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Allied Health

Surgical Technology

The Surgical Technologist is an operating room specialist performing specific pre-, intra- and postoperative case management duties. Learn about this exciting program at Riverside College of Health Sciences.
Female student practicing a hip replacement with an Instructor
Surgical scissors icon 

Upcoming Surgical Technology Program Start Date: 
August 18, 2025
(Application Deadlines: Early Accept - March 13, 2025 Regular Accept - May 22, 2025) 

Surgical Technologists must be knowledgeable in asepsis and sterile technique and be able to properly care for instrumentation, equipment, and supplies.

Basic sciences and clinical education include:

  • Microbiology
  • Anatomy and physiology
  • Pathophysiology
  • Surgical pharmacology
  • Surgical procedures
  • Case management
  • Wound care and closure
  • Surgical patient care
  • Safety

Surgical Technologists work in hospital operating rooms, central sterile processing departments, outpatient surgical units, medical companies as sales representatives, physicians in private practice, cardiac catheterization units or endoscopic departments. To become certified, students in their last semester must take the National Certification Examination for Surgical Technologists.

Riverside is proud to offer:

  • A program leading to an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Surgical Technology
  • Full-time Day option consisting of four 16-week semesters and one eight-week summer semester (72 total weeks - two academic years) in addition to specified College-level prerequisite pre-admission courses
  • Theoretical instruction integrated with laboratory simulations and clinical experience
  • Hands-on clinical experience in our modern medical center and a variety of affiliated clinical sites
  • Financial aid for students who qualify
  • Association with Riverside Health Career Planning services for current students and alumni.
  • Low Instructor-Student ratio

Prerequisite College Courses/Credits

  • Anatomy and Physiology with Lab - 4 Credits*
  • English Composition - 3 Credits*
  • College Math (any 100-level or higher) - 3 Credits*
  • Psychology: Gen, Intro or Developmental - 3 Credits
  • Medical Terminology - 3 Credits

*Applicants must have completed the Anatomy & Physiology with Lab, English Composition and College Math requirements before a formal application can be submitted and reviewed. Psychology and Medical Terminology must be completed before matriculation.

Preadmission Testing Requirements
ATI TEAS Suggested Score: 61.4% or higher
Average Accepted TEAS Score: 69.2%

Other Requirements

  • The applicant must graduate from an accredited U.S. high school with a GPA of 2.0 or higher or have earned a high school equivalency (GED) certificate.
  • Preadmission testing is required.

Surgical Technology

  • General Education Prerequisites: 15 credit hours
  • RCHS Program Hours - Theory: 39 credit hours
  • RCHS Program Hours - Lab: 6.5 credit hours
  • RCHS Program Hours - Clinical: 19 credit hours

ACCREDITED BY:

  • Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
    9355 113th ST. N, #7709
    Seminole, FL 33775
    727-210-2350, www.caahep.org

The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation Review Council on Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA), which conducts periodic surveys of the program and makes accreditation recommendations based on its findings to CAAHEP. The program is evaluated for accreditation based on the published Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Education Programs in Surgical Technology, which is available on the CAAHEP website at www.caahep.org.

Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA)
19751 East Mainstreet, Suite 339

Parker, CO 80138
303-694-9262, www.arcsta.org

  • Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
    6116 Executive Blvd, Suite 730
    North Bethesda, MD 20852
    703-917-9503, www.abhes.org

CREDENTIALING:

  • Students in their last semester must take the National Certifying Examination for Surgical Technologists. Application and fees for the certification exam are included in the tuition. Past program graduates taking the National Certifying Examination for Surgical Technologists are responsible for the application and fee. Further information may be obtained from:
  • National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA)
    3 West Dry Creek Circle
    Littleton, CO 80120
    800-707-0057, www.nbstsa.org
    RCHC Licensure Disclosure Information

INSTITUTIONAL CERTIFICATION:

  • Certified by the State Council of Higher Education (SCHEV) to operate in Virginia.

SCHEV
101 N. 14th Street James Monroe Building
Richmond, VA 23219
804-225-2600, www.schev.edu

INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITATION:

  • Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
    7777 Leesburg Pike, Suite 314
    N. Falls Church, VA 22043
    703-917-9503, www.abhes.org

RIVERSIDE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER IS ACCREDITED BY:

Tuition Breakdown for Surgical Technology Program

  • $350 per GEN/HLT credit
  • $375 per SUR credit

Total Tuition: $28,763

Other Associated Costs

  • Book Estimate: $741
  • Uniform & Shoe Estimate: $50
  • Credentialing Estimate: Included in Tuition

Surgical Case Requirements

Surgical Technology students are required to scrub for 150 surgeries to be eligible for graduation. More information on specific Surgical Case Requirements can be found here.

The RCHS Surgical Technology program’s curriculum meets all eligibility requirements for graduates to apply for applicable registration and examination from the Commonwealth of Virginia. Department of Education regulation 34 CFR 668.43 (a) (5) (v) requires programs to disclose that there has not been a determination of whether a curriculum meets the requirements of other states unless otherwise provided in specific program information. To determine if a program meets any specific state other than Virginia, please refer here.

Outcomes Assessment Examination Summary

Apply Now

Visit our step-by-step application page to view program requirements and start your application TODAY!

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