Surgical Technology (AAS-SUR)

Program Location:  Bay Minette Campus

Nursing and Allied Health Division

Length: Four Semesters (One Semester Core Academic Courses + Three Semesters Core Surgical Technology Courses)

PROGRAM OVERVIEW:

The Surgical Technology Program prepares individuals, under the supervision of physicians and surgical nurses, to maintain, monitor, and enforce the sterile field and adherence to aseptic technique by preoperative, surgical team, and postoperative personnel. Includes instruction in instrument and equipment sterilization and handling; surgical supplies management; wound exposure and closure; surgical computer and robot operation and monitoring; maintenance of hemostasis; and patient and team scrubbing.

The program is designed to prepare entry-level Surgical Technologists who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession.

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS:

Admission into the core Surgical Technology portion of the program is for Fall semester of each year. Students must submit a Surgical Technology online application, which is due by July 15, for consideration for Fall Semester enrollment. To be eligible, applicants must:

1. Have unconditional admission to the College and be an active student in good standing (minimum, cumulative 2.0 GPA).
2. Submit original transcripts from all colleges/schools attended (including high school) to the registrar or admissions office by the application deadline.
3. Submit a completed Surgical Technology application by the stated deadline.
4. Have completed, or be in the process of completing, the following core academic courses with a grade of C or higher by the application deadline: ENG 101, MTH 100, and BIO 201.
5. Meet essential eligibility criteria.

SELECTION CRITERIA:

While not all core academic courses listed below are required prior to acceptance, it is strongly suggested they are completed prior to program admission to improve student success. Completion of the courses and the above criteria does not guarantee admission into the program. There is a class size limit of 24 students. Prospective students are selected for program admission using a points system in which applicants are rank-ordered using the metrics below:

1. 3 points for an A, 2 points for a B, and 1 point for a C in MTH 100, ENG 101, BIO 201, BIO 202, and BIO 220.
2. 1 point for a C or higher in PSY 200 or 210, SPH 106 or 107, and a Humanities requirement.
3. 10 points for GPA of 3.1-4.0; 5 points for a GPA of 2.1-3.0; 0 points for GPA 2.0 or less (not eligible for program admission).
4. 1 point may be awarded for current certification in a health occupation that requires direct contact with patients, such as Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Certified Medical Assistant, Licensed Basic or Advanced EMT, Certified Dental Assistant, Certified Veterinary Technician, or Certified Phlebotomist.  Proof (Copy of the certificate of completion) must be included with the application in order to receive the extra point.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Upon provisional acceptance into the core Surgical Technology portion of the program, students are required to provide the following: Drug screen, background check, physical exam documenting the ability to meet essential functions/ eligibility criteria, record of immunizations, proof of medical insurance, and American Heart Association BLS CPR certification for the healthcare provider. Accepted students will receive a link to the online compliance platform, CastleBranch, to upload these items.

Clinical agencies reserve the right to deny clinical clearance, which may deem a student ineligible for program participation.

Surgical Technology testing/lab fees may be assessed for select courses.

Note: Students desiring to obtain BLS CPR certification at Coastal may choose to enroll in the optional EMS 100 course. American Heart Association BLS CPR may be obtained through an alternate training agency, if preferred.

PROGRESSION AND GRADUATION:

All surgical technology courses must be passed with a minimum of "C” in order to progress in the program. An AAS in Surgical technology will be awarded to students who successfully complete all core academic and core surgical technology courses with a grade of “C” or higher. Students are responsible for meeting all progression and graduation requirements.

This is a career program designed for students to go directly into the labor market upon completion. Although some of the courses in this program will transfer to four-year institutions, this program is not designed to be a transfer program of study; therefore, it is not subject to the terms and conditions of Alabama Transfers state transfer and articulation reporting system. 

APPRENTICESHIP INFORMATION:

The following is information regarding application to a Surgical Technology Apprenticeship:

1. Applicants must be an active, current student at Coastal Alabama Community College.
2. Submit a Coastal Alabama Community College Surgical Technology Program application by the appropriate application deadline.
3. Students accepted into the Coastal Alabama Community College Surgical Technology Program are provided the opportunity to submit an apprenticeship application. Apprenticeship applications are provided at an information session after acceptance into the Surgical Technology Program.
4. A list of student applicants who meet the minimum qualifications for apprenticeship is given to participating healthcare facilities.
5. From that list, participating healthcare facilities select and hire apprentices based on the number of open positions they have available. Surgical Technology students who are current employees of a participating healthcare facility may be selected for the apprenticeship at that facility. All apprentices sign an apprenticeship agreement.
6. Student apprentices must commit to working for on-the-job learning at the healthcare facility for the entirety of the Surgical Technology Program. Included in working days are clinical days students are performing for Surgical Technology Program clinical requirements.
7. Student apprentices are not paid for on-campus classes, labs, or simulation. Student apprentices are paid for clinical hours, not to include simulation.
8. Student apprentices will work one-on-one with a Surgical Technologist from the healthcare facility. Students will be held accountable to the same clinical requirements as non-apprentice students in the Surgical Technology Program.

For more information, please contact the Nursing and Allied Health Academic Advisor: 251-580-2257.

Equal Employment Opportunity Pledge: The sponsor (Coastal Alabama Community College) will not discriminate against apprenticeship applicants or apprentices based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), sexual orientation, genetic information, or because they are an individual with a disability or a person 40 years old or older.

The sponsor (Coastal Alabama Community College) will take affirmative action to provide equal opportunity in apprenticeship and will operate the apprenticeship program as required under Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations, part 30.

Right to Equal Opportunity: It is against the law for a sponsor of an apprenticeship program registered for Federal purposes to discriminate against an apprenticeship applicant or apprentice based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), sexual orientation, age (40 years or older), genetic information, or disability. The sponsor must ensure equal opportunity with regard to all terms, conditions, and privileges associated with apprenticeship.

If you think that you have been subjected to discrimination, you may file a complaint within 300 days from the date of the alleged discrimination or failure to follow the equal opportunity standards with: 

Director, Division of Standards and Quality
Attn: Apprenticeship EEO Complaints  
US Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship 
200 Constitution Avenue NW  
Washington, D.C. 20210 
202-693-2614 
apprenticehipEEOcomplaints@dol.gov 

You may also be able to file complaints directly with the EEOC, or State fair employment practices agency. If those offices have jurisdiction over the sponsor/employer, their contact information is listed below: 

Alabama Office of Apprenticeship  
One Technology Court 
Montgomery, Alabama 36116 
334-280-4414  
info@alapprentice.org 

Coastal Alabama Community College EEOC/Nondiscrimination Policy 

ACCREDITATION INFORMATION:

The Coastal Alabama Community College Surgical Technology Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA).

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

Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA) 
https://arcstsa.org/ 
19751 East Mainstreet, Suite #339
Parker, CO 80138 
303-694-9262