Surgical Technologist Certificate

The Surgical Technologist Certificate (C1_SGT1) is offered at LSC-Tomball and has additional entrance requirements. For more information, please contact the Surgical Technology Department.

Visit the Health Science cluster page for similar careers.

Important Notice

The surgical technology program at Lone Star College-Tomball is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, or CAAHEP, located at 1361 Park St., Clearwater FL 33756, Phone: 727-210-2359, or by visiting their website at http://www.caahep.org/.  Accreditation is achieved upon the recommendations by the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting, or ARC-STSA, located at 6 West Dry Creek Circle, Suite 110, Littleton CO, 80120, Phone: 303-694-9262. You may also visit them on the web at http://www.arcstsa.org/.

Program Description

A surgical technologist is an allied health professional who works as part of the surgical team to ensure that the operative procedure is conducted under optimal conditions. The surgical technologist normally functions in a sterile capacity during the surgical procedure, but also performs many nonsterile duties throughout the course of the workday. The program in surgical technology includes both theory and practical clinical experience designed to prepare the student to pass the national certification examination for surgical technologists.

Surgical technologists will be responsible for preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative duties that may include preparing the operating room, create and maintain the sterile field, count the necessary instruments, expose the operative site with sterile drapes, specimen care, pass instrumentation and supplies to the surgeon, dressing application, removal of used instruments from the O.R., and preparation of the O.R. for the next patient.

Most surgical technologists are employed in hospital surgery departments, obstetric departments, and ambulatory care centers. Because of the broad educational background, however, combined with a specialized focus, other options may be open to the experienced surgical technologist. These include specialization in an area of interest such as cardiac, orthopedic, pediatric, plastic, or general surgery, advancement to the role of the surgical assistant, employment by a medical corporation to represent their products, military service, technical writing, illustration, and photography.

The surgical technology program at LSC-Tomball is a three semester, 42 credit hour (1344 contact hour) program that normally runs over a spring, summer, and fall semester. There are 11 workforce courses and one academic credit course (BIOL 2404).

Admission Criteria

In addition to the system admission requirements, the following are required for the surgical technology program:

1. Graduation from high school verified by an official transcript or GED certificate. If the high school transcript is from a country other than the USA, it must be evaluated by an approved transcript evaluation company.
2. Submission of passing THEA exam scores in reading, writing and math, or complete LSCS Student Success Initiative (SSI) requirements. To determine your SSI status, see a college advisor.
3. Maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 in college level courses.
4. Applicants must return a completed application packet to LSC-Tomball. The complete packet includes the following items:
   • Completed Application must be signed by a LSC-Tomball Advisor
   • Immunizations must be complete
   • Background Check results turned in with application
   • Official transcripts from colleges other than LSC

Program Plan

First Year Credits