Surgical Technologist Program

The Surgical Technologist certificate program is programmatically accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). This program will prepare students to become skilled operating room technicians. Surgical technologists are key members of the surgical team who work closely with surgeons, anesthesiologists, registered nurses, and other surgical personnel delivering patient care and assuming other appropriate responsibilities before, during, and after surgical procedures.

Some of the primary responsibilities of surgical techs include prepping the operating room for surgery, maintaining a sterile environment, and distributing surgical instruments. They also play an important role in both preoperative and postoperative care.

Clinical Internship

The Surgical Technologist program requires students to complete a mandatory 500-hour clinical internship. Students will be placed at a clinical site by the AIMS Internship Department. The internship is designed to provide practical training in a real work environment; students will have a mentor who trains and guides them. Students are not permitted to begin the internship until all required classroom and lab hours are completed.

AIMS Education has clinical affiliations with numerous healthcare facilities throughout New Jersey and the surrounding areas. Students will be placed at one or more of these affiliated sites and must complete their clinical hours based on the schedule provided by the school. Internship schedules are based on the availability of clinical sites. All students (Day and Evening) must be prepared to complete their internship during normal business hours (Monday through Friday). The majority of clinical sites do not allow students to complete clinical hours in the evening or on the weekend.

Employment Opportunities

Surgical technologists are employed in hospital operating rooms, emergency departments, ambulatory care centers, and central sterile processing departments. Some surgical techs are employed directly by surgeons in the “private scrub” role, while others work as operating room technicians. Their broad educational background plus specialized focus allows them to function well in a variety of different roles.

Employment possibilities include surgery schedulers, material managers, and central service managers. Other fields that offer employment opportunities for surgical technologists include organ/tissue procurement and preservation, cardiac catheterization laboratories, product development, research, and sales.

Certification / Registry Exam Eligibility

Surgical technologist graduates will be eligible to take the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) exam offered by The National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) and the Tech in Surgery - Certified examination offered by the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT). Graduates who pass the NBSTSA exam will earn the CST credential and those who pass the NCCT exam will earn the TS-C credential.

Eligibility requirements for the CST and TS-C credentials are solely determined by NBSTSA and NCCT, and are subject to change at any time. NBSTSA and NCCT are independent organizations. AIMS does not guarantee certification/registry exam eligibility.

Program Length

• 1225 clock hours
• Classroom instruction and lab - 725 hours
• Clinical internship - 500 hours
• The day and evening programs can be completed in approximately 17 months.

Comprehensive Education and Training

• Medical Terminology
• Anatomy & Physiology
• Surgical Instruments
• Surgical Procedures
• Sterilization
• Infection Control
• Aseptic Technique

Minimum Admission Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Passing score on the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam

Selective Enrollment

The Surgical Technologist program has a selective application process. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee you will be accepted into the program. From the pool of applicants, those who are considered most qualified for the study and practice of surgical technology will be admitted.

Additional Program Requirements

All surgical technologist students are required to earn a cumulative GPA of 3.0 before starting Surgical Technology II.