Mar 29, 2024  
2019-2020 General Catalog 
    
2019-2020 General Catalog ARCHIVED CATALOG: To search archives, MUST use search box to left. Current catalog: catalog.usu.edu.

Surgical Technician - AAS


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College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences

School of Applied Sciences, Technology and Education

Department of Health Professions

The Surgical Technician Program is an Associate of Applied Science degree program that can be completed in four semesters in addition to one semester of prerequisites and an externship of a minimum of 120 surgical cases following didactic training.  The program prepares and trains individuals for a career in surgical technology.  Surgical Technicians  assist in operations under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses and other surgical personnel. Upon the successful completion of coursework, students receive an Associate of Applied Sciences degree in Surgical Technology from Utah State University. At that time students are eligible to submit an application and if accepted, sit for the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) certification examination. Graduates of accredited surgical technician programs are eligible to sit for the NBSTSA certification exam to become certified surgical technologists (CST).

A GPA of 3.0 is required for admission into the Surgical Technician (ST) Program.  Throughout the Surgical Technician Program, the student must complete coursework at a B grade or higher to meet USU Surgical Technician Program standard guidelines.

Michele Lyman, M.S., PA-C – Director of Health Professions Programs 

Utah State University  Blanding, Moab, and Price campuses

michele.lyman@usu.edu, (435) 678-8131 (Blanding)
td.olsen@usu.edu, (435) 678-8173  Staff Assistant  (Blanding)
tammy.bonds@usu.edu, (435) 678-8133 Instructor (Blanding)

Registration Requirements

  • Students interested in the Surgical Technician Program should visit with an advisor prior to registration.
  • Background checks, and drug screen results are now processed online through the CastleBranch Compliance Tracking System. Students are required to pay a fee for this service. Vaccination records and the CPR requirement must be attached to the application. Students attending the Blanding Campus will complete drug screen on campus. Fee will be paid to the cashier. All information must be on file at the campus the student is attending. Students are advised to keep a copy of all records.                      

Immunizations and Background Check Requirements     

Required Immunizations: All immunizations below are required. Administrative and Clinical Experience will not accept students that have not met immunization requirements.

  • Twinrix (Hepatitis A and B series): The first injection of this series needs to be completed prior to semester one or in the initial weeks of the semester. The second injection is given one month after the first injection.  The third injection is completed six months after the first injection of the series.
  • MMR: Documentation of two MMR immunizations or a titer indicating immunity must be completed prior to the end of the first semester. If a student does not have childhood immunization records it is recommended that he or she begin these immunizations or obtain a titer before beginning the program. All students born after 1964 who have received their MMR immunization will require a booster.
  • TB: Documentation of a recent two-step TB test is required during the initial weeks of semester one.  Students can have this test up to 3 months before starting the program.  TB tests are good for one year.  If a student’s test expires prior to completion of the program, he or she will need to repeat it.
  • Varicella: Students must have two chicken pox vaccinations or a titer indicating immunity.
  • Tdap: Students must have at least one pertussis immunization as an adult, within the past two years.
  • Meningococcal: Students must have one dose.
  • Influenza: Students may be required to have this immunization seasonally as required by the facility.

Background Check/Drug Screen: Students are required to order and pay for a background check and drug screen through CastleBranch prior to being accepted into the Surgical Technician program. Blanding students will complete background check through CastleBranch and the drug screen will be completed on campus with instructor coordination.

CPR Requirement: Students must take a Healthcare Provider CPR course and receive CPR and first aid cards to meet the CPR requirement.  Periodically, CPR courses are offered on campus. Please make arrangements to attend (including notifying other instructors).  This must be completed by the middle of the first semester. CPR certification is usually valid for 2 years.

Students will be required to turn in a packet to the Health Professions Programs staff assistant with all of the required records including a copy of high school/GED documentation, any college transcripts, and the program application. On the first day of class, the Surgical Technician Student Contractual Agreement should be completed and turned into the instructor. Students should keep a copy of all records for their own files.

Surgical Externship Orientation: Prior to initiating any surgical externship, students are required to complete an orientation with the sites that they will be attending for their surgical experience.  At times this may require students who are completing externships at more than one surgical facility to attend orientations for each worksite.

Clinical Experience:  Surgical Technician students who demonstrate proficiency in all areas of course work and lab settings will be placed in surgical externship rotations.  Surgical Externships rotations are a critical portion of the students’ learning experience.  Therefore, students will be expected to attend all assigned surgical externship rotations without exception. 

National Certification and Examination

After the successful completion of the required coursework and externships, students are eligible to apply for and to sit for the National Certification Exam.  Successful candidates may schedule an examination appointment on line at any time by using AMP’s online scheduling service at www.goAMP.com or by calling AMP at 888-519-9901.

Required Prerequisite Courses


The following courses are required prior to admission to the Surgical Technician (ST) Program:

Required Program Courses


The following courses are required for the Associate of Applied Sciences degree in Surgical Technology:

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