Programs - General Description

National Avg. Salary: (Hourly)
- Starting:
  $15
- Experienced:
  $18
Local Avg. Salary: (Hourly)
- Starting:
  $13
- Experienced:
  $17
Completion Time
(in months)
- 18
Waiting List:
- No

Neva Lawson

Program Director

Current Program/Catalog Information

To view current program information, select a program (or "ALL" for all programs) from the drop-down menu.

Surgical Technology Diploma

Health and Sciences Division

General Description | Semester Layout | Course Requirements | Printable Checklist

Mission

To provide growth opportunities that contributes to the quality of life and economic development of the Pee Dee region by offering a comprehensive technical education program specializing in the knowledge, skills and values of Surgical Technology.

Description

Surgical Technologists are highly skilled allied health personnel who perform multiple technical tasks within the surgical environment. The qualified candidate will have excellent eye-hand coordination, effective communication skills, an affinity for detail, and the ability to function well in stressful situations. Knowledge of human anatomy and physiology, surgical instrumentation, aseptic technique, surgical supplies and procedures allows the surgical technologist to function as an integral member of the surgical team.

Graduates from the program are prepared for entry level positions in many diverse areas of the health care system, such as: Operating Rooms, Labor and Delivery units, GI and Cardiac Catheterization Suites, Ambulatory Surgery Centers, Sterile Supply units, Emergency Rooms, Anesthesia Technologists, Cell Saver Technologists, Physician Offices, Private Scrubs, Instrument Sales Representatives, and Veterinary Assistants. Graduates of the Surgical Technology program qualify to sit for the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) National Certification Exam. The Association of Surgical Technologists (AST) reports the mean salary for Certified Surgical Technologists is $32,000.

Applications to the Surgical Technology program are accepted March 1-31st . Qualified applicants will have either successfully completed or be enrolled in all required General Education courses at the time of application. A program entrance map is located in the forms section of the FDTC web site.

Accreditations, Approvals, and Certifications

This program has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Educational Programs (CAAHEP) in cooperation with the Joint Review Committee on Education for the Surgical Technologist (Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs 1361 Park Street Clearwater, FL 33756 727.210.2350 ) .

Program Entrance Requirements

Course Level	Required Courses
High School	Biology
College	None
NOTE: A grade of "C" or better is required for each prerequisite course.

Other	Required
Diploma or GED	Yes
Approval/Permission Needed -- Application Process Departmental Approval	Yes
Prior Experience/Observation	No
Minimum Cumulative GPA of 2.0	Yes
Current CPR Certification by American Heart Association or American Red Cross	Yes
First Aid Certification	No
Hepatitis B Immunization or Signed Informed Refusal or Titer	Yes
MMR Immunization or Titer	Yes
Chicken Pox Vaccination or Titer	Yes
Two-step PPD / Chest X-Ray	Yes
Medical Examination Forms are provided by the college and should be current (within one year) and complete.	Yes
Dental Examination Forms are provided by the college and should be current (within one year) and complete. Dental health must meet departmental standards.	Yes
Technical Standards Forms are provided by the college and should be current (within one year) and complete.	Yes
Negative Drug Screen	Yes
Satisfactory Background Check	Yes
Other Diplomas, Licensures, etc.	No
Recent Photograph Photograph will not be returned.	Yes

Academic Standards

Standard Criteria	Required
Courses requiring a grade of "C" or better Any course with one of the following prefixes: ALL	Yes
Courses that may not be attempted more than twice Any course with one of the following prefixes: BIO, SUR	Yes
Complete or Maintain CPR Certification by American Heart Association or American Red Cross	Yes
Curriculum Completion Requirement	No
Drug Calculation Competency Students must demonstrate drug calculation competency each semester in order to progress in curriculum courses.	No
Dismissal Policy A student who has been unsuccessful at three or more required courses will be dismissed from the program and will not be eligible to re-enter.	Yes
Re-entry Policy Any student re-entering the program due to unsuccessful completion of SUR 101, SUR 102, SUR 103, SUR 104, SUR 111, or SUR 113 must, prior to returning, successfully complete the following requirements: 1. Surgical Skills Assessment (Skills taught in SUR 101 and SUR 102), 2. Comprehensive Surgical Instrumentation Assessment ( Surgical Instrumentation taught in SUR 101 and SUR 102), 3. Cumulative GPA of 2.0 or greater. These requirements must be completed prior to advancing to SUR 103, SUR 104, SUR 111, SUR 113, or SUR 120. The length of time before re-entry will be determined by the number of applicants who have never attempted the surgical classes. If a student must withdraw due to pregnancy or illness and is good standing academically, he/she may re-enter upon the next available slot, providing the student has proficiently completed the Surgical Skills Assessments (skills taught in SUR 101 and SUR 102) and the Comprehensive Surgical Instrumentation Assessment (Surgical Instrumentation taught in SUR 101 and SUR 102).	Yes

Agency Requirements

Students in health majors must meet the published clinical agency requirements when participating in assigned labs. Requirements include immunizations, background checks, and drug testing. To be in compliance with Article, 23, Section 44-7-2920 of the S.C. Code of Law, all students enrolled in AHS 141, DAT 154, DHG 154, HIM 102, MED 102, MLT 110, NUR 160, NUR 201, PNR 110, RAD 101, RES 101, and SUR 101 must complete the requirements listed above prior to being assigned to any direct care entity. Results of the background check/drug screening could affect the student's ability to complete required clinical rotations and/or become credentialed. For example, a felony conviction could make a student ineligible to take the licensing exam(s) required by the profession or prevent the student from participating in the clinical training component.

Graduation Requirements

Complete all required courses specified in the curriculum.
Fulfill all financial obligations to the College.
Achieve a cumulative final GPA of 2.0.
Earn at least 25 percent of the total credit hours of his/her curriculum at FDTC. Exceptions can be made only by the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Program Specific Notes

Applications to the Surgical Technology program are accepted March 1-31. Program entrance map is located in the forms section of the FDTC web page. Surgical Technology students will be eligible to take the NBSTSA National Certification exam upon graduation. All required major core courses must be taken in designated sequence.