Surgical Technology | AAS

Admissions Advisor

Career Information

Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. May help set up operating room, prepare and transport patients for surgery, adjust lights and equipment, pass instruments and other supplies to surgeons and surgeon's assistants, hold retractors, cut sutures, and help count sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments.

• Surgical Technologists
• Surgical Assistants

Required Classes

For a list of current required classes, visit our catalog at:
https://catalog.witcc.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=10&poid=2331&returnto=752

Entrance Requirements

All students must submit the following items for application to the program to be considered:

• A copy of a Final Official High School, GED or HSED transcript with date of graduation. For applicants currently in high school, please present a current high school transcript and then later submit the Final Official High School Transcript with the date of graduation.
• Official college transcripts of previously attended institutions.
• ACT Scores (if completed) listed on HS Transcript or other official documentation.

All students must meet the following criteria for admission/acceptance to the program:

• Verification of high school, GED, or HSED official transcript

All students must meet one of the following criteria for admission/acceptance into the program:

Criteria 1 for Acceptance

Submitted documentation of composite ACT score of at least 20.

or Criteria 2 for Acceptance

Completed an associate's degree or higher from an accredited institution

or Criteria 3 for Acceptance

Competition of BIO 168 & BIO 173 with no grade lower than a B-

or Criteria 4 for Acceptance

Verification of high school official transcript of GPA 2.7 or higher AND
Completion of (1) year high school Biology or science equivalent with no grade lower than a B-.

Faculty and Staff

Accreditation

The surgical technology program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Job openings are available nationwide for graduates of the surgical technology program. Employment of surgical technologists is projected to grow 15 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations. (Bureau of Labor statistics). Admission to the surgical technology program requires applicants to meet program-specific criteria. For information on application procedures and acceptance, contact the Admissions Office at Western Iowa Tech. Students must achieve a grade point average of 2.00 (C) or above in all program requirements. 

Eligibility For Board Certification

The Surgical Technology program is CAAHEP accredited. Graduates from the program are eligible to obtain certification from the National Board of Surgical Technologist and Surgical Assistants.

Program Board Results

88% of the Western Iowa Tech Surgical Technology Program graduates who attempted the National Certification Exam in 2023 achieved the status of Certified Surgical Technologist (CST).

Licensure

Educational licensure is met in the following states: Iowa
Educational licensure is not met for the following states: None
If not listed above, determination has not yet been made for the remaining states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
To view educational requirements for the state you wish to work, visit https://www.nbstsa.org/
 
For information on becoming a Certified Surgical Technologist, contact:
National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA)
6 West Dry Creek Road, Suite 100
Littleton, CO  80120
Internet: www.NBSTSA.org
 
For information on becoming a Tech in Surgery-Certified, contact:
National Center for Competency Testing
7007 College Blvd., Suite 250
Overland Park, KS   66211