Surgical technologists are allied health professionals who are an integral part of the team of medical practitioners providing surgical care to patients in a variety of settings.
The surgical technologist works under medical supervision to facilitate the safe and effective conduct of invasive surgical procedures. This individual works under the supervision of a surgeon to ensure that the operating room or environment is safe, that equipment functions properly, and that the operative procedure is conducted under conditions that maximize patient safety.
A surgical technologist possesses expertise in the theory and application of sterile and aseptic technique and combines the knowledge of human anatomy, surgical procedures, and implementation tools and technologies to facilitate a physician's performance of invasive therapeutic and diagnostic procedures.
- Overview
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Is This Program for You?
Students who are successful in this field:
- Possess a strong sense of responsibility, considerable patience and concern for others
- Function well as a team member
- Possess manual dexterity and fine motor coordination
- Perform accurately and efficiently under pressure
- Psychological and physical stamina
Program Basics
- Face-to-Face and Online courses
- Shared courses with the Nursing Program
- Financial aid available to those that qualify
- Summer program start date
- May take some courses immediately upon program acceptance
- Students must achieve a grade of a C or better in each course of the program curriculum to be eligible to progress.
- Current Healthcare Provider CPR certification must be maintained throughout the program. (Courses must include CPR, and a hands-on exam must be taken.)
- Students who complete this program can pursue transfer to bachelor degree programs.
- Curriculum & Costs
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Cost of Attendance (COA) 25-26
Cost of Attendance (COA) is a total of all the usual expenses of being a student. The COA sets the maximum amount of financial aid a student can receive.
Category Amount Tuition and Fees $4,932 Living Expenses (Housing and Food) $10,305 Books and Supplies $1,463 Personal Expenses $3,065 Transportation $4,103 Charger Tech 360 Fee $700 Loan Fees $85 Yearly Total (Living Away from Home) $24,653 1 Semester Total (Living Away from Home) $12,327 Based on Wisconsin Residents.
Approximate school costs are for a full-time (12 credit) student over a semester span of 17 weeks.
Fees are legislated by the Wisconsin Technical College System Board.
These costs are estimates and are subject to change without notice.
- Admissions & Requirements
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Admission and Program Requirements
- Submit Application
Most programs admit students as applications are completed. For certain high-enrollment programs with limited space, applications are reviewed in order of residency and review dates. Programs currently in this category include Radiography, Electrical Power Distribution, Midwifery, Cosmetology, and Nail Technician. Learn more about our Admissions and Wait List Policy.Academic Preparedness Requirements
- Log in to your MySWTC account, go to My Profile - > Document Center - > All Programs to complete the following:
- Submit High School Transcripts, College Transcripts, and Test Scores: Southwest Tech (email admissions@swtc.edu, or mail to Attn: Admissions, 1800 Bronson Blvd, Fennimore, WI 53809)
- HESI Exam: schedule and pay for HESI by calling 608.822.2313 or by going to www.swtc.edu/community/testing-center/hesi. Passing grade for Grammar, Vocabulary, and Reading is 65%.
- HS Diploma or equivalent
- Admissions Meeting: After applying and submitting transcripts, work with your advisor to begin or continue your student success plan to talk about your career interests and goals, develop a plan for paying for college, learn about various funding options, create an academic map, and discuss supports and services. Schedule an admissions meeting by clicking "Make an appointment" with your program advisor.
- Submit Application
- Outcomes
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Program Outcomes
At the completion of the program, students are expected to be able to:
- Apply healthcare and technological science principles to the perioperative environment
- Maintain principles of sterile technique in the surgical environment
- Provide a safe, efficient, and supportive environment for the patient
- Prepare the patient, operating room and surgical team for the preoperative phase
- Perform intraoperative case management in the scrub role
- Perform postoperative case management
- Function as an ethical, legal, and professional member of the healthcare team as determined by governing bodies
Minimum Expectations:
To prepare competent entry-level surgical technologists in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.
- Career Opportunities
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Opportunities include working in:
- Surgical Technologist Scrub Role
- Central Supply Technologist
- Surgical Technologist/Private Scrub
- Second Assisting Technologist (with additional education Surgical First Assistant)
- Laser/Endoscopic Technologist
- Tissue/Organ Procurement
- GI Technologist
- OB Technologist
- Surg Tech Instructor
- Vet Technician
Southwest Tech's Career Connections Center offers Services to assist students looking for job placement.
- Transfers
- Prior Learning
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Credit for Prior Learning
Experience Pays! You've Been There... You've Done That... Let's See If You Can Get Credit For It!
Credit for prior learning gives you opportunities to earn credit for college-level knowledge that you have already acquired. This may be the result of work or volunteer experiences, certifications, apprenticeships, military training, extensive self-instruction, or professional development. Credit for Prior Learning affords you the opportunity to accelerate the completion of your educational goals.
For more information on Credit for Prior Learning see our Credit for Prior Learning page.
At any time, you may Request Credit for Prior Learning.
Surgical Technology Courses that may have Credit for Prior Learning options:
Course # Course Title Challenge Exam
(Demonstration)Challenge Exam
(Standard)CLEPCredentialPortfolio10-501-101 Medical Terminology Available online 10-801-136 English Composition 1 CLEP Test - College Composition 10-801-196 Oral/Interpersonal Communication 10-809-196 Introduction to Sociology 10-809-198 Introduction to Psychology CLEP Test - Introduction to Psychology - Accreditation
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Accreditation Status
The Surgical Technology Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA).
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
www.caahep.org9355 113th St N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
727-210-2350