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Campus Center (CC) building remains closed through September 30, 2022.  Students, please check Canvas for class updates. Services normally located in CC are available in Morse Center second floor including library, tutoring, TRIO and Student Life. Campus Store has limited services in G building from 7:45 a.m.-1 p.m.

Surgery Technology

Surgery Technology - AAS-T

Bellingham Technical College Surgery Technology Program is nationally accredited through the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)

9355 113th St N, #7709 Seminole, FL 33775  727.210.2350

Http://www.caahep.org/

If you are interested in being a valuable part of surgery teams, working beside surgeons, nurses, and other medical professionals, you can train for an exciting career as a Surgery Technologist. With BTC’s high quality education and hands-on training, you’ll gain the valuable skills needed now by hospitals, outpatient surgery centers, and dental surgery offices.

BTC's students graduate prepared for top jobs:

100% of program graduates passed the National Certification of Surgical Technology Exam in 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

90% of program graduates passed the National Certification of Surgical Technology Exam in 2018.

100% of program graduates passed the National Certification of Surgical Technology Exam in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Upon successful completion of the BTC Surgery Technology Program, students are awarded an Associates Degree in Applied Science-Transfer (AAS-T) and are eligible for licensure as a Surgical Technologist in WA State.

Note: BTC has not made a determination that the Surgery Technology curriculum meets educational requirements for licensure/certification outside of Washington State. We encourage students who plan to work out-of-state to check relevant local licensure/certification requirements.

Employment Information

Data are provided on a program (not credential) level

96% BTC graduate placement rate1

$43,371 starting annual wage2
$53,681 average annual wage2
$62,133 potential annual wage2

  • Employment and Wage Data Sources

    1Employment data come from the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) and reflect WA/OR employment for students enrolled at BTC between 2017-18 and 2019-20. Students are included in the employment rate if they left with a credential. Rates are not shown for programs with fewer than 10 students meeting the above criteria.

    2Whatcom County and WA State wage data come from Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD) 2021 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates and reflect 2018-21 employment. Wage data represent occupations that BTC faculty have identified as the most relevant career paths for program graduates. Note that these wages reflect employees with varying educational levels/credentials. For cases in which multiple occupations have been identified by faculty, a weighted percentile is calculated using each occupation’s percentile wage and employment size estimate. Wages are not shown for programs for which occupations do not meet the ESD’s minimum thresholds for publishing. If the program has wage data from the Washington SBCTC that involves shift work, these ESD wages reflect the same number of hours used in the annual wage calculation. Starting wage = 25th percentile, median wage = 50th percentile, wage potential = 75th percentile.

Estimated Program Costs

Entry Information

When Can I Start?

Students interested in the Surgery Technology program should apply to the college and contact Admissions at 360.752.8345 or at admissions@btc.edu for assistance with getting started at BTC. A college application and your score on assessment testing and/or previous transcripts will determine where you begin your course sequence.

This program typically admits students into first quarter core courses in the fall. Registration for Fall Quarter starts halfway through Spring Quarter.

Program-ready students are invited to register for Surgery Technology courses. Students who have completed ALL prerequisite requirements before the start of first quarter core courses will be allowed entry based on the order in which they register. 

There is no separate admission process or application for this program.

Students will be required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. To be considered fully vaccinated, two weeks must have passed since the date of the second dose or first dose for the one-dose vaccine. The program’s clinical partner agencies will not accept any exemption to full COVID-19 vaccination.

What are the Minimum Entry Requirements?

ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS)

Applicants must score at the "PROFICIENT" level or higher in each of the four areas on one transcript. See the ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills handout for more information about this entrance assessment:  The Test of Essential Academic Skills- ATI TEAS Handout

Students can take the TEAS through the BTC Assessment Center or remotely through ATI.

Registration Directions for TEAS at ATI

Students must be 18 years or older before beginning program core courses.

Early Program Course Requirements

Prior to registering for the program core courses students complete all prerequisite courses at BTC or complete the transcript evaluation process for courses taken at another institution.

ALL COURSES MUST BE A MINIMUM OF 5 QUARTER CREDITS OR 3 SEMESTER CREDITS

Completion of the following courses with a minimum grade of 3.0 (B) or higher in each course:

  • Human A&P 1 (BIOL& 241)

  • Human A&P 2 (BIOL& 242)

  • Microbiology (BIOL& 260)

  • Introduction to Chemistry (CHEM& 121 or CHEM& 161)

  • English Composition 1 (ENGL& 101)

  • Math in Society (MATH& 107) or any MATH course from the AAS-T alternative course list will be accepted.

  • Intro to Surgery Technology (SURG 100)

Completion of the following courses with a minimum grade of 2.0 (C) or higher in each course:

  • General Biology with Lab (BIOL& 160)

  • Interpersonal Communications (CMST& 210) or General Psychology (PSYC& 100)

  • Fundamentals of Medical Terminology (HT 100)

Physical Requirements

AFTER admissions acceptance into the program and prior to beginning program classes students must submit proof of all Clinical Placement Requirements.

What are My Next Steps?

1. Apply to BTC and Financial Aid
2. Assess Your Starting Point
3. Advising & Registration
4. Prepare to Attend

 

Classes

Total Program Credits: 60

  • Current Students: Learn how to use this page to register for classes

  • Quarter 1

  • SURG 120Surgery Technology I12 CR
  • SURG 125Surgery Technology Lab I10 CR

  • Quarter 2

  • SURG 133Surgery Technology II10 CR
  • SURG 136Surgery Technology Clinical Practice I10 CR

  • Quarter 3

  • SURG 143Surgery Technology III6 CR
  • SURG 145Surgery Technology Clinical Practice II10 CR

Program Outcomes

The goal of this program is to prepare competent entry-level surgical technologists in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains

Adhering to the Core Curriculum for Surgical Technologists, 6th ed. and employer and instructor’s expectations, upon completion of the Surgery Technology program, the student will:

  • Demonstrate proficiency in the care of the operative environment preoperatively, intraoperatively, and postoperatively.
  • Provide safe patient care with strict adherence to sterile technique and asepsis.
  • Demonstrate critical thinking relating to prioritization, anticipation, problem analysis and evaluation of solutions.
  • Apply the principles of effective verbal, non-verbal, and written communication.
  • Compile completed Clinical Case Experience Log of surgical procedure assistance in accordance with the Core Curriculum for Surgery Technology, 6th ed.
  • Demonstrate knowledge and experience by successful completion of the National Certification Examination for Surgical Technologists.

Employment Outlook

Employment of surgical technologists is expected to increase. Technological advances such as fiber optics and laser technology will also permit new surgical procedures to be performed.

About 95% of BTC Surgery Technology students are employed within nine months of graduation. The average annual wage in this field is $55,661, with an earning potential of about $64,709 per year.*

Criminal convictions may restrict or prevent student participation with internships and employment in this industry.

Most surgical technologists are employed by hospitals and work primarily in operating and delivery rooms. Others are employed in clinics and surgical centers and in the offices of physicians and dentists who perform outpatient surgery. Hospitals will continue to be the primary employer of surgical technologists, although much faster employment growth is expected in offices and clinics of physicians, including ambulatory surgical centers.

Faculty & Support

Photo of Laura Doss
Laura Doss

Laura Doss has been at BTC for 10 years in the roles of Academic & Career Advisor, Student Navigator, Instructor, Completion Coach and now College Navigator for the Allied Health Programs. Laura earned her Bachelor of Science while serving in the US Army and stationed in Germany and her Master of Education while stationed at Fort Sill, OK. Her initial education and training was in the mental health field before moving into education. Outside of work, Laura likes to spend time with her four kids, walking the trails, cuddling with her tiny dog and reading a ton of books!

Photo of Julie Lange
Julie Lange