Surgical Technology

In addition to classroom instruction, students will complete a clinical practicum, of 760 hours shadowing a surgical tech professional in the final two semesters of the program. Students may need to travel to Flagstaff or Winslow.

Currently, this program is only being offered at the Show Low Campus.

• Many of the prerequisite courses are available at other NPC campus locations.

Prerequisites Required Before Admission

Before a student is considered eligible to enter the Surgical Technology Program, completion of the following prerequisites is required. Successful completion with a “C” grade or better for each class is required and a cumulative Grade-Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.0 is strongly recommended.

1. BIO 181 General Biology I  •  4 credits
2. BIO 201 Human Anatomy and Physiology I  •  4 credits
3. BIO 205 Microbiology  •  4 credits
4. CHM 130 Fundamental Chemistry  •  4 credits
5. ENL 101 College Composition I  •  3 credits
6. HES 170 Medical Terminology  •  3 credits

Admission to the Surgical Technology Program

• Students must be admitted to the Surgical Technology Program in order to enroll in surgical technology courses.
• This program has required prerequisite courses that MUST all be completed prior to July 1st - before starting the program.
• Students must successfully complete the Health Education Systems, Inc. (HESI) Admission Assessment.
• Admission information is available through any NPC academic advisor.
• A completed Surgical Technology application (PDF) should be submitted on or before the designated deadline that is noted in the application packet. Late applicants may be accepted on a space-available basis if they meet the admission criteria, but not before applicants who submit their application on time.
• View NPC's Surgical Technology Admissions Packet
• HESI Admission TEST Information & Dates

SGT admission criteria will include: Admission Assessment test (HESI) composite and cumulative scores, prerequisite GPA, applicant statement and completion of program prerequisites. These factors will be weighted by the admission committee.

 Students should note that:

• General Education and core requirements must be completed as listed on the curriculum outline in the program admission information packet.
• College credits over eight years old may be accepted with appropriate documentation and approval.
• Transfer students applying for second, third or fourth-semester admission are considered on an individual basis. Criteria include course comparables, GPA, specified examination results and recommendation from previous program director. Transfer students should call the the Allied Health Coordinator at (928) 532-6159.

Surgical technologists wear scrubs (special sterile clothing) while they are in the operating room. Their work may be physically demanding, requiring them to be on their feet for long periods. Surgical technologists also may need to help move patients or lift heavy trays of medical supplies. At times, they may be exposed to communicable diseases and unpleasant sights, odors, and materials.

Surgical technologists held about 107,700 jobs in 2016, with 71% in hospitals; 11% in outpatient surgical centers; another 11% in doctor's offices and 4% in dental offices.

The aging U.S. population, greater availability of health insurance and increases in the number of people with private health insurance create favorable economic conditions for inpatient and ambulatory surgery centers (IBISWorld, 2018). According to the Arizona Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of surgical technologists is projected to grow 12% percent through 2026, faster than the average for all occupations.

• Surgical Technologist
• Operating Room Technician

Three years ago, ARC/STSA instituted a mandate effective August 1, 2021 for a minimum preparation with an Associate Degree to acquire the designation of Certified Surgical Technologist (CST).