Surgical Technology

To learn more, visit: https://www.morainepark.edu/academics/programs/surgical-technology/

Program Number: 10-512-1
Associate of Applied Science Degree
Campus: Fond du Lac
This program is eligible for financial aid
Full-Time Enrollment Only

Stay local or take your career nationwide (or even abroad) with an in-demand health care career in surgical technology with an associate degree from Moraine Park Technical College.

About the Program

Surgical technologists are allied health professionals who prepare operating rooms, arrange equipment and assist doctors during surgeries.

Moraine Park Surgical Technology students learn the theory and application of sterile and aseptic technique, human anatomy, surgical procedures, and implementation of tools and technologies to facilitate a physician’s performance of invasive therapeutic and diagnostic procedures.

Students gain hands-on experience through two semesters of clinical work, and are required to complete a minimum of 120 clinical cases to graduate.

The Surgical Technology program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of Accreditation Review Council for Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA).

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
9355-113th Street N, #7709, Seminole, FL 33775
727-210-2350
www.caahep.org

What You’ll Learn

Surgical technology students learn the basic principles and best practices of working in the peri-operative environment, how to maintain a safe and sterile surgical environment, how to provide a safe and supportive environment for the patient, how to prep patients, operating rooms and surgical teams for the preoperative phase, and how to perform intraoperative and postoperative case management.

Transfer Opportunities

Your academic journey can continue at a four-year college or university. Earn your associate degree at Moraine Park and then apply those credits toward a bachelor’s degree. Starting at MPTC makes completing a bachelor’s degree affordableaccessible and convenient. You can go anywhere as MPTC has transfer agreements with colleges and universities both in Wisconsin and throughout the country.

Visit the Transfer to a Four-Year College page for more information on credit transfer agreements between Moraine Park and four-year colleges, both public and private.
 

Additional Information

Certification Disclosure: Moraine Park’s Surgical Technology program prepares students to obtain the educational requirements to sit for the Certified Surgical Technologist Examination. Visit the Accreditation page for more details about accreditation.  

Certifying Organization: National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting

Clinical experiences, evaluations, and attendance at and completion of the scheduled CST exam are exit assessment graduation requirements for the program.

In 2023, 50% of graduates passed the Outcomes Assessment Exam.

 

Admission Process

Standard Admissions steps details

This program also requires:

  • Health Requirements
  • Criminal Background Check

Petition Process Details: Students are provisionally accepted to the Surgical Technology Program in “pre-core” status. When program ready, students go through the petition process.

Credit for Prior Learning

Transform the skills and abilities developed through previous experience into college credit through MPTC’s Credit for Prior Learning process. 

  • Transfer credit from other colleges/universities
  • Earn college credit for your military training and experience
  • Earn college credit via Advance Placement, CLEP, DANTES/DSST or MPTC Challenge Exams
  • Earn college credit from previous/current work and life experiences

Visit MPTC’s Credit for Prior Learning page for more information.

Approximate Costs

Tuition

Occupational

  • $149.50 per credit (resident)
  • $224.25 per credit (out-of-state resident)

Associate of Arts/Associate of Science

  • $188.90 per credit (resident)
  • $283.35 per credit (out-of-state resident)

Online students are not charged out-of-state fees.

Student Fees

  • $5.00 minimum per course Material Fee
  • $13.45 per-credit Supplemental Fee for Undergraduate courses
  • $4.50 per term mandatory Student Accident Insurance Fee

Please refer to Tuition & Fee Information for additional enrollment fee information.

Financial Aid

Financial Aid is available for associate degree and technical diploma programs (those that are 2 semesters in length and typically with 28 credits or more). Processing can take 4-5 weeks after a student's completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is received. Visit the Financial Aid page to learn more.

While attending Moraine Park during the 2024-25 school year, your estimated cost of attendance for one full year includes tuition of $4,462 (15 credits for fall and spring semester), fees of $338, food and housing of $3,008 (if living with parents, $9,147 if living on your own), books and supplies of $1,465, personal expenses of $3,608, and transportation of $4,017 for a total of $17,002. Your direct costs (those costs paid directly to the college) include tuition & fees. The indirect costs (costs not paid to the college) can vary from individual to individual and your own personal needs.

Course Requirements 

Plan of Study Grid
Clinical Admissions RequirementsCredits
801-136 English Composition 1 3
806-177 General Anatomy and Physiology 4
806-179 Advanced Anatomy and Physiology 4
 Credits11
Semester 1
103-159 Computer Literacy - Microsoft Office 1
501-101 Medical Terminology 3
512-125 Intro to Surgical Technology 4
512-126 Surgical Technology Fundamentals 1 4
512-127 Exploring Surgical Issues 2
890-101 College 101 2
 Credits16
Semester 2
512-128 Surgical Technology Fundamentals 2 4
512-129 Surgical Pharmacology 2
512-130 Surgical Skills Application 2
806-197 Microbiology 4
 Credits12
Semester 3
512-131 Surgical Interventions 1 4
512-132 Surgical Technology Clinical 1 3
512-133 Surgical Technology Clinical 2 3
Communication Course 3
Behavioral Science Course 3
 Credits16
Semester 4
512-135 Surgical Technology Clinical 3 3
512-136 Surgical Technology Clinical 4 3
512-142 Surgical Interventions II 4
Social Science Course 3
 Credits13
 Total Credits68

Program Outcomes

  • Apply health care and technological science principles to the peri-operative environment.
  • Maintain principles of sterile technique in the surgical environment.
  • Provide a safe, efficient and supportive environment for the patient.
  • Prepare the patient, operating room, and surgical team for the preoperative phase.
  • Perform intraoperative case management in the scrub role.
  • Perform postoperative case management.
  • Function as an ethical, legal and professional member of the health care team as determined by governing bodies.

Additional Program Requirements

Surgical Technology program students are required to meet the following CAAHEP and ARC/STSA Accreditation criteria for graduation: Completion of 120 Surgery Experience cases as established according to CAAHEP and ARC/STSA Clinical Student Scrub Roles, Clinical Experience Surgery Case Requirements, and final completion of the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) exam.

Career Opportunities

  • Surgical Technologist Scrub Role
  • Central Supply Technologist
  • Surgical Technologist/Private Scrub
  • Second Assisting Technologist (with additional education Surgical First Assistant)
  • Laser/Endoscopic Technologist
  • Tissue/Organ Procurement
  • GI Technologist
  • OB Technologist

Statewide Median Salary for Recent Graduates

$51,996