Surgical Technology

The Surgical Technology program provides quality surgical technology education to the geographically large and rural service area of East Tennessee. The program prepares individuals to apply to take the Certified Surgical Technologist Exam.

This program is designed for the student who does not intend to transfer to a baccalaureate degree program.  

Degree: Associate of Applied Science

Emphasis: Surgical Technology

General Admission Requirements

Any student desiring to pursue an Associate Degree in Surgical  Technology must:

Admission

1. Apply, meet admission requirements, and be accepted by Walters State Community College.
2. Indicate Pre-Surgical Technology as the desired major on the WSCC application form.
3. Follow college policy for advising prior to registration.
4. Successfully complete all required Learning Support courses.
5. Successfully complete BIOL 2010/2011, BIOL 2020/2021 no later than the end of the spring semester the year the student elects to participate in the selection process for fall semester. A grade of “C” or better must be achieved in each of the required science courses, with an overall GPA of at least 2.0. Biological science courses previously taken must have been completed within the last 10 years.
6. The college requires all degree-seeking students to demonstrate computer course (INFS 1010). Students are required to meet computer competency during the first 30 hours of coursework.

Progression/Retention

To remain in good standing once admitted to the clinical surgical technology program, the student must:

1. Adhere to all WSCC, surgical technology department, and clinical agencies policies.
2. Earn a “C” or better in each required surgical technology and biology courses and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0
3. Satisfactorily complete the theory, clinical and/or skills requirements of each surgical technology course. A grade of “D” or “F” n theory will result in a grade of “F” for clinical. An unsatisfactory in clinical will result in a grade of “F” for the entire course.
4. Exhibit safe clinical behavior.
5. Demonstrate professional, ethical and legal conduct.
6. Maintain professional liability insurance.
7. Maintain current professional CPR course completion care (healthcare provider).
8. Submit to a drug test if requested by the dean of Health Programs or the director of the Surgical Technology program at any time during enrollment in the program. A positive drug test is grounds for immediate dismissal.
9. Have a comprehensive health exam and submit the required form to the director by the designated date.
10. Some clinical affiliates require drug screening. Refusal to submit to a drug screen and/or a positive test is grounds for immediate dismissal.

Readmission Policies

A student who has received a “D” or “F” in a clinical surgical technology course or who has withdrawn from the clinical program may apply for readmission.

The readmission policies are:

1. A student must schedule an appointment with their faculty advisor or with the director of Surgical Technology and complete exit interview process. Failure to complete the exit interview process may render the student ineligible to pursue readmission.
2. A student must request in writing to the director of Surgical Technology to be considered by the Admission and Progression Committee according to the following schedule: (a) apply by January 31 for readmission into fall semester. Students will be notified by letter of the date and time they are to meet with the Admission and Progression Committee. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure the Surgical Technology program has the correct mailing address.
3. A student is eligible to appear before the Admissions and Progression Committee two times. If readmission is not granted after the second application, the student becomes ineligible for readmission.
4. The committee may allow a student to be readmitted without an interview under the following circumstances: obvious physical illness/disability necessitating the student’s withdrawal or student physical or psychological problems with physician documentation.
5. Only one readmission to the clinical surgical technology program is permitted.
6. If a students elects to apply for readmission, auditing a designated surgical technology course may be required to increase the probability of success.
7. A student with previous unsatisfactory clinical performance must be evaluated and recommended for readmission by the program director and faculty.
8. A student who has received two grades of “D” or below in clinical surgical technology courses will not be  eligible for readmission.
9. A student must have a cumulative 2.0 GPA or higher to be considered for readmission.
10. A student repeating a clinical surgical technology course must repeat both the theory and clinical components of the course.
11. A student may be readmitted only if space is available.
12. Any exceptions to the above policies must be approved by the Admission and Progression Committee.

Health and Physical Considerations for Surgical Technology Students

Because the college seeks to provide in as much as possible a reasonably safe environment for its health care students and their patients, a student may be required, during the course of their program, to demonstrate their physical and/or emotional fitness to meet the essential requirements of the program. Such essential requirements may include freedom from communicable diseases, the ability to perform certain physical tasks, and suitable emotional fitness. Any appraisal measures used to determine such physical and./or emotional fitness will be in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, so as not to discriminate against any individual on the basis of disability.

Legal Limitation for Certification

Graduates of the program will be eligible to apply to take the certification exam to become a surgical technologist. However, individuals who have been convicted of a crime other than a minor traffic violation could be ineligible for certification, even though they have successfully completed the surgical technology program.

Selection to the Surgical Technology Program

1. Selection of each class will be made by the Admission and Progression Committee whose membership consists of:
   
   1. Dean of Health Programs
   2. Director of the Surgical Technology Program
   3. Vice President for Academic Affairs (ex-officio)

The Admissions and Progression Committee will rank each student on the basis of predetermined criteria. The criteria include but are not limited to: (a) first grades received in the required biology courses; (b) number of successfully completed courses beyond those required for admission to the surgical technology program, and (c) overall grade point average in required college courses excluding developmental course grades. Additional ranking points can be obtained for either 1) ACT/ACT Residual composite score of greater than 19 or 2) A defined score on an assessment exam. (Specific exam information is available on the web page, in the health programs office, or on the surgical technology application.) All test scores must be less than three years old.* The committee may also require a personal interview and conduct reference checks. The top ranked applicants will be selected for each class. Decisions made by the committee are final.

2. Transfer Students - Individuals who have attended other colleges and desire to transfer into the WSCC program will be considered on an individual basis. Transfer requests should be submitted to the director of the Surgical Technology Program. Transfer students must meet the same standards and criteria as others desiring to pursue an associate degree in Surgical Technology. A student may be required to audit a Surgical Technology course.
3. Transfer and Returning Students - Credit for Surgical Technology courses must have been earned within the past five years to be considered. Credit for biology courses must have been earned within the past 10 years to be considered.
4. WSCC and transfer students selected for admission will be notified in writing.
5. Students notified of admission into the surgical technology program must return the following by the date specified on the form: (a) a signed and dated acknowledgment of the Drug/Alcohol Abuse Policy and consent forms, and (b) a comprehensive health exam with complete hepatitis series. Students who do not respond or who do not plan to attend will have their positions filled by other applicants selected by the director of surgical technology from the list recommended by the Admissions and Progression Committee.
6. Students not selected for admission may reapply for admission.
7. Contact the director of the Surgical Technology Program.

*ACT RESIDUAL and assessment exams can be scheduled through the Counseling and Testing office at Walters State.