All students are required to maintain a cumulative graduation GPA of 2.0 or higher to remain in the major. In addition, all students must earn a “C” (2.0) or higher in all SGT, MTH, BIO, HTH, and MTR courses. If a lower grade is earned in any of these courses, the course must be repeated. The following grading system is applied to all surgical technology (SGT) courses in this major. There is no rounding of grades:

A = 90-100
B = 80-89.99
C = 75-79.99
F = 74.99 and below

Anyone desiring entrance into this major must first gain admission to Penn College. Acceptance into this selective admission major is based upon additional requirements beyond College admission. Details are available on the Selective Admission Criteria and Process webpage.

Child abuse clearance, drug tests, and criminal background checks are required by agencies involved in clinical experiences. Agencies can and will bar students from their sites for infractions. By virtue of contract for Penn College students to be at clinical sites, drug testing is required for admission and students will be subject to drug testing during the program. Inability to gain clinical experiences results in inability to meet program objectives and outcomes. Inability to meet program objectives and outcomes will result in not being able to graduate. For additional clarification, students should speak to the program director or the assistant dean of Health Sciences.

Penn College complies with the federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989. Pursuant to this Act, all forms of marijuana, including medical marijuana, are classified as prohibited controlled substances. Additionally, alcohol, illegal drugs, and legal drugs obtained without a prescription or which may impair a student’s ability to perform his/her educational responsibilities are strictly prohibited. Students are subject to drug screening at various phases of the program. Please note that a positive drug screening for marijuana will be deemed a positive test and will result in a student being dismissed from the program, even if the student has been lawfully certified to use medical marijuana and/or possesses a valid medical marijuana identification card issued in accordance with applicable state law.

Graduates of the SG major will be eligible to enroll in the College's Healthcare Leadership & Administration (HLA) bachelor’s degree major. In-program students can declare a dual major in HLA and take HLA coursework while completing the SG major.

International health credentials/licensure, sciences courses, and most math courses will not be accepted to satisfy requirements of this major. Please see additional information for international students applying to Health Sciences majors.

Students are responsible for the cost of all clearances and immunizations required for clinical. All students are responsible for cost of travel and housing during clinical experiences.

Students must acquire their own tools and laptop computer as noted below.

Required Laptop Computer

• Chromebooks and other devices running Chrome OS are prohibited.
• Unless otherwise specified by your major, MacBooks and other Apple products are not recommended for coursework.
• Windows 11 or higher (recommended).
• Intel Core i5 or i7 or AMD Ryzen 5 or 7 processor (recommended).
• ARM based processors are not recommended.
• 16+ GB RAM (recommended). 
• 250+ GB Solid State Disk (SSD) drive (recommended).
• The laptop must include a webcam and microphone (required).
• The laptop must include a wireless network card (required).
• Broadband Internet connection when working off campus (required).
• Extended support agreement, including accidental damage protection (recommended).
• Power bank suitable for your laptop (recommended). 

The Penn College Surgical Technology major is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (www.arcstsa.org); Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, 9355 - 113th St. N, #7709, Seminole, FL 33775, (727) 210-2350.

2022 Revised Core Curriculum for Surgical Technology, 7th Edition, Surgical Rotation Case Requirements

View Surgical Technology Accreditation & Outcomes Information

Alternative Credit refers to academic credits earned through means other than traditional college course completion, including: credit by exam, articulation, proof of competency gained in high school, work/life experience, and advanced placement.

Visit the Alternative Credit Options page for requirements and procedures and for information on credit through Advanced Placement.

Program Review Executive Summary: Surgical Technology

Students must meet Essential Functions for the Surgical Technologists established by the Surgical Technology Program, as well as health and safety requirements including, but not limited to, immunizations (MMR, hepatitis B, varicella, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, annual influenza vaccination, PPD), medical examination, 10 panel drug screen, CPR certification, and background clearances as established by clinical affiliation agreements.

Radiation Exposure Monitoring

Students enrolling in the surgical technology program at Pennsylvania College of Technology will enter a medical field with routine use of actual radiation. Students will be required to wear a radiation dosimeter badge to monitor the exposure to radiation.

Occupational Hazards

• Formaldehyde: Used as a disinfectant or a sterilant. It is often found mixed in water and referred to as formalin. Formaldehyde can be used as a tissue fixative and in the sterilization of medical equipment.
• Waste anesthetic gas: Includes nitrous oxide and various halogenated anesthetics (e.g., halothane, enflurane, isoflurane, desflurane). Exposure to these gases can occur when anesthetic gases leak from the breathing circuit during delivery of anesthesia, and through exhalations from a patient recovering from anesthesia.
• Latex
• Bloodborne pathogens
• Ergonomic Hazards
• Cautery: Plume and risk of burn or fire.

https://www.osha.gov/healthcare

The surgical technology program at Pennsylvania College of Technology meets the state education requirements for the national certification examination provided by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting and also meets the education requirements for the National Center for Competency, Tech in Surgery credential. As such, the program meets requirements for certification in Pennsylvania and most states. However, the College has not officially determined if the program meets the state education requirements in any other state, U.S. Territory, or the District of Columbia. Students intending to seek employment in a state other than Pennsylvania are asked to contact the program office so that we can help you determine whether our program meets the requirements of that state.

The National Certified Surgical Technologist’s (CST) 5-year pass rate chart compares the pass rate of Penn College first-time test takers (now required for graduation) to the national average. See results.

We have provided the following manual to assist with guidance in the preceptor role and to help you gain an understanding of what is required from you, the program, and the student during their clinical education experience. 

Preceptor Manual

Contact the Program Director:

Elizabeth Gizenski
egizenski@pct.edu
570.327.4518

Surgical Technology Advisory Committee Members