Program Details Surgical Technologist AAS

Here is a general overview of what your classes will look like following each quarter. This program has been updated for the fall 2023 quarter. Please contact your adviser for more information regarding the courses. To see which materials are needed for your courses, click this bookstore link (Links to an external site.) and enter the course information.

General Overview

When can I start? Fall (September) or Spring (April)

How long is the program?

6 quarters (16 to 17 months) with 103 total credits for the AAS program (fall 2023 and spring 2024 starts)

When do classes meet? 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekdays with a mix of hybrid and online classes

Are summer classes required? Yes. If you start in the fall, you will need to attend one summer quarter, and if you start in spring, you will need to attend two summer quarters.

In this program, you learn human anatomy, medical procedures, and advanced healthcare technology to work on a surgical care team. A surgical technologist ensures that the operating room is set up safely for patients and supports doctors who perform a variety of therapeutic and diagnostic procedures. You will get to practice your skills in regional healthcare facilities before you graduate. The Surgical Technologist program is accredited nationally by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) in collaboration with the Association of Surgical Technologists and the American College of Surgeons.

What do surgical technologists do?

What is the average salary?

$64,670 annually in the Seattle-Bellevue-Tacoma area. Most surgical technologists in King County earn at least $51,200.

Who can I contact with questions?

New students, please visit our Zoom lobby (Links to an external site.) to talk with someone by video chat, or e-mail our advising department.
For current students, please visit RTC's advising page (Links to an external site and look for the faculty counselor assigned to Surgical Technologist.

Overall Materials Needed:

Access to a functioning laptop or computer (you may use computers in the RTC Library or Learning Resource Center)
USB drive (thumb drive)
Webcam
Headset with microphone
Working internet connection
CastleBranch account ($106)
Personal health insurance
Immunizations and personal physical exam
General liability and malpractice insurance ($14.62 per year)
2 sets of scrubs with a jacket, plus comfortable shoes ($150)
Safety goggles ($15)
Textbooks and learning materials ($435)
Skills lab supply kit (cost TBD)

You must earn a grade of 2.7 or higher in all of your SURG classes in order to graduate.

Applying to the Program

These steps apply to students who start the program in fall 2023 or later.

You must apply to the Surgical Technologist program. See the RTC website for details about deadlines and information sessions! Here are the basic requirements:

You must be 18 years old when you begin the fifth quarter of the program.
You must have a high school diploma, GED, or high school completion.
You must complete 1 prerequisite class with a minimum of 2.0 GPA. The class must have been completed within the previous 5 years:
- BIOL 105 Survey of Human Anatomy and Physiology (or BIOL& 241 plus BIOL& 242)

Your application must include the following documents:

Once you are accepted to the Surgical Technologist program, you will need to provide proof of immunizations and a current physical examination.

About Transfer Credit

If you already have credit for one or more of the following classes, you may not need to take as many classes during Quarter 1 or Quarter 2 here at RTC:

ENGL& 101 English Composition or another writing class
Any college-level math class
- algebra, finite math, statistics, or calculus
Any social science class
- anthropology, cultural studies, economics, history, psychology, or sociology
Any humanities class
- art, communication, drama, literature, music, philosophy, speech, or world languages

When you send your official college transcripts to RTC, we will be able to determine what classes you have completed already. If you have credit for 3 or 4 of the 4 class requirement above, it could affect the amount of financial aid that you receive in Quarter 1 and/or Quarter 2.

Quarter 1 Classes

Description: You will learn about operating room design, roles of the surgical team, medical terminology, and sterile technique. You also will complete English and math classes for your degree. Learn more about English placement here.

Quarter 1 Course Information
Course ID	Course Name	Materials	Credits
COL 101	College Success	NO	2
COMP 100 or ENGL& 101	Applied Composition or English Composition	varies by class	5
AMATH 175 or AMATH 190	Financial Math or Financial Algebra (or more advanced mathematics class)	NO	5
SURG 103	Operating Room Environment I	YES	6
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,210

Quarter 2 Classes

Description: You learn about potential hazards and risks for surgical patients, and you will successfully set up for a laparotomy procedure. You also complete your last 10 credits of general education for your degree. Choose one social science class and one humanities class; recommendations are listed below.

Quarter 2 Course Information
Course ID	Course Name	Materials	Credits
SURG 104	Operating Room Environment II	YES	4
SURG 105	Psychology of the Workplace	NO	4
ANTH& 235 or SOC& 101	Cross-Cultural Medicine or Introduction to Sociology or other social science class	varies by class	5
CMST 280 or SPAN& 121	Intercultural Communication or Spanish I or other humanities class	varies by class	5
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,250

Quarter 3 Classes

Description: You will learn how to move, transfer, and position patients for procedures in the following surgical specialties: obstetrics, gynecology, ophthalmology, laparoscopy, endoscopy, and general surgery. You also study aseptic technique, surgical patient preparation, wound care, anesthesia administration, and other medications.

Quarter 3 Course Information
Course ID	Course Name	Materials	Credits
SURG 101	Perioperative Case Management	no new ones	3
SURG 116	Surgical Specialties and Procedures I	no new ones	5
SURG 119	Principles of Surgical Instrumentation	no new ones	3
SURG 120	Skills Lab Practicum I	NO	6
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,352

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Quarter 4 Classes

Description: You will learn how prepare for procedures in new surgical specialties: reconstruction, oral maxillofacial, ear-nose-throat (ENT), genitourinary, cardiothoracic, vascular, and neurology. You practice related skills in the mock operating room to prepare for your first clinical placement in Quarter 5.

Quarter 4 Course Information
Course ID	Course Name	Materials	Credits
SURG 107	Surgical Specialties and Procedures II	no new ones	10
SURG 115	Skills Lab Practicum II	NO	5
SURG 132	Surgical Pharmacology	no new ones	3
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,435

Quarter 5 Classes

Description: You will learn how to support surgical patients while you complete your first clinical practicum in a local hospital or healthcare facility. You also start to review for the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) exam.

Quarter 5 Course Information
Course ID	Course Name	Materials	Credits
SURG 121	Certification Exam Prep I	YES	5
SURG 122	Clinical Externship I	YES	11
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,581

Quarter 6 Classes

Description: You complete your second and final clinical practicum, and you spend time preparing your job search and interviews. You will complete your intensive preparation for the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) exam.

It's time to apply for graduation!

Quarter 6 Course Information
Course ID	Course Name	Materials	Credits
SURG 113	Certification Exam Prep II	no new ones	5
SURG 123	Clinical Externship II	NO	5
SURG 124	Surgical Technology Capstone	no new ones	6
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,349

The CST exam for Certified Surgical Technologists costs $247. This includes a study guide and membership in the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST).

The Surgical Technologist license fee for WA state is $70.

Grand Total Estimated Costs: $15,151 plus the cost of personal health insurance and skills lab kit

Continue your education! You can choose from applied bachelor programs in healthcare. Western Governors University also has a pathway to their Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Health Service Coordination.

Not quite the path you want to take? Let's go back to the Program Map!

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