Program Details
Program Details
Back to top
Associate of Applied Science
Northern Virginia Community College
Program Details
Surgical Technology, A.A.S.
Associate of Applied ScienceSurgical Technology, A.A.S.
Northern Virginia Community College
Purpose
To prepare competent entry-level surgical technologists in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains. The program combines the use of surgical instruments, skills, and techniques with the theoretical knowledge required to perform as a Surgical Technologist in the operating room.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the Surgical Technology program is competitive. Applicants must do the following:
- Comply with all general admission requirements for Health Sciences Programs.
- Review an online Surgical Technology information session.
- Complete BIO 141 Human Anatomy And Physiology I with a ÒCÓ or higher and completed within 10 years of application.
- Complete SUR 100 Introduction to Surgical Technology with a grade of ÒCÓ or higher.
- Complete ENG 111 College Composition I with a grade of ÒCÓ or higher.
- Complete SDV 101 Orientation to: Healthcare with a ÒCÓ or higher.
- Complete HLT 141 Introduction to Medical Terminology with a ÒCÓ or higher.
- Complete or self-place into MTH 154 Quantitative Reasoning or higher: https://www.nvcc.edu/academics/placement/index.html. (MTH 155 may be substituted for MTH 154. Please contact a faculty or academic advisor to request a course substitution.).
- Have a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA.
Completion Requirements: All SUR program courses must be completed with a grade of a ÒCÓ or better before taking the next semester course sequence and to satisfy graduation requirements. A program placed student not achieving a ÒCÓ or higher will be automatically academically dismissed from the SUR program. Prerequisite and General Education courses require a "C" or higher grade and may be completed prior to admission to the SUR program.
Transfer Information
Transfer is not the primary purpose of an A.A.S. program, but NOVA has articulation agreements that facilitate the transfer of this and other career-oriented programs to selected senior institutions. Students interested in transfer should contact a counselor or their academic advisor early in their program.
Outcomes
Admission Requirements
Admission to the Surgical Technology program is competitive. Applicants must do the following:
- Comply with all general admission requirements for Health Sciences Programs.
- Review an online Surgical Technology information session.
- Complete BIO 141 Human Anatomy And Physiology I with a ÒCÓ or higher and completed within 10 years of application.
- Complete SUR 100 Introduction to Surgical Technology with a grade of ÒCÓ or higher.
- Complete ENG 111 College Composition I with a grade of ÒCÓ or higher.
- Complete SDV 101 Orientation to: Healthcare with a ÒCÓ or higher.
- Complete HLT 141 Introduction to Medical Terminology with a ÒCÓ or higher.
- Complete or self-place into MTH 154 Quantitative Reasoning or higher: https://www.nvcc.edu/academics/placement/index.html. (MTH 155 may be substituted for MTH 154. Please contact a faculty or academic advisor to request a course substitution.).
- Have a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA.
Completion Requirements: All SUR program courses must be completed with a grade of a ÒCÓ or better before taking the next semester course sequence and to satisfy graduation requirements. A program placed student not achieving a ÒCÓ or higher will be automatically academically dismissed from the SUR program. Prerequisite and General Education courses require a "C" or higher grade and may be completed prior to admission to the SUR program.
Program Overview & Guidance
Delivery Mode
In-Person
Check Course Schedules
Delivery Mode
Online
Check Course Schedules
Delivery Mode
Hybrid
Check Course Schedules
| Program Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Considerations for Selecting Degree | |
| Considerations When Selecting Courses |
|
| Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses | |
| Doing More With Your Degree | |
| Program Successes & Highlights |
Program Credit Requirements
What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?
| Transfer Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Associate Transfer Degree Completion | Students who have graduated with at least an associate or bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited United States institution of higher education are considered to have fulfilled NOVA's SDV requirement. Any other course transfers are evaluated based on the student's transcript, https://www.nvcc.edu/cro/transfercredit/index.html |
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School | Students who have graduated with at least an associate or bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited United States institution of higher education are considered to have fulfilled NOVA's SDV requirement. Any other course transfers are evaluated based on the student's transcript. |
| Credit for Prior Learning | NOVA strives to provide students with opportunities to receive credit for prior learning while still maintaining the integrity of our academic programs. Credit for prior learning (CPL) generally refers to the process of granting college credit for learning gained in nontraditional. ways; https://www.nvcc.edu/prior-learning/ |
| Did You Know That... |
|
College Level Information
Number of Transfer Students
43891
| College Fit Guidance | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Is This College Right For Me? | Our classes feature up-to-date technology and course content to prepare you for a competitive job market; We also offer courses that will transfer to colleges all over Virginia and the nation. In fact, NOVA has guaranteed admission agreements with more than 40 colleges and universities for students who meet specific requirements. |
| Transfer Student Catalog Year | Catalog year is determined by first semester of program placement. |
| First Year Student Catalog Year | Catalog year is determined by first semester of program placement. |
| Applying for Guaranteed Admissions | https://www.nvcc.edu/gaa/ |
Where Can This Degree Transfer
This section displays degrees most closely related to this program
and to which you may be able to transfer. So, you can use this list to find the
next degree you can complete in your major. Please click the degree name to
visit that program page.
| Institution | Title | Degree | Award Name | Award Level | Delivery Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J Sargeant Reynolds Community College | Associate of Applied Science in Surgical Technology | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person |
| Laurel Ridge Community College | Associate of Applied Science in Surgical Technology | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Online, Hybrid |
| Virginia Western Community College | Associate of Applied Science in Surgical Technology Degree | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
Careers Where This Degree Applies
| O*Net Code | Name | Description | Parent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-1071.00 | Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | Teach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
| 29-9093.00 | Surgical Assistants | Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons. May, in accordance with state laws, help surgeons to make incisions and close surgical sites, manipulate or remove tissues, implant surgical devices or drains, suction the surgical site, place catheters, clamp or cauterize vessels or tissue, and apply dressings to surgical site. | Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations |
| 29-2055.00 | Surgical Technologists | Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. May help set up operating room, prepare and transport patients for surgery, adjust lights and equipment, pass instruments and other supplies to surgeons and surgeons' assistants, hold retractors, cut sutures, and help count sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments. | Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations |
Cost To Complete