Surgical Technology Program

Surgical Technology | Los Angeles, OC & Ontario, CA

Train for a role on the team that can save lives. This program helps you build both the skills and the confidence graduates rely on to achieve school certifications and build careers in this exciting field.

Looking for the right surgical technology school near you? ACC’s surgical technology program emphasizes hands-on learning and real-life experience. Gain the skills you need to prepare operating rooms, work directly with patients, and assist doctors during procedures.

Find a surgical technology program near you. Our program is available at our three Southern California campuses: Los Angeles, Ontario, and Anaheim.

At American Career College, our Associate of Occupational Science degree in Surgical Technology is designed to prepare you to sit for the Certified Surgical Technologist examination administered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting.

Our Surgical Technology program can be completed in as little as 20 months.

This program is taught in a blended format combining online classes and in-person instruction.

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"I had always been interested in medicine, but I didn't want to deal with the drama of applying to even a community college. Now, I'm a trained Surgical Technician!"

- Jessica S. '10 Surgical Technology Graduate

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Overview
Careers After I Graduate
What Will I Learn?
What Will I Be Trained To Do?
FAQs

Surgical Technology Program Overview

The American Career College Surgical Technology program is designed to equip you with the skills you'll need to begin a rewarding career. The class curriculum focuses on the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective learning domains necessary to prepare operating rooms, arrange equipment, and help doctors and nurses during surgical procedures.

Surgical Technologists are responsible for many important tasks assisting in the care of surgical patients, including these duties:

Working with surgeons, nurses, and other operating room personnel
Understanding fundamentals steps and routine procedures in order to assist the surgeon
Helping to ensure surgical procedures are performed efficiently and effectively
Equipping the operating rooms for surgery
Maintaining equipment, rooms, and supplies
Preparing patients for surgery

After successfully completing the school's Surgical Technology program, you will be eligible to take the certification exam administered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting.

Tuition

Our admissions advisors and financial aid advisors are here to support you. They can help you figure out the surgical technology school cost and help you explore financial aid options.

To learn more about ACC’s Surgical Technology program cost, access our tuition info.

Financial aid and scholarships are available for those who qualify.

The focus is on your success!

The goal of our school's program is to help you graduate with the confidence and qualifications to begin your career as a certified surgical technologist.*
*ACC cannot guarantee employment.

Find a surgical technology school near you! Our accredited Surgical Technology training program is available at our three Southern California campuses:

Careers After I Graduate

Surgical Technologists generally work in a hospital setting, assisting surgeons, registered nurses, and anesthesiologists during surgical operations. In your Surgical Technology program at American Career College, you will participate in actual surgical procedures and direct patient care in the STSR role in a variety of areas, including preoperative, intra-operative, and postoperative patient care.

Upon successful completion of the school's program, you can expect to qualify for entry-level positions and be ready to interview for employment in*:

Hospitals
Outpatient Surgery Centers
Operating Rooms
Delivery Rooms
Physicians' Offices
Dentists' Office
Outpatient Care Facilities

A few interesting statistics* about Surgical Technology careers:

Surgical technologists typically need a postsecondary certificate or associate's degree. Certification also can help a surgical technologist find a position.
Surgical technologists occasionally advance to other health care occupations, such as physician assistants or registered nurses.

Many area employers are very familiar with the quality of ACC's healthcare training programs and our school's track record for preparing confident, qualified professionals for rewarding careers. Our graduates have been hired by:

*California Employment Development Department OCC Guide Surgical Technologists in California

What Will I Learn?

This class curriculum is divided into eight 10-week quarters, each of which includes prescribed subjects or studies that build upon each other. Clinical experience in hospital settings is also required for successful completion of the school's program, and these clinical rotations, which begin in quarter seven, comprise 600 hours.

In addition to general education courses, core courses in American Career College's Surgical Technology program include:

Anatomy and Physiology I – This course provides an overview of the associate major terms and physiologic functions used in anatomy with clinical situations. You will learn about the human body and how it functions.
Introduction to Surgical Technology – In this course, you will learn about surgical technology as a profession, and the structure of health care facilities and hospital organization. You will also be introduced to the scope of practice as a member of the surgical team and become familiarized with medical terminology.
Surgical Techniques I Lab – In the laboratory component of this course, you will be introduced to basic surgical techniques such as aseptic technique, scrubbing, gowning and gloving, establishing a sterile field and organizing the sterile field. You will also learn how to perform the surgical counts as well as assisting with draping the surgical patient.
Operating Room Fundamentals – This course will introduce you to the operating room environment as well as basic surgical instrumentation, equipment, and supplies. Common hazards and safety precautions will be discussed, and you will also learn about technological advances of the modern operating room.
Surgical Procedures I – In this course, you will study advanced techniques in surgical patient care, which will be reinforced through hands-on practicum. You will learn the different roles of the surgical technologist (Scrub Role - STSR, Assistant Circulator - STAC and Second Assistant – STSA roles) during routine mock surgical procedures in the laboratory setting.
Clinical Practicum I – This course provides you with the opportunity to participate in actual surgical procedures. You will direct patient care in the STSR role in the following areas: preoperative, intra-operative care, and postoperative patient care. You will also participate in assisting with instrument processing as well as pulling supplies and instrumentation from the sterile supply areas.

Other core courses in this program include:

Anatomy and Physiology II
Career Advantage
Medical Law and Ethics
Surgical Techniques I
Surgical Techniques II
Surgical Techniques II - Lab
General Microbiology
Patient Care/Case Management
Pharmacology 40

Pathophysiology I
Pathophysiology II
Clinical Orientation
Clinical Orientation - Lab
Surgical Procedures II
Clinical Practicum II
National Certification Review

What Will I Do as a Surgical Technologist?

Once you have completed your American Career College training and earned your associate degree, you'll be ready to pursue exciting career opportunities.

As an entry-level Surgical Technologist, day-to-day responsibilities* may include:

Preparing operating rooms for surgery
Working with surgeons, nurses, and other operating room personnel
Sterilizing equipment and make sure that there are adequate supplies for surgery
Preparing patients for surgery by washing and disinfecting incision sites
Helping surgeons and nurses during surgery by passing them instruments and other sterile supplies
Helping transfer patients to recovery rooms
Positioning patients on the operating table and covering them with sterile drapes
Passing instruments and supplies to surgeons and first assistants.

You'll be on your way!

A commitment to your career can result in the ongoing development of your skills and increased opportunities for advancement. Even after you start your career, American Career College's Career Services team will remain committed to providing you with the resources, support and personalized assistance you need to keep your career on the track.

*California Employment Development

FAQs

Surgical Technology Program Overview

Surgical Technologists are responsible for many important tasks assisting in the care of surgical patients, including these duties:

Working with surgeons, nurses, and other operating room personnel
Understanding fundamentals steps and routine procedures in order to assist the surgeon
Helping to ensure surgical procedures are performed efficiently and effectively
Equipping the operating rooms for surgery
Maintaining equipment, rooms, and supplies
Preparing patients for surgery

What does a surgical technologist do?

Surgical technologists assist surgeons, nurses and anesthesiologists during surgical operations. Students in ACC’s Surgical Technology program will be trained to do the following:

Prepare the operating room by checking supplies and equipment
Set up a sterile table and electrosurgical unit stand
Pass instruments and other sterile supplies to the surgeon during surgery
Hold retractors and cut sutures¹

¹California Employment Development Department Detailed Guide, Surgical Technologists in California

Am I a good fit for the Surgical Technology program?

If you love being right in the action and don’t mind the sight of surgical procedures, our Surgical Technology program might be right for you.

Here are some of the top skills and attributes that make for a great surgical technologist:

Active listening – Surgical technologists need to be able to listen and understand what is being asked of them before, during and after surgery.

Operations monitoring – Surgical technologists should be able to watch any relevant machine, including gauges, dials or indicators.

Critical thinking – Surgical technologists perform essential actions in operating rooms. Critical thinking skills can help them make logic-based decisions and find viable solutions to problems.

Equipment maintenance – Maintaining a safe and sterile environment is essential in operations.

Service orientation – A great surgical technologist is one with a passion for helping patients and for providing the best care possible.

Where do surgical technologists work?

Surgical technologists can work in a variety of settings, including:

General medical and surgical hospitals
Outpatient care centers
Physicians’ offices
Dentists’ offices¹

¹California Employment Development Department Detailed Guide, Surgical Technologists in California

What will I learn in the Surgical Technology program?

This class curriculum is divided into eight 10-week quarters, each of which includes prescribed subjects or studies that build upon each other. Clinical experience in hospital settings is also required for successful completion of the school's program, and these clinical rotations, which begin in quarter seven, comprise 540 hours.

In addition to general education courses, core courses in American Career College's Surgical Technology program include:

Anatomy and Physiology I – This course provides an overview of the associate major terms and physiologic functions used in anatomy with clinical situations. You will learn about the human body and how it functions.

Introduction to Surgical Technology – In this course, you will learn about surgical technology as a profession, and the structure of healthcare facilities and hospital organization. You will also be introduced to the scope of practice as a member of the surgical team and become familiarized with medical terminology.

Surgical Techniques I Lab – In the laboratory component of this course, you will be introduced to basic surgical techniques such as aseptic technique, scrubbing, gowning and gloving, establishing a sterile field and organizing the sterile field. You will also learn how to perform the surgical counts as well as assisting with draping the surgical patient.

Operating Room Fundamentals – This course will introduce you to the operating room environment as well as basic surgical instrumentation, equipment and supplies. Common hazards and safety precautions will be discussed, and you will also learn about technological advances of the modern operating room.

Surgical Procedures I – In this course, you will study advanced techniques in surgical patient care, which will be reinforced through hands-on practicum. You will learn the different roles of the surgical technologist (Scrub Role - STSR, Assistant Circulator - STAC, and Second Assistant – STSA roles) during routine mock surgical procedures in a laboratory setting.

Clinical Practicum I – This course provides you with the opportunity to participate in actual surgical procedures. You will direct patient care in the STSR role in the following areas: preoperative, intra-operative care, and postoperative patient care. You will also participate in assisting with instrument processing as well as pulling supplies and instrumentation from the sterile supply areas.

For a complete description of coursework in these modules, please refer to the ACC Catalog.

How long will it take to earn my surgical tech degree?

Students can earn their associate degree to become a surgical technologist in as little as 20 months.

How much does the Surgical Technology program cost?

Our admissions advisors and financial aid advisors are here to support you. They can help you figure out the surgical technology school cost and help you explore financial aid options.

To learn more about ACC’s Surgical Technology program cost, access our tuition info.

Is financial aid available for surgical technology?

Yes, financial aid and scholarships are available for those who qualify.

Will I get real-world surgical tech training?

Yes! ACC's Surgical Technology program includes over 500 hours of clinicals which gives students the opportunity to demonstrate and reinforce the knowledge and skills they acquired learning hands-on throughout the training program.

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