Surgical Technology

Program Level: Degrees
Department: Healthcare Sciences and Early Childhood and Family Studies
Institute: Health & Biosciences
College: SPC

What is the Surgical Technology program?

Surgical Technology will prepare students for the operating room, including the sterile field, and setting up surgical equipment, supplies, and solutions. Upon completion of the Surgical Technology Program, you will be qualified to assist the surgical team during surgery.

What will I learn?

A surgical technologist may work as a surgical scrub person, passing instruments and surgical supplies to the surgeon, assisting the RN circulating during the surgical procedure, or other areas within the operating room department. You will learn theory, surgical procedures, instrumentation, aseptic technique, and surgical equipment and supplies during your training. Through a clinical education course, you will receive valuable clinical experience in the operating suite of a local hospital. The program's goal is to prepare competent entry-level Surgical Technologists in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.  You will be eligible to take the National Certification Examination upon completing your coursework.

What can I do with this course of study?

Surgical Technologist

What's special about the program?

The Surgical Technology Program is an Associate of Applied Science program starting in the fall semester. The Surgical Technology Program is accredited through the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

Want more information?

Request Program Information


Information Sessions

Visit one of our Information Sessions:

SRGT Sessions will be held in person in the (CHP) Center of Health Professions, Room 328.

Type

Date

Location

Time

In Person

10/24/2024

Center for Health Professions (CHP), RM 328 

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

In Person

11/21/2024

Center for Health Professions (CHP), RM 328 

1:00 pm- 2:00 pm

In Person

1/23/2025

Center for Health Professions (CHP), RM 328 

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Program Accreditation and Licensure

The Surgical Technology Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Accrediting Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting.

The NBSTSA, National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting, is the credentialing agency for Surgical Technologists and Surgical Assistants. This agency is a nationally recognized credentialing agency for both surgical specialties.

In the State of Texas, the national certification exam is the mandatory credential. To be eligible to take the National Certification examination a student must graduate from a CAAHEP accredited program. 

See the National Board of Surgical Technology and Assisting or Association of Surgical Technologists for details. See also CAAHEP for further information or contact CAAHEP at 9355 113th Street N., #7709, Seminole, FL 33775-7709 or phone at 727-210-2350 or by email at mail@caahep.org.

THECB Statutory Requirement

Admissions and Prerequisite Requirements

Admissions Requirements:

Students desiring to specialize in Surgical Technology must meet all previous admission requirements for acceptance to St. Philip's College and the Surgical Technology Program. These include the following:

  • St. Philip's College Admissions
  • Surgical Technology Program Admission Requirement
  • Proof of Immunizations prior to clinical (mid September)
    • Tuberculosis (TB) PPD current year of application
    • Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
    • Hepatitis B series
    • Diphtheria, Tetanus within 10 years
    • Varicella (chicken pox)
    • Current flu shot
  • Criminal Background Check
  • Drug Screening Test
  • CPR Certification (AHA ONLY)

Prerequisite Requirements:

All students must also meet the following prerequisites by the start of the program with a grade of C or better.

Semester I (Prerequisites)
ENGL 1301 Composition I
MATH 1314 College Algebra
CHEM 1405 Introductory Chemistry I or CHEM 1411 General Chemistry I

Semester II (Prerequisites)
HITT 1305 Medical Terminology I 
BIOL 2404 Human Anatomy & Physiology 
BIOL 2420 Microbiology for Allied Health Majors

The student applying to the Surgical Technology Program must complete an application form and be available for an interview by the faculty. Criteria for selection are based on an interview, application, essay, completed prerequisites, corequisites, and GPA. Please see the Student Technical Standards listed below.

Applications are only being accepted for the fall program during the prior spring semester. The deadline for applications is June 1st.

Learn more 

Application and Selection Process

Refer to the admission section above for information on the selection process. The application deadline is June 1st of every year.

Application Checklist Selection Process Apply Now

Information Sessions

If you're interested in applying to the Surgical Technology Program at St. Philip's College, an information session is going to be held to provide you with an overview of the career of being a surgical technologist as well as information specifically about the program. A certificate of attendance will be provided. Information sessions will be 1 hour each. You only need to attend one (1) session. Check our college events calendar for Information Sessions.

No person shall, on the basis of race, color, sex, pregnancy, religion, creed, national origin (including ancestry), citizenship status, physical or mental disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, transgender status, gender identity, gender expression, veteran or military status (including special disabled veteran, Vietnam-era veteran, or recently separated veteran), predisposing genetic characteristics, domestic violence victim status, any other protected category under applicable local, state or federal law, or persons who have opposed discrimination or participated in any complaint process on campus or before a government agency, be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination in employment or under any program or activity sponsored or conducted by the College District. H.1.1

Program Outcomes

Surgical Technology, AAS

60 credit hour, five-semester program

Students prepare to become surgical technologists. 

  • A surgical technologist is one who works as a surgical scrub person
  • passing instruments and surgical supplies to the surgeon, during surgical procedures,
  • assist the circulating RN circulating during the surgical procedure,
  • Or, work in other areas within the operating room department, such as sterile processing of surgical equipment.
  • During training students learn:
  • Theory of surgical technology
  • surgical procedures
  • instrumentation
  • aseptic technique
  • surgical equipment and supplies.

St. Philip’s accepts about 20 students per year

  • Medial annual salary is $47,300

Texas salary ranges $31,900 - $65,080

 

Program Effectiveness Data

St. Philip’s College
Surgical Technology- Program# 2810
Program Effectiveness Data

 Retention (Program Completion) Data

2022
(8/1/1/2020-7/31/2021)

2021
(8/1/1/2019-7/31/2020)

2020
(8/1/1/2018-7/31/2019)

2019
(8/1/1/2017-7/31/2018)

2018
(8/1/1/2016-7/31/2017)

88%

(14/16)

82%

(14/17)

81%

(17/21)

86%

(12/14)

73%

(11/15)

5-Year Avg.

8/1/2016-7/31/2022

 

82%

CST Participation Rates
Annual Benchmark=100%

Annual Reporting Year

Number of Students Who Graduated

Number of Students Who Took the CST Exam

Percent of Students Who Took the CST Exam

2022

(8/1/1/2020-7/31/2021)

14

14

100%

(14/14)

2021

(8/1/1/2019-7/31/2020)

14

14

100%

(14/14)

2020

(8/1/1/2018-7/31/2019)

17

17

100%

(17/17)

2019

(8/1/1/2017-7/31/2018)

12

11

92%

(11/12)

2018

(8/1/1/2016-7/31/2017)

11

11

100%

(11/11)

5-Year Avg.

8/1/2016-7/31/2022

 

 

98.5%

CST Pass Rates
Annual Benchmark= 70%

Annual Reporting Year

Academic Year

Number of Students Who Graduated (CST Eligible)

Number of Students Who Took the CST Exam

% of Students Who Passed the CST Exam

2022

8/1/2020-7/31/2021

14

14

92.8%

(13/14)

2021

8/1/2019-7/31/2020

14

14

78.5%

(11/14)

2020

8/1/2018-7/31/2019

17

17

88.2%

(15/17)

2019

8/1/2017-7/31/2018

12

11

91.6%

(11/12)

2018

8/1/2016-7/31/2017

11

11

81.8%

(9/11)

5-Year Avg.

8/1/2016-7/31/2022

8/1/2016-7/31/2022

 

 

86.5%

Employment (Graduate) Placement Rates
Annual Benchmark= 80%

Annual Reporting Year

Academic Year

Number of Students Who Graduated- CST eligible

Employed

Employed & Cont. Ed.

Cont. Ed.

Total Grad. Placement

Graduate Placement Rates

2022

8/1/2021- 7/31/2022

14

10

3

0

13

93%

(13/14)

2021

8/1/2020-7/31/2021

14

12

0

0

12

86%

(12/14)

2020

8/1/2019-7/31/2020

17

16

0

0

16

94%

(16/17)

2019

8/1/2017-7/31/2018

12

10

0

0

10

83%

(10/12)

2018

8/1/2016-7/31/2017

19

13

1

2

16

84%

(16/19)

5-Year Avg.

8/1/2016-7/31/2022

8/1/2016-7/31/2022

 

 

 

 

13

88%

Contact Information

Program Director:

Marco Aguinaga, BAAS, AA, CST
Instructor 

Email: maguinaga@alamo.edu

210-486-2119
MLK Center for Health Profession (CHP),130F

Clinical Coordinator:

Nicole Williams, AAS, CST
Instructor 

Email: nwilliams143@alamo.edu

210-486-2694
MLK Center for Health Profession (CHP),130H

 

RTW-Partner-Badge-Training-Provider-color.png RTW-Partner-Badge-Official-Partner-color.png

One or more of these programs are approved Ready to Work programs. Find out if you’re eligible to receive free tuition and job placement services that will enable you to secure an in-demand career. 

Don’t wait; apply today!More Information