Surgical Technology Admissions

Surgical Technology Minimum Requirements

• Candidate has completed  ENG 111  and  MED 120  with a grade of “C” or higher (may be enrolled in 2022 summer semester).
• Candidate is eligible to take  MAT 143  with or without a co-requisite. 
• Candidate has a 2.5 GPA or higher from all surgical technology general education courses. GPA calculation includes any of the following completed courses:  BIO 163,  BIO 175,  MED 120,  PSY 150,  ENG 111,  ENG 114,  BUS 137,  CIS 110, mathematics elective, and humanities/fine arts elective.
• Candidate is in Satisfactory Academic Standing with Rockingham Community College (RCC cumulative GPA is 2.0 or higher). 
• Essay: One page, double-spaced typed statement responding to the following questions: What makes you a strong candidate for the RCC Surgical Technology program? What is the biggest challenge you will face in the program?

Important Information

It is your responsibility to read this page and the information it contains in its entirety. You must meet all requirements to be considered for acceptance; however, completion of these tasks does not guarantee acceptance to the Fall 2022 entering class.

1. Read the Admissions Information completely and complete the Minimum Admissions Requirements.
2. Attend a Surgical Technology Information Session (optional, but strongly encouraged).
3. Complete the  Surgical Technology Candidate Review Form  online and upload required documentation.
4. Schedule your Candidate Review Appointment (link provided upon submission of the Candidate Review Form).
5. Complete your Candidate Review Appointment to review and finalize your application. Meetings will take place on Zoom. The deadline to complete the application process is Friday, April 29, 2022 at 3pm.
6. Schedule an appointment with the Surgical Technology Program Director, Crystal Talley (talleyc@rockinghamcc.edu). The deadline to meet with Crystal Talley is Friday, April 29, 2022 at 5pm.

Bridging Students (Diploma to AAS)

Certified Surgical Technologists (CSTs) who have previously earned a diploma in Surgical Technology are encouraged to apply for the Surgical Technology Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree program.

Bridging students will follow the same application process listed above.  You will indicate on the  Candidate Review Form   that you are bridging to the Associate in Applied Science degree program.

Candidate Review and Selection

Review procedures use a selection system based on the awarding of points for several category areas. Applicants with the highest number of points who also meet all admissions criteria are reviewed first.

Students admitted to the Surgical Technology program will attend a mandatory Surgical Technology orientation during the summer 2022 semester.

Information Session Details

Information sessions are optional, but highly encouraged. Sessions begin at the time listed below and will last approximately one hour. Please log into the Zoom session at least 10 minutes before the start time.

The Zoom link will be sent in an email confirmation upon registration for a session.

2021-2022 Surgical Technology Info Session Dates

SESSION DATE	TIME	LOCATION	REGISTRATION LINK
Tuesday, October 12, 2021	1pm	Zoom	Click here to register
Tuesday, November 16, 2021	4pm	Zoom	Click here to register
Thursday, December 16, 2021	12pm	Zoom	Click here to register
Tuesday, January 25, 2021	6pm	Zoom	Click here to register
Thursday, March 24, 2022	12pm	Zoom	Click here to register

Surgical Technology candidate GPA is calculated using completed general education courses including:

BIO 163,  BIO 175,  BUS 137,  CIS 110,  ENG 111,  ENG 114,  PSY 150,  MED 120, a humanities elective, and a math elective.

Use the following link to calculate your application GPA:

RCC Surgical Technology GPA Calculator

Please review the  Credit Programs Catalog  and the  2021-2022 Surgical Technology Student Handbook  for more information on policies and procedures for this program and for Rockingham Community College.

The  Surgical Technology Curriculum outline  may be found in the RCC Catalog. (Outline is subject to change.)

Please review the  Surgical Technology Performance Standards. Submitting a Surgical Technology Candidate Review form indicates your understanding of these standards.

• 2021 CST Exam Pass Rate: 64%
• 2020 CST Exam Pass Rate: 58%
• 2019 CST Exam Pass Rate: 50%

Program Accreditation

The Surgical Technology Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) 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 
25400 US Highway 19 North, Suite 158, Clearwater, FL 33763 
www.caahep.org
717-210-2350 

Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting 
6 W. Dry Creek Circle, Suite 210
Littleton, CO 80120 
www.arcstsa.org
303-694-9262 

The Surgical Technology Program provides learning opportunities for students in an array of clinical learning environments. To comply with program policies, state and local regulations for healthcare providers, and in the interest of your own personal safety, the safety of your patients, and the potential liability to both the college and clinical agency, there are significant compliance requirements that must be met in order to enter the clinical area.  

Applicants are expected to review the  Compliance Policy for Clinical Placement  prior to application to the program.