We maintain a current applicant list of those who are interested in entering the Surgical Technology Program. Most students who apply normally wait two admission cycles. There is only one admission cycle per year. The admission process is completed before the start of Fall Semester (end of August). The actual Surgical Technology Program and courses begin in January (Spring Semester).

Admission is based on three criteria. You must have a GPA of at least 2.0 and have taken and successfully passed BIO 1121 and BIO 1122 (Human Anatomy and Physiology) with a C or better. Admission is also based on your date of application. If your name comes up for admission to the program and you have not successfully completed BIO 1121 and 1122 (the pre-requisites), or do not have a 2.0 GPA, then you will be skipped and will need to re-declare your major.

Officially, admission to the program is for the Fall Semester but your first Surgical Technology course actually begins in Spring Semester. It is set up this way to avoid an overlap of 1st year and 2nd year students in the clinical area. It also gives you time to complete as many courses as possible in the Fall before you begin the Surgical Technology Program in Spring.

There are many job opportunities for Surgical Technologists. These include hospital Operating Rooms, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, Sterile Processing Departments, Tissue Banks, and private work with physician groups. A Surgical Technologist can also pursue training to become a First Assistant. The First Assistant role actually moves the Surgical Technologists from a position of passing the instruments into a position of using the instruments and assisting in the surgical procedure. First Assistants can cut tissue, manipulate tissue, place retractors, provide hemostasis and close wounds. In our area, most Surgical Technologists can expect to have a starting pay of $15.00 per hour.

Before a surgical procedure, the surgical technologist is responsible for ensuring all needed equipment and supplies for the specific procedure are available and ready for use by the surgeon. This includes testing and preparing equipment for use, ensuring the availability of all sterile supplies, and preparing the sterile environment so a surgical procedure can take place. During a surgical procedure, and as a sterile surgical team member, one of the surgical technologist’s main responsibilities is to pass sterile instruments and supplies to the surgeon. This requires complete knowledge of the surgical procedure being performed and anticipation of the needs of the surgical team. The surgical technologist also assumes accountability, along with the registered nurse, for all sponges, needles, and instruments used before, during, and after the procedure. In addition, the surgical technologist may hold retractors, cut sutures, care for specimens, and assist in applying the sterile dressing. Surgical technologists must have good manual dexterity, be conscientious in a sterile environment, be emotionally stable, and have the ability to communicate effectively on many levels, including one-on-one and team interactions.

Start by completing your application for Sinclair Community College. It is VERY important to sit down with an Academic Advisor to choose your major and to ensure your record is correct and on track with your academic goals. The date you choose your major is very important as this will allow our department to track your application and interest in our program. If you do not choose Surgical Technology as your major, we have no way of tracking you. The Academic Advisors are in Building 11, 3rd Floor. The phone number is 512-3029. After you speak to the Academic Advisors, you may contact the department at 512-2563.

If you are new to anatomy, a good course to take as an introduction to human anatomy is BIO 1107. This course will provide a good foundation for success in either BIO 1121 or BIO 1141. However, taking BIO 1107 is not necessary. If you are also considering a major in Nursing, it is suggested you take that program's anatomy BIO series, which is BIO 1141 and 1242 instead of our anatomy BIO series. The Surgical Technology Department accepts the Nursing BIO series for credit, and this will save you time and money if you change your major to Nursing.