Surgical Technology

The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Surgical Technology is designed for students with an interest in working in the surgical setting and caring for patients that are undergoing a surgical procedure. Students will apply manual dexterity and knowledge of surgical technology under the direction of a surgeon and in conjunction with the surgical team. At the completion of the program, graduates may seek employment in a hospital, surgical center, other outpatient settings, or surgical equipment industry and veterinary services. In addition, the AAS degree includes common core classes with the Hospital Central Services certificate program. Upon completion of the Surgical Technology program, students take the national Certified Surgical Technologist exam (CST). Students also have the option within the program to complete the 400-hour Hospital Central Service Technology practicum to be eligible to sit for the Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) certification examination from the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA).

Details

Field of Interest
Health Sciences
Degree Type
Associate in Applied Science (AAS)
Academic Plan
Surgical Technology (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
3673
Total credits required
70.5-97
Catalog Year
2024-2025
Effective Term
Fall 2024
Admissions criteria

1. Formal application and admission to the program.
2. Background check requirements: Admission to an Allied Health program requires that students be in compliance with the Maricopa County Community College District Background Check Standards. Upon conditional program enrollment, the student must comply with all requirements of the MCCCD Background Check Policy.
3. Clinical health and safety requirements must be met prior to enrollment in any program of study course. Upon conditional program enrollment, the student must comply with all requirements of the MCCCD Clinical Health and Safety Policy and drug testing protocols.
4. Inability to comply with background check requirements and/or clinical health and safety requirements at the start of classes or during the program may result in cancellation of enrollment.
5. There are limited spaces available in the Surgical Technology program. Only students who have completed all the general education and introductory courses noted above may have their name added to the queue of those waiting for an available space in a cohort.

Notes

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.

If selected as part of program completion, the following general education and introductory courses must be completed with a 2.0 GPA to be added to the queue of those waiting for an available cohort space to begin the core curriculum: BIO201, BIO202, BIO205, (ENG101 or ENG107), (ENG102 or ENG108), (MAT150 or MAT151 or MAT152 or MAT155 or MAT156), and PHY101.

What You'll Learn

This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:

  1. Demonstrate skills and scrubbing procedures in all specialties in the operating room environment.
  2. Apply didactic comprehension by passing National Certification Exam for Certified Registered Central Service Technician certification from the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association.
  3. Apply skills of aseptic technique in a lab setting.
  4. Collaborate to enhance team communication skills.
  5. Engage in community activities for self and professional growth.
  6. Apply relevant knowledge, skills, and habits of mind to seek career opportunities in the field.

Successful completion of this degree may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Maricopa County-based annual median wages* for this degree. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.

Surgical Technologists

$54,427

* Career and wage information provided by Lightcast using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources and Lightcast’s proprietary analytical processes. Lightcast’s data covers multiple classes of workers including QCEW, non-QCEW, and those who are self-employed. Disclaimer

Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

  • Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Pathway Planner tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
  • The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
  • Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
  • Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.
  • Consult with your faculty mentor or academic advisor to determine educational requirements, including possible university transfer options, for your chosen career field.

Pathway Map Options

There are multiple options available for this pathway map. These options vary depending on the locations, partners, and available tracks of the award.

These pathway map options may share some common coursework. To explore what additional coursework may be required, select your desired option from the list below. Once selected, the list of courses and any associated details will be automatically updated in the course sequence below. The differences between individual pathway map options may only be a few courses.

Note: You will have to select one of the options below to view available course sequences.

Pathway Map Option Details

No pathway map option has been selected. Please select from the pathway map options listed above.

Full-time Sequence

To view course sequences, select one of the pathway map options above.

Course Area Key

Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.

Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.

  • FYC = First Year Composition
  • HU = Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design
  • L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
  • MA = Mathematics
  • SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
  • SG = Natural Sciences General
  • SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative
Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.

Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.

View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm13?id=186203).

At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.