Offered at the SPC Reese Center

Surgical technologists are allied health professionals who are an integral part of the team of medical practitioners providing surgical care to patients in a variety of settings. The surgical technologist works under medical supervision to facilitate the safe and effective conduct of invasive surgical procedures. This individual works under the supervision of a surgeon to ensure that the operating room or surgical environment is safe, that equipment functions properly, and that the operative procedure is conducted under conditions that maximize patient safety.

The surgical technologist possesses expertise in the theory and application of sterile and aseptic technique, and combines the knowledge of human anatomy, surgical procedures, and implementation of tools and technologies to facilitate a physician’s performance of invasive, therapeutic and diagnostic procedures. This program is fully accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) in cooperation with the Accreditation Review Council of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting.

To contact the Commission on the Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, address correspondence to 1361 Park Street, Clearwater, FL 33756. Telephone: 727-210-2350. Fax: 727-210-2354. Email: mail@caahep.org if you have general questions about CAAHEP.

Students who complete the Associate of Applied Science degree are eligible for review by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting for the Surgical Technologist to take the National Certification Exam. Successful completion of the following curriculum, which includes a Capstone Experience in the final semester of the program, qualifies the student to receive the Associate of Applied Science degree.

Program Admission Requirements

Persons interested in the Surgical Technology program should do the following:

1. Complete the requirements for admission to South Plains College. Admission to the college does not guarantee admission to the Surgical Technology program.
2. Applicants to the Surgical Technology program must be TSI compliant in all areas for both the Certificate and the Associate Degree program.
3. Complete the program specific application and submit to the program director. Due to limited class numbers, not all qualified applicants will be accepted and may be placed on an alternate list. Applicants who are not admitted and wish to be considered the following year must reapply. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the program director for any changes that may occur in the admission requirements.
4. All applicants must submit entrance exam scores prior to the application deadline. The Health Occupations Aptitude Exam is administered at the Testing and Learning Center  on a bi-weekly basis.
5. Prerequisite courses that must be completed with a grade of C or better, by the application deadline include: BIOL 2401 Anatomy and Physiology I, BIOL 2402 Anatomy and Physiology II, HITT 1305 Medical Terminology I, and READ 1314 Technical and Scientific Reading.
6. Contact (806) 716-4622 for detailed information about the program’s admissions process.
7. All applicants with a criminal background history must contact the Human Resources Departments at either University Medical Center or Covenant Medical Center to ensure that they may attend clinical rotations and be considered for emploement at their facilities.

Program director is Shannon Valenzuela, instructor in surgical technology.

Associate of Applied Science Degree