Surgical Technology
The Field
A Surgical Technologist (ST) is a member of the surgical team who works with surgeons, anesthesiologists, registered nurses, and other surgical personnel in delivering patient care and assuming appropriate responsibilities before, during and after surgery, including passing instruments to the surgeon and assisting during surgery.
To succeed in surgical careers, individuals need manual dexterity in order to handle instruments quickly and must employ critical thinking skills to anticipate the needs of the patient and the surgical team. Being alert, orderly and emotionally stable are also crucial to handling the demands of surgeons.
The Surgical Technology Program at Skyline College
Skyline College’s Surgical Technology combine academic and clinical instruction that includes learning to prepare surgical instruments, passing them to the surgeon and handling specialized equipment.
In accordance with accreditation standards and beginning with the cohort entering in 2021, Skyline College will be discontinuing the Certificate in Surg Tech and will only offer the Associate of Science degree in Surgical Technology. The AS degree requires an additional 30 units of General Education (GE) coursework on top of successfully completing the full 12-month Surg Tech program.
For this reason, all students interested in applying to the Surg Tech program are highly encouraged to complete their GE's before applying.
- If you have questions about GE credits and how to plan your schedule, please schedule a session on the Skyline College Counseling webage and request a Science, Technology, and Health meta major counselor.
- If you have already received a degree from another college and need to have your transfer credits evaluated, please see the SMCCD Transcript Evaluation page to get started.
The Skyline College Surg Tech program only admits students by special application. Surgical Technology applications are accepted from January 15 to April 1. The next window will open on January 15, 2022.
Please note: because the program is admitted in cohorts that start and finish the program together, it is not possible for us to accept applications outside the January 15-April 1 window.
Career Outlook
Surgical technology offers a fun, interesting, and occasionally stressful work environment where surgeons rely on well-trained personnel to ensure everything is ready for optimal patient care. Working in surgical careers offers high levels of job security and mobility and a unique opportunity to help others.
With additional education, surgical technologists may become surgical nurses or surgical technology instructors. Some may assume management positions in hospital central supply departments or in business firms such as sterile supply services and operating room equipment distributors.
Surgical technologists in California make in a range of $32 to $40 per hour, the most of any state in the nation, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Nationally, job growth is must faster than average – projected at 30% over the next decade.
Accreditation & Standards
The Skyline College Surgical Technology Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) according to the recommendation of the Accreditation Review Council for Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA). ARC/STSA standards require the program be assessed by an Outcomes Assessment Exam, for which Skyline uses the results of Certification Exam administered by the National Board for Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting. The Standard minimum pass rate is 75% of graduates. Of those who took the National Certification Exam from the Class of 2021, 100% passed.
Gainful Employment Disclosure 2019:
Program meets certification requirements of the National Board of Surgical Technologists and Surgical Assisting. There is no licensure in the State of California.