Academics
Surgical Technologist
Surgical Technologists are educated professionals who have graduated from an Accredited Surgical Technology program. By following the cognitive model of a positive care approach, Surgical Technologists are dedicated to life long learning. Surgical Technologists may be Certified or Registered with the state of Illinois. The Surgical Technologist is responsible for planning and facilitating the surgical environment of assigned cases providing professional intra-operative expertise to a wide variety of surgical diagnoses. In doing so, demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide patient care that is appropriate to the ages of the patient served (age newborn through adult). Each student receives a variety of clinical experiences in all the surgical specialties at two to three Bloomington/Peoria hospitals. Procedures may include and are not limited to: Pediatrics, Thoracic, Kidney Transplant, Pancreas Transplant, Multiple Organ Procurement, Vascular, Interventional Radiology, Orthopaedics, Labor and Delivery, Neuro, EENT, Urology, advanced laparoscopy, Bariatrics, General, Gyne, Plastics, Dental, Oncology, Robotics, Laser, Endoscopy…
Qualified instructors and/or preceptors are with students at each clinical location.
Courses include study of basic patient care practices, aseptic technique, surgical anatomy, surgical procedures, working as a team, communication skills, ethical/legal aspects of safe patient care, and surgical supplies and instruments. Today’s Surgical Technologist also must know how to assemble and trouble shoot high tech equipment and instrumentation. ICC’s program is a fast paced demanding curriculum requiring higher order thinking processes. There is a requirement that all missed clinical and lab times are made-up. For the current 8 and 10 credit hour courses, students are scheduled in lab or class 22-24 hours per week. Students are advised to work less than 20 hours per week and to complete the anatomy and physiology and medical terminology requirement prior to beginning the SURTK sequence.
If you are interested in the field of Surgical Technology it is recommended that you sign up for SURTK 100 for a one day preview of the program.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the Surgical Technologist Program are prepared to seek employment in a variety of health care settings. Career Opportunities include and are not limited to:
- Major Operating Room Surgical Suites
- Outpatient Surgical Facilities
- Obstetrical Departments
- Oral Surgery Centers
- Plastic Surgeon Surgical Suites
- Private Scrub for a Surgeon
- First Assist
- Diener (help pathologist during autopsy)
- Harvesting Team for the Red Cross
Local Salaries
Locally, starting wages begin around 20.00/per. Salaries will vary between facilities.
Admission to the Program:
- High School graduate with GPA 2.6 or higher, or equivalent (i.e. GED of 165 or higher) OR 9 hours of required courses from program sequence with a “C” or higher.
- Placement into ENGL 110.
- ICC grade point average (GPA) of a 2.0 or above (if you have attended ICC).
- GPA of 2.0 or above at the last college attended (other than ICC) OR 9 hours of required courses from program sequence with a “C” or higher.
- Completion of SURTK 100.
Requirements upon Program Acceptance:
- Drug screen, fingerprint criminal background check, physical exam, and immunizations.
- Documentation of current CPR certification from the American Heart Association (AHA) BLS (Basic Life Support) Provider or American Red Cross (ARC) Professional Rescuer and BLS Provider. This CPR certification must remain current throughout student enrollment within the health career program.
Accreditation
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Educational Programs (CAAHEP)
Suite 158
Clearwater, FL 33763
in cooperation with the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA).
Degree
Associate in Applied Science (Career Program)
Total Credit Hours: 61
Program Requirements
Select a course number below to see a course description.
Required General Education Courses
Course | Name | Credit Hours |
ENGL 110 | COMPOSITION I ** | 3 |
COMM 110 | INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION: PRESENTATION AND THEORY ** | 3 |
PSY 110 | INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY ** | 3 |
BIOL 140 or | HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY ** or | 4 |
BIOL 205 and | PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I ** and | 4 |
BIOL 206 | PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II ** | 4 |
BIOL 210 | MICROBIOLOGY ** | 4 |
HUMANITIES/FINE ARTS * | 3 |
Required Program Courses
Course | Name | Credit Hours |
HEOCC 200 | DISEASE PROCESSES IN MAN ** | 3 |
HLTH 110 | FUNDAMENTALS OF STERILE PROCESSING ** | 2 |
HLTH 121 | MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY ** | 2 |
SURTK 100 | ORIENTATION TO SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY  | 0.5 |
SURTK 105 | PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES OF SURGICAL SERVICES  | 3 |
SURTK 120 | INTRODUCTION TO SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY  | 4 |
SURTK 121 | FUNDAMENTALS OF SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY I  | 6 |
SURTK 122 | FUNDAMENTALS OF SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY II  | 4 |
SURTK 130 | PHARMACOLOGY FOR THE SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIST  | 1 |
SURTK 141 | SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY, CLINICAL PRACTICE I  | 3 |
SURTK 142 | SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY, CLINICAL PRACTICE II  | 1 |
SURTK 210 | FUNDAMENTALS OF SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY III  | 7 |
SURTK 240 | SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY, CLINICAL PRACTICE III  | 3 |
SURTK 250 | SYNTHESIS OF SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY  | 1.5 |
* See specific requirements for Associate in Applied Science Degree.
** Underlined courses may be taken prior to admission into the program.
Students enrolled in this program must meet with their assigned advisor to plan a specific course schedule meeting Illinois Central College and personal requirements.
A minimum of (61) credit hours must be completed to graduate from the AAS program.
Students are advised to complete all BIOL prior to first SURTK course.
Recommended High School Subjects: (1) four years of English/communication (2) two years of mathematics (3) three years of biological science.
Recommended Course Sequence
Semester | Courses |
Summer Semester | SURTK 100, SURTK 105, HLTH 110 |
Fall Semester 1 | BIOL 140 or BIOL 205; ENGL 110; HLTH 121; SURTK 120; SURTK 130 |
Spring Semester 1 | BIOL 206 (if 205 is taken); BIOL 210; HEOCC 200; SURTK 121; SURTK 141; |
Summer Semester | SURTK 122; COMM 110; SURTK 142 |
Fall Semester 2 | SURTK 210; SURTK 240; SURTK 250; Humanities/Fine Arts; PSY 110 |
Program Contact Information
Health Careers Department
Peoria Campus, Cedar 105
(309) 690-7530
Illinois Career Cluster
Health Science
Career Pathway:
Therapeutic Services
Career Pathway
Pathway programs at ICC have a map that shows the courses/degree requirements that will lead students to their desired education and employment goals.
Career Cluster:
Health Sciences If you are a high school junior or senior, you can get a head start on your future by taking college-level courses now! Visit our Dual Credit webpage for a listing of area high schools with courses available An Introduction to Sociology (SOC 110) | Composition I (ENGL 110) | Human Anatomy & Physiology (BIOL 140) | Humanities/Fine Arts | Introduction to Communication (COMM 110) | Introduction to Health Careers (ICC 104) | Introduction to Interdisciplinary Healthcare (HEOCC 114) | Introduction to Psychology (PSY 110) | Medical Terminology (HLTH 121) High School Diploma or GED Getting Started: Apply to ICC | Apply to Health Careers | Paying for College | Career Information:
Surgical Technologists
| Student Information Surgical Technologist
(61 credit hours) CST Surgical Assistant, Surgical Technologist
$20/hr There are no current articulation agreements to Bachelor degree programs. Program transfer guides layout course work to be taken at ICC and the transfer institution to complete specific programs of study or majors. Methodist College Bachelor of Health Science Many other degree completion programs are available. Transfer agreements formalize the transfer process from ICC to other colleges and universities. For additional transfer information, including information on transfer partnerships and transfer guides:
Pathway:
Therapeutic Services
ICC Pathway: Surgical Technology
Early College
Point of Entry
Certificate of Completion
Industry Credentials
Employment Information
OCCUPATION BACHELOR DEGREE TRANSFER OPTIONS
CAREER CLUSTER BACHELOR DEGREE TRANSFER OPTIONS
GENERAL BACHELOR DEGREE TRANSFER OPTIONS
Certification Examination
ICC graduates are eligible to write the certification examination to become a Certified Surgical Technologist (CST). There are employment opportunities in surgical suites during the program. After graduation Surgical Techs can work full time, rotate shifts, take call with some opportunity for part time or reduced schedules.
Essential Skills and Abilities
- Perform a full-range of body motion including handling and lifting patients, manual and finger dexterity, eye-hand coordination, and distinguish left from right
- Bend, reach, pull, push, stand, stoop, walk during shift, and agility to handle body mass
- Lift and carry up to sixty (60) pounds
- Demonstrate visual acuity (with correction if needed) within normal range including peripheral vision and reading of fine print
- Demonstrate auditory acuity (with correction if needed) that includes hearing muffled voices (through the mask) with extraneous background noise
- Withstand unusual smells ─ cauterized tissue
- Wear full surgical attire including personal protective equipment
- Adapt effectively, displaying flexibility in environments with high tension to ensure patient safety
- Concentrate and pay attention to detail. Ability to learn quickly without repetition of instructions
- Perform fine motor skills with both right and left hands. [Dexterity and application in working with microscopic pieces of equipment and sutures (finer than a human hair), hold retractors, etc.]
- Adapt to irregular working hours as well as ability to stay over shift as necessary and stand unassisted for eight continuous hours maintaining alertness
- Respond quickly and in an emotionally controlled manner in emergency situations
- Communicate in a rational and coherent manner both orally and in writing with individuals of all professions and social levels
- Recognize that work environment will include exposure to diseases and toxic substances (sterilants, x-ray, fumes, development of latex allergy, and so forth)
- Show evidence of skin integrity, without open weeping lesions of the skin
- Be able to problem solve using conceptual, integrative, and quantitative reasoning skills
- The ability to develop and improve skills in organization of work and in learning to use economy of time and motion MS-Essential Skills & Abilities.doc/10
- The ability to use English language to communicate with individuals of all professions and social levels
- No latex allergies
If you have concerns that you don’t meet these skills, please make an appointment with the Program Supervisor or School Nurse
- Under direct supervision of the surgeon, first scrubs or first assists with operative procedures.
- Assists with circulating duties under the supervision of a registered nurse.
- Accountable for items necessary to follow through with all assigned operative procedures.
- Presents a professional physical appearance.
Courses include study of basic patient care practices, sterile technique, surgical anatomy, surgical procedures, working as a team, communication skills, ethical/legal aspects of safe patient care, and surgical supplies and instruments. Today’s Surgical Technologist also must know how to assemble and trouble shoot high tech equipment and instrumentation. ICC’s program is a fast paced demanding curriculum requiring higher order thinking processes. There is a requirement that all missed clinical and lab time is made-up. For the current 8 and 10 credit hour courses, students are scheduled in lab or class 22-24 hours per week. Students are advised to work less than 20 hours per week and to complete the anatomy and physiology and medical terminology requirement prior to beginning the SURTK sequence.
Surgical Technology Program Outcomes Assessment Exam (OAE) Pass Rate
Each year the eligible candidates enrolled in the Surgical Technology Program sit for their National Certification Exam administered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA). Those candidates who pass their exam become Certified Surgical Technologists (CST). In accordance with the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA) and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), these results are to be published for public knowledge.