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Medical & Dental Programs

Surgical Technology

SJVC’s Surgical Technology program teaches students the theory and application of sterile techniques, human anatomy, and therapeutic and diagnostic surgical procedures.

SJVC Surgical Technology Student

REAL-WORLD SKILLS

With many classes to guide you, you’re certain to be prepared for your career.

START YOUR PATH

Earn an Associate of Science degree in as few as 15 months.

FLEXIBLE LEARNING OPTIONS

Conveniently available at 4 of our campuses.

AFFORDABLE TUITION

Affordable tuition varies by program and location.
SJVC Surgical Technology Program Details

Program Details

WHAT WILL I LEARN?

Upon completion of the Surgical Technology program, the successful student will be able to:

  • Complete eligibility requirements for the National Certification Exam for Surgical Technologists
  • Demonstrate knowledge of surgical technology skills by successfully accomplishing controlled learning activities
  • Employ information obtained from biological, social and psychological studies
  • Obtain and use knowledge in providing culturally fitting patient care
  • Apply acquired skills and knowledge within the clinical setting
  • Practice surgical asepsis in diverse clinical backgrounds
  • Function as a surgical team member to deliver excellence in patient care
  • Demonstrate the development and consistent application of a surgical conscience
  • Practice accountability, competence, and character demonstrative of a trained professional
  • Practice ownership of learning and maintain responsibility and self-discipline to appraise and incorporate continued learning
  • Relate and apply concepts of communication, reasoning, critical analysis, ethical behavior and appropriate interpersonal interaction to situations in his or her career and personal life
  • Demonstrate the social skills, professional appearance, attitudes and behavior that employers expect of all SJVC graduate

Instruction includes an extensive clinical rotation to give students hands-on experience in a surgical environment.

In accordance with the 2013 Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Educational Programs in Surgical Technology, along with the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA) Standards Interpretive Guide, namely, Standard V.A.3 and Standard V.C., the program’s position and practice on student work policy is as follows:

“All student activities associated with the curriculum, especially while students are completing clinical rotations, will be educational in nature. Students will not be substituted for hired staff personnel within the clinical institution, nor receive any compensation, in the capacity of a surgical technologist.”

COST & FINANCIAL AID

Education is the most important investment you can make in your future. There is a financial plan available for everyone, including a broad range of financial assistance options. Visit SJVC’s Net Price Calculator to get personalized information on college costs and financial aid. Check out SJVC’s Academic Catalog to learn about program costs by campus and credential level. You also can talk to an Admissions Advisor to discuss the costs of your chosen program and schedule an appointment with an experienced financial aid officer. Student loans, grants, and scholarships are available to those who qualify.

PROGRAM AVAILABILITY

SJVC’s Surgical Technology training program is available at the following campuses:

ACCREDITATION & APPROVALS

Institutional Accreditation

San Joaquin Valley College is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), 1080 Marina Village Parkway, Suite 500, Alameda, CA 94501, (510)748-9001.

www.wscuc.org

The WSCUC is an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education.

State Approvals

CALIFORNIA

SJVC is a private institution and is approved to operate as an accredited institution by the California Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE). Approval to operate means that SJVC has been found in compliance with the standards set forth in the California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009 (as amended) and Title 5, Division 7.5, – Private Postsecondary Education of the California Code of Regulations. As a prospective student, you are encouraged to review this catalog prior to signing an enrollment agreement. You are also encouraged to review the School Performance Fact Sheet, which must be provided to you prior to signing an enrollment agreement.

A student or any member of the public may file a complaint about this institution with the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education by calling (888) 370-7589 or by completing a complaint form, which can be obtained on the Bureau’s internet website (www.bppe.ca.gov).

View additional State Approvals for SJVC.

What Will I Learn?

Anatomy & Physiology

Surgical Case Management

Advanced Surgical Procedures

Clinical Experience

Ready to Do This?

Find your path as a Surgical Technologist

Talk to an Admissions Advisor about your options and earn your Associate Degree in Surgical Technology in as few as 15 months.

Discover What It’s Like to Become a Surgical Technology Student

Discover What It’s Like to Become a Surgical Technology Student

“”
There were no surprises. I got everything I was expecting to get. I am a Certified Surgical Technologist for a Level I trauma center where I started almost two years ago.
Marlene C.
2021 Graduate Surgical Technology

Career Opportunities

A Surgical Technologist’s day-to-day job is multifaceted. On any one day, a Surgical Tech may be expected to:1

  • Help set up operating room
  • Prepare and transport patients for surgery
  • Adjust lights and equipment
  • Pass instruments and other supplies to surgeons and surgeons’ assistants
  • Hold retractors, cut sutures, and help count sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments.
SJVC Surgical Technology Career Opportunities

Check out our guide on being a Surgical Technologist in California

Surgical Technologists, also known as Operating Room Technicians, have a huge role in the preparation for operations. They set up operating rooms, arrange equipment and help doctors during surgeries.2 One Surgical Technologist says, “We are one of the only health care professionals who get the opportunity to hold a beating heart, touch the brain…and bring life into this world.”3

SJVC Surgical Technology Career Guide

Successful Grads

Ask one of our graduates about their SJVC experience and they’ll likely describe it as life-changing.

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Surgical Technologist FAQ

What does a Surgical Technologist do?
Surgical Technologists assist with operations by preparing operating rooms, arranging the equipment, and helping doctors during surgeries. They may also ready patients for surgery by completing the patient skin prep before draping by the sterile surgical team and helping to maintain a sterile environment to prevent patient infection.4
How long does it take to become a Surgical Technologist?
SJVC’s Surgical Technology program can be completed in as few as 15 months.
What can you do with a degree in Surgical Technology?
Graduates of the Surgical Technology program at SJVC earn an Associate of Science in Surgical Technology and the following Certifications: CPR, HIPAA, and Blood Borne Pathogens. Graduates are also eligible to apply to the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) to sit for the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) national certification exam. Graduates who pass the certification exam are authorized to use the credential Certified Surgical Technologist (CST). SJVC prepares students to take appropriate certification and licensure exams related to their individual majors. The College does not guarantee students will successfully pass these exams or be certified or licensed as a result of completing the program. Those in this role, who are sometimes called operating room technicians, often work in hospitals and surgical centers. They have a broad knowledge base in surgical therapies and the ability to adapt to new technologies.4