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Ivy Tech School of Health Sciences

Surgical Technology

From the classroom
to the operating room

What You'll Learn

Doctors and nurses are not the only ones in the operating room. This highly competitive program opens doors for students to become technical healthcare professionals. With extensive hands-on training in a real operating room, graduates of the Surgical Technology program are prepared to do everything from hold a beating heart in their hands to assisting surgeons in the delivery room.  Our mission is to prepare entry-level Surgical Technologists who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession.

Career Options

While surgical technology sounds like a very specific field, there are a variety of career options that are available to our graduates. 

Some positions that our graduates might have include:

  • Certified Surgical Technologist
  • CST Educator
  • Instrument Room/Central Processing Manager
  • Medical Industry Representative
  • Tissue Procurement Manager
  • Central Sterile Supply Specialist

HOW TO APPLY

Future Students

Students interested in the Surgical Technology program must apply to Ivy Tech first using the Ivy Tech general application. In this application, apply for the Healthcare Specialist program with an interest in Surgical Technology. Apply to Ivy Tech Now

Current Ivy Tech Students

After you've completed your prerequisite courses, you may apply for the Surgical Technology program through the online application for health science programs. Read More about How to Apply & Deadlines

Apply Now   View Application User Guide

Selective Admissions

The Surgical Technology program at Ivy Tech has a selective admissions process, which means not all students who apply to the program will be accepted. Details vary according to campus. Learn More about Selective Admissions

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROGRAM?

Future Students

If you’re not yet an Ivy Tech student, contact us at 1-888-489-5463 and we’ll be happy to help.

Current Students

Contact your local Surgical Technology Program Chair or academic advisor, who can answer any questions you have about the Surgical Technology program and your certificate and degree options.

Associate Degree – Career-Ready Degree

  • The Associate of Applied Science in Surgical Technology degree program gives students the tools and knowledge to be successful in a specified and specialized healthcare position. Graduates of this program are prepared to assist in surgical environments, like labor and delivery or an operating room, or work in Central Sterile Supply. 

    Apply Now   Request More Info

    Time to Complete

    An Associate of Applied Science in Surgical Technology degree can be achieved in 5 semesters, or about two years.

    Required Courses

    Graduates must complete a total of 62 credit hours:

    • 13 general education course credits
    • 49 program-specific course credits

    View Course Descriptions 

    Search Upcoming Courses

    Student Outcomes

    Student Outcomes (SOs) are the competencies that Ivy Tech students should be well versed in upon graduating from the program.

    See SOs

    Close

Program Details

Surgical Technology is offered at 10 Ivy Tech locations in Indiana. Each location offers a unique combination of certificate and degree options:

Campus AAS in Surgical Technology
Columbus X
Elkhart X
Evansville X
Fort Wayne X
Indianapolis X
Kokomo X
Lafayette X
Muncie X
Terre Haute X
Valparaiso X

CT — Certificate (short-term); TC — Technical Certificate (long-term); WFC — Workforce Certification.

Is Surgical Technology Right for Me?

  • You enjoy working in healthcare, or human anatomy is your favorite subject.
  • You work well under pressure.
  • You are detail oriented and can follow instructions.
  • You work well in a fast paced ever changing environment.
  • You are capable of working in a professional setting.
  • You are a team player.

Sound Like You?

If you identify with the traits above, surgical technology may be the path for you. Take the next step to get started or speak with your local advisor to learn more.

Apply Now   Request More Info

The Ivy Tech Surgical Technology program can be intense but rewarding for the student who is passionate about launching their career in this field. Before you apply, review the following requirements and expectations for students in the program.

Time Commitment

The Surgical Technology associate degree program is a large commitment. Students must be enrolled as full-time students with daytime courses. Students may also need to schedule additional general education courses each semester. It is essential that you plan for the same amount of study time as class time per week. Surgical Technology course schedules and assignment due dates will not be adjusted to accommodate individual work schedules.

Attendance

Students are expected to attend all course meetings. Attendance is necessary to maximize student-learning opportunities. Students who are absent are responsible for missed material. Clinical courses require that the student be present to effectively evaluate successful achievement of clinical course objectives and concepts, as clinical course objectives cannot be accomplished or evaluated outside the clinical setting. There are no make-up sessions for missed clinical hours; therefore, regular clinical attendance is mandatory for successful clinical course and program completion.

Students will be required to provide their own transportation to and from clinical sites. Schedules vary based on campus. Please reach out to your campus of interest to learn more about meeting times and dates.

This program requires enrollment in summer coursework. If accepted, students will be required to attend a mandatory orientation session during the summer semester at the campus in which they were admitted.

Mandatory Drug and Criminal Background Screenings

Required documentation of immunity to communicable/infectious diseases and background/drug screenings prepare students to meet the requirements of healthcare facilities to allow for clinical placement.

Additional Considerations

Students with disabilities are required to contact the college Disabilities Support Staff at the campus of interest for assistance in requesting accommodations (if applicable).

Financial Aid

Connect with the Financial Aid team at your home campus to find out if you can receive financial aid for the program of your choice. Make sure that you have completed the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) by the established deadlines to be considered for financial aid assistance.

REQUEST MORE INFO   APPLY NOW

Surgical Technology Courses

Descriptions of surgical technology courses can be found in our online course catalog:

View required classes and course descriptions for:

Upcoming Classes

See when specific classes will be offered by searching our class list in Schedule Builder. First, select the semester you’re looking for and then enter the name of the class in the search bar. 

Search for Upcoming Classes

If you’re a current student, upcoming classes are easy to find in Schedule Builder in MyIvy.

Class Formats

Due to the hands-on learning experience in the program, courses in the Surgical Technology program will be conducted in-person.

Prerequisite Courses for Surgical Technology

Completion of the following required prerequisite courses is required for admission to the Associate of Applied Science in Surgical Technology program:

  • APHY 101 Anatomy and Physiology I
  • APHY 102 Anatomy and Physiology II
  • ENGL 111 English Composition
  • MATH 1XX Math Elective
  • SURG 203 Surgical Pharmacology (Not Required for Application)
  • COMM 101 or COMM 102 Communications Elective
  • SOCI 111 or PSYC 101 Humanities Elective
  • HLHS 101 Medical Terminology

No Expiration of Credits

There is no expiration date for course credits that were earned in previous years from Ivy Tech Community College.

Transfer Credit for Prerequisite Courses

Prerequisite courses completed at colleges other than Ivy Tech will only be considered for general education selection points if transfer credit has been awarded and courses appear on the Ivy Tech transcript prior to the application deadline.

TR grades are not recognized by the online application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that transfer credit has been awarded and that TR grades are updated to transfer letter grades (TA, TB, TC) on their Ivy Tech transcript.

It is recommended that college transcripts be submitted to the Registrar’s office for evaluation and transfer credit at least 4 weeks prior to the program application deadline to ensure adequate time for processing.

Step 1

Apply to Ivy Tech

Students interested in the Surgical Technology program must first submit the Ivy Tech general application and complete requirements for admission to the college. During this application, you should apply for the Healthcare Specialist program with an interest in Surgical Technology. Admission to the college does not ensure acceptance to a health science program, but students can be working on prerequisite courses for the Surgical Technology program after admission to the college and before applying to the program itself.

Apply to Ivy Tech

Step 2

Apply to the Surgical Technology Program

Following completion of prerequisite courses, you may apply for the Surgical Technology program through the online application for health science programs. 

Please note that the Surgical Technology program is a selective admission program, which means there are a limited number of spots each year.

The Surgical Technology program begins each fall. The application window is March 15 to May 15. 

Filling Out the Surgical Technology Online Application

Apply to Surgical Technology   View Application User Guide

Before you begin:

  • If you are not a current Ivy Tech Community College student, please Apply Now. You will need a C# (Ivy Tech student ID number) and Ivy Tech single sign-on login credentials in order to apply.
  • Gather all required or optional documentation that you will need to upload into the system. View more about requirements here. You will have the ability to save your application in progress until you are able to secure documentation.
  • If you are transferring from another institution, please make sure that your transcripts are evaluated at least 4 weeks prior to the application deadline.

    Frequently Asked Questions

How to Complete the Surgical Technology Application:

  1. Go to https://apps.ivytech.edu/apply/NursingAndHealthScience
  2. Log in using your Ivy Tech credentials.
  3. Check to make sure your personal information is accurate.
  4. Select the programs and campuses you would like to be considered as an applicant. You can select up to three different programs and three different campuses. (Some students choose to apply to multiple programs within the School of Health Sciences.)
  5. You must meet all of the prerequisites for a program in order to submit your application. If you receive a message indicating that you do not meet the prerequisites, then please remove that program selection in order to proceed with the application.
  6. Upload any necessary documents.
  7. Make sure grades in the system are accurate. If not, please contact your home campus registrar or advisor.
  8. You will be able to submit your application if you are currently enrolled in a course identified as a prerequisite for the program.
  9. Once complete, submit your application.
  10. You will receive an email confirmation in your Ivy Tech email account that your application has been submitted and is pending review.
  11. Once you have submitted your application, you have the option to reopen it to make changes.

    Note: DO NOT USE THE “BACK” function on your computer. Use the navigation pane at the side of the page to navigate.

APPLY NOW

Frequently Asked Questions

To learn more about the Health Sciences and Nursing application process, watch the below video, read the FAQ, or contact your campus of interest. 

Offers of Admission

Students can select up to three programs and three campuses each on the application. Offers of acceptance are for a specific program and campus. The offers are determined through eight rounds of auto-selection and six rounds of manual selection.

If a student is accepted, they will receive an email from the online application system to their Ivy Tech email account offering a seat in the program. Offers are emailed beginning within one week of the application close date and continue until program capacity is met or one week before the start of semester classes. Each round of offers begins at 6:00 am and applicants have until 11:59 pm the following day to either accept or reject an offer.

Depending on their rank and offers, a student could potentially receive multiple offers. Once one offer is accepted, the student is immediately withdrawn from all other offers and will be contacted by the chair or dean of the program with information about the program orientation date, time, and location.

If a student fails to respond, then the offer expires. If a student rejects an offer three (3) times, the application is removed from the auto-selection application pool but will then be available for manual selection rounds that occur later in the process.

Students do have the ability to withdraw an application at any point during the admission cycle. However, once an application is withdrawn, another one cannot be submitted until the next application cycle.

After You're Accepted

If you are accepted into the program—first off, congratulations!—you will be required to attend an orientation session at your local campus during the summer semester prior to beginning classes. An email will be sent following your acceptance with details about the session.

What If I Don’t Get Admitted?

The Surgical Technology program does not maintain a waitlist. Non-admitted applicants can reapply in the next application cycle, but we recommend that they meet with your local Surgical Technology Program Chair or advisor to begin planning and preparing for the reapplication process. Advisors can also assist students in exploring other programs of interest in Ivy Tech’s School of Health Sciences if they have applied several times and have not been accepted into the program.

What is Selective Admission? 

The Surgical Technology program is a selective admissions program. Due to the nature of this program and the high number of applications received, we are only able to accept a small number of students each year. 

Weighted Point System

A weighted point system is used to evaluate applicants for admission. Student applications are assigned points based on their grades in prerequisite courses. Point totals for applicants receiving admission offers will vary between campuses. Point totals are not shared.

If there is a tie, the tiebreaker will be determined by the student's Ivy Tech GPA from the spring semester.

Applicants can also receive an additional five points by uploading proof of the following licenses or certifications to their application: CRCST.

Please note: 

  • Optional documents must be approved in order to receive optional points.
  • If an optional document is rejected, the application will process without optional points.
  • Only one license or certification document can be uploaded, and only one will receive optional points, if approved, for each relevant program.  
  • License or certification must be current and active.

General Education Weighted Point System

When multiple course attempts are reported on applicant transcripts (including transcripts from other colleges and universities), the highest earned grade of the first three attempts will be used for the selection decision score through the application period. Points for courses transferred from other institutions will be awarded from the grade recorded on the transcript from the other institution provided transfer credit appears on the Ivy Tech transcript.

Course A B C D/F
APHY 101 30 20 10 0
APHY 102 30 20 10 0
HLHS 101 15 10 5 0
ENGL 111 15 10 5 0
MATH 123 30 20 10 0
COMM 101/102 15 10 5 0
PSYC101/SOCI 111 15 10 5 0
Total General Education Points Possible = 150

Local Program Contacts & Info

Colby Allen
Program Chair
Surgical Technology Instructor
callen173@ivytech.edu
260-480-2014

Information Sessions
Every other Monday at 3 p.m.

July 14
July 28
August 25
Join Zoom Meeting

Fort Wayne Surgical Technology Information Packet
Surg Tech Handbook
Essential Functions (Required for the Surgical Technology Program)

Occupational Hazards in Surgical Technology
Like many healthcare professions, a career in surgical technology involves exposure to various occupational hazards, including:
• Contact with infectious diseases
• Injuries from sharps and surgical instruments
• Exposure to blood-borne pathogens and biological hazards
• Chemical and pharmaceutical exposure
• Ergonomic challenges from lifting, prolonged sitting, and repetitive movements
• Allergic reactions to latex products
• Work-related stress and burnout
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) establishes safety standards to protect healthcare professionals and patients.

Learning Domains and Outcomes ACCREDITATION INFORMATION The Surgical Technology program, Fort Wayne campus is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA).

In compliance with the 2015 CAAHEP-ARC/STSA Standards, Ivy Tech Community College Columbus Surgical Technology Program is required to publish the Outcome Assessment Exam pass-rate on its website. The Outcome Assessment Exam for the Surgical Technology Program is called the NBSTSA Certified Surgical Technologist Exam. The pass rate for the 2020-2021 Surgical Technology Program graduates was 100%. The pass rate for the 2021-2022 cohort was 87.5%. The pass rate for the 2022-2023 cohort was 100%. The pass rate for the 2023-2024 cohort was 100%.

Job placement for the CST program at Ivy Tech Fort Wayne is as follows:
2021 - 100%
2022 - 100%
2023 - 90%
2024 - 93.3%

Inquiries may be made at:
ARC/STSA Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting
19751 E. Mainstreet, Suite 339
Parker, CO 80138
Phone: (303) 694-9261
Fax: (303) 741-3655
http://www.arcstsa.org

Certification of the Surgical Technology students are granted upon successful completion of the Certification Exam by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting.

NBSTSA
6 West Dry Creek Circle; Suite 100
Littleton, CO 80210
Phone: (800) 707-0057

http://www.nbstsa.org/
Commission on the Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
9355 – 113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
(727) 210-2350
www.caahep.org

Questions About the Program?

Future Students

If you’re not yet an Ivy Tech student, contact us at 1-888-489-5463 and we’ll be happy to help.

Current Students

Contact your academic advisor, who can answer any questions you have about the Surgical Technology program and your certificate and degree options.

Find Local Advising Contact Info

Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET
Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET

260-480-4125

Fort Wayne Advising
3701 Dean Drive, Harshman Hall, Room 1015
Fort Wayne, IN 46835

Academic Advisors by Program

Fax: 260-480-4252

24 hours a day, 7 days a week (se habla español)

Live Chat

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  • 1 Source: US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage estimates: Indiana.(2023). Lightcast™, lightcast.io. Occupational Overview for Indiana, 2023-2024
  • 2 Associate degree cost is determined by tuition for an in-state, full-time student. Certificate and technical certificate costs are determined by tuition for an in-state, part-time student. Additional fees may be applied. Visit the Tuition & Fees page to learn more.