Associate of Applied Science Surgical Technology (AAS-ST)

Listen

The Associate of Applied Science Surgical Technology (AAS-ST) Program is 65 credit hours and takes five semesters to complete. The AAS-ST program prepares the student for an entry-level position as a Surgical Technologist in various types of healthcare settings. These settings could include: Inpatient or Outpatient Hospital Surgery departments (state, local or private), Ambulatory Surgery Centers, physician or dentist offices, sterile processing departments, or administrative positions.

Program Rationale

The Associate of Applied Science Surgical Technology (AAS-ST) Program is designed to prepare students for employment in healthcare as a member of the surgical team. The current national demand for well-trained Surgical Technologists who work closely with many healthcare surgical team providers (attending surgeons, surgical residents, medical students, RN first assists, certified surgical assistants, circulating RN, other surgical technologists, advanced practice nurses, physician assistants, anesthesiologists, and CRNAs) continues to increase nationwide, making employment opportunities upon completing the program high and continues to grow!

The AAS-ST program also is aligned to give options to students who want to develop professionally beyond the role as a Surgical Technologist. Good Samaritan College also offers an Associate Applied Science in Nursing (AASN) degree. The AAS-ST curriculum of study covers many general education courses needed in our Associate of Applied Science in Nursing program if one day you want to continue your education in nursing.

Program Curriculum

The AAS-ST program consists of 65 credit hours including the requirement of at least a minimum of 120 cases being completed in the operating room in the first or second scrub role as a student. The student will attend clinicals over three semesters in the SUR courses. Students must be available during the daytime hours to participate in the program since these are the hours when surgeries are scheduled. Upon successful completion of the program, the student is prepared to seek employment. Please note that successful completion of this academic AAS-ST program requirement does not qualify as a certification or becoming certified.

To be eligible to enter the program, the student completes: the first two semesters of the pre-requisite general education courses with a C or better while maintaining a 2.5 gpa; complete an AAS-ST application for entrance into the program; meet with the Program Coordinator Surgical Technology to discuss the program progression; once these items are completed, the student is eligible to start in AAS-ST program when a seat is available and with permission from the Program Coordinator of Surgical Technology.

Daytime didactic, skills lab, and clinicals are currently offered during weekdays. The didactic and skills lab courses are taught weekly on campus, and all courses will utilize the Learning Management System (LMS) Brightspace. This program includes a 120 minimum case completion requirement in an operating room. Once this AAS-ST program is accredited, the student will be able to take a national certification examination to obtain a certification credential to enhance gaining employment. Good Samaritan College is in the process to become an accredited program.