completion of the application. Students who cannot access the online pre-advisement plan should notify the Assistant to the Dean of Health Professions at 217.875.7211 ext. 6753.

Basis of Admission

• Admission to the Surgical Technology Program is determined by successful completion of admission requirements.
• Students may be conditionally admitted until admission criteria are completed.

Notification of Conditional Admission

Shortly after the priority deadline of December 10, the Surgical Technology Program Director reviews all applications and determines who is admitted to the program. After the priority deadline, admission is ongoing until capacity is met with a closing date of January 2nd. The Surgical Technology Program admits to the spring semester. Fifteen students are offered conditional admission to the Surgical Technology Program.

Alternate List

After the first fifteen applicants are extended conditional admission, an alternate list of other qualified students is developed in the event that someone should cancel or not meet the conditional admission criteria. To remain eligible, students must continue to meet all admission requirements. Up to the day prior to the first Surgical Technology course, the alternates may be notified.

The Surgical Technology Program does not maintain a waitlist. If not admitted, students must reapply the following year.

For more information on course requirements, please follow the link below:
Course Catalog

Additional Surgical Technology Requirements

Ethical Requirements

Background Checks

All admitted students are required to undergo a fingerprint-based background check before beginning the clinical portion of the Surgical Technology Program. The background check is coordinated by the Health Professions Office during the program’s first semester. However, students are responsible for the cost of the procedure.

A student with a positive background check containing disqualifying convictions, as defined by state law, is not allowed to enter the clinical portion of this course until a waiver from the Illinois Department of Public Health is granted and documented on the Health Care Worker Registry. Students who may have concerns are encouraged to self-disclose to the Assistant to the Dean to begin the background check and waiver process prior to beginning the program.

Professional Integrity and Code of Ethics

Richland’s Surgical Technology Program holds its students to a high standard. The Association of Surgical Technologists Code of Ethics serves as the basis of Richland’s Surgical Technology Professional Integrity Policy and Code of Ethics.

Health and Safety Requirements

Students must be physically and mentally capable of lifting supplies and instrument trays, moving heavy equipment, and lifting and moving patients. Physical stamina is required to be able to stand for long periods of time, and the student must be able to work in a confined, stressful environment. The student must possess adequate visual, hearing, and verbal communication skills. Due to the physical constraints of the profession, students who are admitted to the program are required to submit a Student Health and Immunization Record form certifying these abilities. Additionally, students must have the ability to pay close attention to detail, be conscientious, orderly, and emotionally stable, and be willing to continue their education throughout their career to keep abreast of new developments in the field.

Affiliation agreements with our clinical partners require students to submit documentation of health and safety requirements. Failure to comply for any reason may result in withdrawal of offer of admission or dismissal from the program.

Under no circumstances are students to attend clinical without current immunizations, initial Mantoux TB, or current CPR. TB and CPR must be current from the first day of the semester through the last day of classes in the semester. Completion/initiation of the hepatitis series, drug screens and background checks are required for the Surgical Technology Program. The student must submit a completed and physician-signed Health and Immunization Record Form.

Drug and Alcohol Testing

All admitted students submit to an initial drug screening as part of their conditional admission requirements. In addition, any of the clinical sites or faculty may require students to submit to random drug tests for cause.

Health Insurance

Students are encouraged to obtain their own health insurance coverage. None is provided through the College.

Contact Our Team

• Allison Shuppara

  Student Success Coach

  • (217) 875-7211, Ext. 6304
  • Email me
  

• Brooke Oliver, M.Ed., BS, CST, FAST, ACUE

  Professor of Surgical Technology/Program Director/Clinical Coordinator

  • 217.875.7211, Ext. 6756
  • Email me