Surgical Technology - Frequently Asked Questions

Please visit the SCC site and look over the career guide for Surgical Technology. After that, this should help answer some of those questions you may have.

FAQ 1 - What is an "accredited" program and why should I care?

Answer: Accreditation is mandatory for all reputable colleges, however, specialty accreditation for programs is a voluntary process that aligns a program with higher professional entities for guidance and support. It also holds us to a higher educational standards (nationally accepted education) which then allows grads to sit for National Exams and become Nationally Certified as a CST (Certified Surgical Technologist) The SCC program is accredited through CAAHEP (Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, www.caahep.com), upon the recommendation of the NBSTSA (National Board for Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting). We are also aligned with the AST (Association of Surgical Technologists). Both instructors graduated from this accredited program and have held their national certifications since their graduation from the program.

FAQ 2 - Is there a wait list for this program? AND, why is it so long?

Answer: Yes, there is a wait list. We accept 18 students into the program, from the list, each fall quarter. The list (the wait) is typically about two years in length. The reason our list is so long is that we only accept enough students to fill the promised clinical sites. This way, everyone who enters the program is guaranteed a clinical site, for the entire length of the program, when they enter the program.

FAQ 3 - Are there prerequisites to getting onto the Surgical Technology wait list?

Answer: Yes. We have four prerequisites that MUST be completed prior to application to the list. The classes are: Biology 160, CIS 110 and Math 92. The fourth prerequisite is a background check. This must be submitted, and paid for by the student, prior to application acceptance.

FAQ 4 - Why a background check?

Answer: Our patients are our customers. We deal with them when they are at their most vulnerable, so the facilities have a strict policy of security, beginning with no blemishes on your background check. If a blemish appears on your background check, the clinical sites must be contacted to get clearance. If the clinical facilities we use refuses allow a clinical spot, then you cannot enter the program. Background checks are also done annually once in the program. So, stay out of trouble and keep your records clean.

FAQ 5 - What are the clinicals like?

Answer: Clinicals begin in the third quarter and continue through the sixth quarter. Clinicals are a chance for you to practice what you have learned in the lecture and lab components in the real world. You are placed with a Preceptor who will help and guide you in your practice. Starting fourth quarter, if you pass all of the required tests and clinical clearances, you will be in an operating room during surgeries, acting as the Surgical Technologist.

FAQ 6 - I have a Bachelor's Degree or a Master's Degree or I'm transferring from another school's Surgical Technology program. Can I just jump in since I have the background?

Answer: No. Sorry. We have an open door policy, meaning that anyone who wants into the program has to follow the same guidelines as everyone else, meaning, have the prereqs completed, apply to the list, and wait for a bit. Also, programs from different schools are sometimes very different. In order to allow you to go on with SCC's seal of approval, you need to take all of our classes.

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