Special Admission Requirements

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Special Admission Requirements

Surgical Technology degree

Students who wish to be considered for admission to the Surgical Technology A.A.S. Program must present credentials in accordance with the following requirements:

  • To be considered for acceptance, all Surgical Technology Program applicants must meet the Program’s Special Admission Guidelines (Montgomery County Community College Course Catalog). In addition, the applicant must be able to perform the Surgical Technology Program’s Technical Standards. More information can be found in the Surgical Technology Information Packet (PDF).
  • The program follows the College's Comprehensive Grading Policy and as such, after two course attempts, requests for the third must be approved by a Dean, Director, or Advisor/Counselor.

    * A student who would like to request the possibility of an additional attempt must meet with the Vice President of Academic Affairs or designee for consideration. The College uses the best grade earned at the College in the course to calculate the student’s GPA; however, the grade from each course attempt will appear on the student’s transcript. It is important to note that all course withdrawals and audits count as attempts. Courses transferred to MCCC from another institution count as attempts and can be used to meet prerequisite requirements but are not included in GPA calculations.

    ** Health career programs require the student to obtain the approval of the Program Director.
  • As required by the Pennsylvania DOE Act 46 Higher Education Course Scheduling Preference for Veteran Student Act, all veteran students will receive admission preference provided all other eligibility criteria are equal (i.e. GPA, class standing, etc.).
  • Applicants must be 18 years or older at the time of enrollment in SUR 105.
  • All applicants must meet all Technical Standards of the program.
  • Applicants must submit a completed college application identifying Surgical Technology AAS as the major.
  • Applicants must submit high school transcripts or GED scores no later than March 1st of SUR 105 enrollment year.
  • Applicants must successfully (with grades of “C” or better) complete two years of mathematics, including one unit of algebra or the equivalent.
  • Applicants must successfully (with grades of “C” or better) complete at least one year of biology and chemistry, or the college equivalent, within the past 10 years prior to enrolling in SUR 105. [Applicants without high school biology and/or chemistry can satisfy this requirement by completing the College's BIO 121 or CHE 121 courses].
  • Applicants must submit official college transcript(s), for credit evaluation, if applicable, no later than March 1st of SUR 105 enrollment year.
  • Applicants must complete the College placement tests in English, Mathematics, and Reading and place above the developmental level.
  • Applicants must successfully complete BIO 131, or transfer equivalent, with a grade of “C” or better within 5 years, as a prerequisite course for enrollment in SUR 105.
  • Applicants must successfully complete ENG 101 as a prerequisite for enrollment in SUR 105.
  • Applicants must successfully complete of any approved Oral Communication Course as a prerequisite for enrollment in SUR 105.
  • All applicants must meet with a Student Success Center academic advisor before registering for SUR 105 to verify completion of all Special Admission and prerequisite requirements. Important: Students who have not met with and been verified by an academic advisor will not be eligible to register for surgical technology courses.

All applicants are required to attend a mandatory Surgical Technology Program Orientation held by the Coordinator of the Surgical Technology Program. This three-hour orientation provides information about the Surgical Technology Program and its pre-matriculation requirements including program expectations, uniforms, physical examination, immunizations, drug screening, criminal record and child abuse background clearances, liability insurance, CPR certification, etc. Failure to attend the Surgical Technology Program Orientation will result in the loss of acceptance to the Surgical Technology Program.

The Surgical Technology AAS Program accepts students each academic year, in the Fall semester. Due to class limitations, the College does not guarantee continuous enrollment between non-SUR and SUR courses. All students must complete the Surgical Technology AAS Program within four academic years of the date of initial enrollment in the program.

The College is committed to equal access for all in this and every other course offered, regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), ancestry, national origin, age (40 or older), sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran's status, marital status, or disability.

Eligibility for readmission and/or transfer to the Surgical Technology AAS Program is based upon space availability as well as meeting specified requirements. Additional information is available upon request from the Surgical Technology Program Coordinator.

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Technical Standards

Surgical Technology involves the provision of direct care for individuals and is characterized by the application of verified knowledge in the skillful performance of all surgical interventions and functions.

Students enrolled in the Surgical Technology Program must exhibit the following characteristics:

  1. Sufficient visual acuity, such as needed in the accurate preparation of the surgical field, handling of microscopic instruments, needles, and lasers. The ability to perform all required tabulation of instruments, needles, and sponges.
  2. Sufficient auditory perception to receive verbal communication from patients and members of the surgical team in order to assess health needs of people through the use of monitoring devices such as cardiac monitors, stethoscopes, intravenous infusion pumps, fire alarms, etc.
  3. Sufficient gross and fine motor coordination to respond promptly and to implement the skills needed to assist the surgical team. Manual dexterity is essential in handling all instrumentation, manipulation of equipment, positioning, and lifting patients.
  4. Sufficient physical stamina for standing for extended periods of time is required with meeting the health needs of the patient as related to surgical technology.
  5. Sufficient communication skills (speech, reading, writing) to interact with individuals and to communicate their needs promptly and effectively as may be necessary to the patient and the surgical team.
  6. Sufficient intellectual and emotional functions to plan and implement care for individuals and the surgical team during stressful situations, including the ability to cope with death and dying.

Program Requirements

Once accepted into the Surgical Technology AAS Program, students are required to:

  1. Purchase all required textbooks, manuals, supplemental supplies, uniforms, and liability insurance.
  2. Assume all responsibility for transportation to and from extramural assignments including clinical experiences.
  3. Obtain and maintain current CPR certification in the American Heart Association's CPR for the Healthcare Provider.
  4. Have a comprehensive physical examination, which includes a urine drug screen and documentation of an annual Influenza Vaccination, within six months of program matriculation and annually thereafter.
  5. Submit application for Child Abuse Clearance, Pennsylvania Criminal Record Check, and FBI Criminal History Background Check annually. Note: A Child Abuse History will and a Criminal Record may exclude the student from participation in the clinical component of the program.
  6. Attend a mandatory Surgical Technology Program Orientation.
  7. Complete the Certified Surgical Technologists (CST) examination during the final semester of the program (approx. $300 for non-AST member; $200 for AST member).

Student Work Policy

A student enrolled in the Surgical Technology A.A.S. degree Program is responsible for meeting the Program’s goals and course learning outcomes. The faculty, recognizing that some students may choose to seek and/or maintain independent employment while attending the Surgical Technology Program, reserves the right to recommend student re-evaluation of outside commitments in the event of unsatisfactory course and/or Program performance. At no time during a clinical experience, required by the Surgical Technology Program, is the student considered an employee of the clinical facility or used in lieu of facility staff. For the student who chooses to hold independent employment, it is highly recommended that the student not work immediately prior to a required Surgical Technology Program clinical experience. In the event a student reports to the clinical area unprepared or functions in an unsafe manner, the student, at the discretion of the faculty, may be dismissed from the clinical experience and the time missed recorded as an absence.

Clinical Case Requirement

The total number of cases the student must complete is 120, as set forth by the Accreditation Review Committee in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA). Furthermore, students are required to complete 30 cases in General Surgery. Twenty of the cases must be in the First Scrub Role. Students are required to complete 90 cases in various surgical specialties. Sixty of the cases must be in the First Scrub Role and evenly distributed between a minimum of 4 surgical specialties.

The surgical technology program is required to verify through the surgical rotation documentation the students’ progression in First and Second Scrubbing surgical procedures of increased complexity as the student moves towards entry-level graduate abilities.

‡ Due to the physical campus closings, temporary measures have been made for student placement assessments. Review the next steps and frequently asked questions.