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
2025-2026
Effective Term
Fall 2025
Admission criteria

1. Formal application and admission to the program.
2. Level One Fingerprint Clearance.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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: FYE (101 or 103), BIO201, BIO202, BIO205, (ENG101 or ENG107), (ENG102 or ENG108), (MAT150 or MAT151 or MAT152 or MAT155 or MAT156), and PHY101.
8. The program saves five seats on the waitlist for students who completed GWCC's HCS program in 2018 or later or who have current CRCST certification and are currently employed in the field.

Notes

Students must earn a grade of C (defined as 75%) or better in all courses to successfully complete the program.

What You'll Learn
  • Demonstrate skills and scrubbing procedures in all specialties in the operating room environment.
  • Demonstrate didactic comprehension of surgical technology professional skills by taking the Certified Surgical Technologist exam (CST).
  • Apply skills of aseptic technique in a lab setting.
  • Collaborate to enhance team communication skills.
  • Engage in community activities for self and professional growth.
  • Apply relevant knowledge, skills, and habits of mind to seek career opportunities in the field.
Career Statistics

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 Arizona-based 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
$55,610

* Career and wage information provided by Pipeline AZ using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources. Sources

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 Degree Progress Report 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.

Full-time Sequence

Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
FYE101 or
FYE103		 Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success 1–3
BIO201 Human Anatomy and Physiology I SG 4
HCC/RES109 CPR for Health Care Provider OR Proof of Current American Heart Association Health Care Provider CPR Certification 0–0.5
HCC145 or
HCC146		 Medical Terminology for Health Care Professionals or Common Medical Terminology for Health Care Professionals OR Work experience or equivalent course education as evaluated by the GateWay Health Core Curriculum Coordinator 0–3
MAT150 or
MAT151 or
MAT152 or
MAT155 or
MAT156		 College Algebra/Functions or College Algebra/Functions or College Algebra/Functions or College Algebra/Functions with Review or College Algebra/Functions with Review OR Equivalent course or satisfactory completion of a higher-level mathematics course MA or MA or MA or MA or MA 3–6

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
BIO202 Human Anatomy and Physiology II SG 4
PHY101 Introduction to Physics SQ 4
HCC130 Fundamentals in Health Care Delivery OR Permission of GateWay Health Core Curriculum Coordinator 0–3
HU Humanities, Fine Arts & Design HU 3
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3

Fall Semester (Term 3)

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Fall Semester (Term 3)
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
BIO205 Microbiology SG 4
HCS/SGT100 Fundamentals of Surgical Services OR
Current CRCST certification through HSPA and proof of current employment working in the field. (0) 0-5 		0–5
HCS/SGT102 Basic Surgical Instrumentation for Surgical Services 2
HCS/SGT107 Equipment and Supplies for Surgical Services 1
SGT135 Instrument Handling I 3

Spring Semester (Term 4)

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Spring Semester (Term 4)
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
HCS/SGT152 Advanced Surgical Instruments for Surgical Services 2
SGT155 Instrument Handling II 1
SGT156 Hospital Central Service Practicum for Surgical Technology 0.5
SGT165 Surgical Procedures I 4
SGT180 Pharmacology for Surgical Technology I 2
COM100 or
COM110 or
COM230		 Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Small Group Communication SB or SB or SB 3
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment L 0–3

Summer Semester (Term 5)

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Summer Semester (Term 5)
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
HCS154 Hospital Central Service Practicum This course is optional and may be taken to meet eligibility for the exam for Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) certification from the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA). 0–7

Fall Semester (Term 6)

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Fall Semester (Term 6)
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
SGT200 Operating Room Practicum I 1
SGT205 Operating Room Practicum II 2
SGT210 Surgical Procedures II 4
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3

Spring Semester (Term 7)

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Spring Semester (Term 7)
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
SGT220 Operating Room Practicum III 3
SGT225 Operating Room Practicum IV 3
SGT260 Surgical Procedures III 2
SGT275 Certification Examinations Preparation 2
SOC101 or
PSY101		 Introduction to Sociology or Introduction to Psychology SB or SB 3

Summer Semester (Term 8)

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Summer Semester (Term 8)
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
SGT227 Operating Room Practicum V 3
Course Area Key
  • 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=189132).

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.

Previous Catalog Years

The pathway map presented above is for the current catalog year and is the intended pathway map for new students. All previous catalog years for this pathway map are available at the link below.

Previous catalog years for Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Surgical Technology