Surgical Technology (SUR)

Surgical Technologists are significant participants on the health care team and play a major role in the operating room arena.  The Surgical Technology program at Wallace Community College aims to provide classroom, laboratory, and clinical instruction to enable individuals to perform as competent, entry-level Surgical Technologists following graduation.  The role of a surgical technologist varies among hospitals and surgery centers, but typically entails preparation of the operating room with sterile instruments, equipment and supplies, maintaining sterility, as well as assisting the surgeon and other team members during procedures in the operating room suite. 

The Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), 9355-113th Street, North 7709, Seminole, Florida 33775, (727-210-2350),  www.caahep.org, on recommendation of the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting Board (ARC/STSA)., 19751 East Mainstreet, Suite 339 Parker, Colorado 80138, (303) 694-9262.  Accreditation status was approved in May 2021.  Graduates of the program will be prepared to sit for the Association of Surgical Technology Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) credential upon program completion. 

The Surgical Technology program is designed to be completed in five semesters and an associate in applied science degree as the credential earned.  Throughout the program, students will be required to earn a grade of C or higher in all academic requirements and SUR-prefix courses within the curriculum.

ADMISSION

Program requirements for health programs offered within the Alabama Community College System may be reviewed and revised between publication deadlines for this and future College Catalog and Student Handbook documents. Admission requirements below were in effect at the time this document was published and may or may not be current. Prospective students should contact the program office to obtain requirement updates. The Surgical Technology program will admit students to the program once each year in Fall Semester.  Students are admitted to the Surgical Technology program without discrimination regarding color, age, creed, marital status, race, religion, sex, or national origin. Wallace Community College complies with The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.  Students who have a disability and require accommodation should contact Disability Support Services on the Wallace Campus in Dothan.  Applicants must meet College requirements for admission and will be considered for admission into the program based on past academic achievement and performance on the ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills (ATI TEAS).  Application packets will be made available beginning March 1 each year and will be due by a designated date and time denoted within the packet information.  Spaces available for acceptance will be limited by the availability of clinical sites, as well as classroom space and instructor availability.  The target class size is expected to have a maximum of 15 students per year, pending applicant eligibility.  Upon admission to the program, all students must submit a program health form and immunization records.  

Admission requirements include:

1. Unconditional admission to the College;
    
2. Status of good standing with the College
    
3. Submission of a completed application packet for the Surgical Technology program, including
    
   1. Completed program application form
       
   2. Signed essential functions form
       
   3. Copies of transcripts (unofficial will suffice) from all colleges previously attended, including WCC
       
   4. Scores from the ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills (ATI TEAS) taken within three (3) years of program application
       
4. Minimum 2.0 cumulative college GPA or high school if no prior college attendance (GED® acceptable in lieu of high school transcript);
    
5. Minimum of 2.5 grade point average for the last 24 hours of college credit for students with previous college work OR high school diploma or GED for students with no previous college work. High school credits will not be used in calculating grade point average, except as required in the Early Admission for Accelerated High School Students program;
    
6. Eligibility at the time of program application for ENG101, English Composition I, MTH 100, Intermediate College Algebra, and BIO 201, Human Anatomy and Physiology I.

Admission to the Surgical Technology program is competitive.  Applications received will be ranked based upon a scoring system related to the above requirements.  Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance.  Initial acceptance willl be provisional upon the student’s ability to perform essential functions, have negative substance abuse screening results, and receive clinical attendance approval of findings from a required criminal background check. Random substance abuse screening will be conducted throughout program enrollment.

Contractual agreements between the College and clinical agencies impose additional requirements on students enrolled in health programs. These requirements include, but are not limited to, the areas of attire, confidentiality, criminal background check, liability insurance, and substance abuse screening. Health insurance coverage is strongly recommended as the expense for treatment of injury suffered during training is the responsibility of the student. Any student denied clinical privileges or having clinical privileges revoked by a healthcare facility due to positive background findings or clinical misconduct is not eligible for program admission or readmission.

GRADING SCALE

A   90-100

B   80-89

C   75-79

D   60-74

F   59 and below

PROGRESSION

In order to progress in the surgical technology program, the student must: 

1. Progress through the required Surgical Technology curriculum in the prescribed sequence.
    
2. Achieve a grade of C or higher  in all academic and program-prefix courses required in the Surgical Technology program curriculum. 
    
3. Maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher in all Wallace Community College coursework.
    
4. Be acceptable by clinical agencies for clinical experiences and comply with clinical affiliates and program regulations, policies, and procedures.
    
5. Maintain the ability to meet the Essential Functions for the Surgical Technology program with or without reasonable accommodations.  A copy of the essential functions is available from the program office and published on the College website, www.wallace.edu.   
    
6. Maintain current CPR certification at the health care provider level.

 REINSTATEMENT / READMISSION
 
Students who break enrollment in Surgical Technology program courses, whether by personal choice or inability to progress per program policy, can reapply for reinstatement the following academic year for the term of the program in which the interruption occurred. Written notification of intent to reapply must be received by the Program Director no later than mid-term of the semester prior to the one the student desires to enter. For example, a student who withdraws during Spring Semester 2023 and desires to re-enter the program Spring Semester 2024 must submit a written request prior to mid-term Fall Semester 2023. Program or course remediation may be required depending on the student’s GPA and the stage of the program at which the curriculum break occurs. Readmission may be limited by availability of class and/or clinical openings.  A student may be considered for readmission only once.  Students who break enrollment more than once or fail to return to the program within a 12-month timeframe must apply and compete for admission as a new program student.  All students applying for readmission must follow admission and progression guidelines in effect at the time of reentry.
 
AUDIT
 
Effective September 12, 2012 there shall be no auditing allowed for any Health Science classes.
 
TRANSFER POLICY
 
Students previously enrolled in other regionally accredited surgical technology programs will be evaluated on an individual basis to determine appropriate placement. Validation examinations may be required. Transfer students should apply for admission by mid-term of the semester prior to that in which they desire to enroll. Acceptance may be limited by availability of openings.