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Learn MoreMercy College's Surgical Technology program provides real-world experiences to help prepare you for the workforce. Didactic courses are offered in a convenient online format and the lab is held in an actual operating room of one of our clinical affiliates, which provides a realistic experience prior to clinical. Small class sizes promote individualized learning. Students progress through lab and clinical as a group – promoting teamwork, communication, and relationship building.
Surgical technology is the only healthcare program where you get to work directly with the surgeon in the operating room, with surgical instruments, in association with surgical procedures. Surgical Technology is a fast-paced and exciting career choice. Individuals must work well under pressure.
Program At A Glance
Lecture courses online
Lab held in actual operating room
Small class sizes
Program Overview
Available in Toledo and Cincinnati, the Surgical Technology Associate of Applied Science Degree Program is designed to prepare students to provide critical support services to surgeons, nurses, anesthesia providers, and other surgical team members. Using a variety of learning resources, students will acquire the knowledge base of sterile technique, surgical instrumentation and equipment, surgical procedures, asepsis, and patient care skills. During the clinical portion of the program, students will complete a minimum of 120 cases of various surgical specialties in the first and second scrub roles while supervised by a clinical preceptor.
This five-semester program includes general education and surgical technology courses and leads to an Associate in Science degree. In this program, students gain proficiency through class (theory), lab, and clinical experiences in a variety of settings assisting with a variety of surgical procedures.
Mission: To prepare competent entry-level surgical technologists in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.
The Surgical Technology program at Mercy College has a site visit scheduled for pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org). This step in the process is neither a status of accreditation nor a guarantee that accreditation will be granted.
At the completion of the Associate of Applied Science in Surgical Technology program, graduates will be able to:
- Assist with various surgical procedures under the supervision of the surgeon, registered nurse, or other surgical personnel.
- Apply appropriate communication skills with members of the surgical team and the surgical patient.
- Ensure sterile technique and the principles of asepsis are followed at all times.
- Demonstrate personal accountability and professionalism.
- Ensure the operating room/environment is safe for the surgical patient and personnel.
- Ensure surgical equipment functions appropriately.
- Demonstrate knowledge, behaviors, and technical skills necessary to gain employment as a surgical technologist.
- Practice professional and ethical behaviors.
- Integrate Mercy College Values into clinical practice.
- Perform as a surgical technologist at entry-level expectations.
In addition to meeting college admission requirements, the following Surgical Technology Program admission requirements must be met:
- Applicants must be high school graduates with a GPA of at least 2.3, GED recipients with a score of 530 (score of 53 prior to 2002), or transfer students with a cumulative GPA of a 2.3. Students whose GPA falls below a 2.3 but above a 2.0 will be considered on an individual basis.
- Applicants must have completed and passed these high school courses of their college equivalents with a grade of "C" or better within the past seven years:
- Algebra - one year
- Biology - one year
- Chemistry- one year
- Completion of the Math Placement Assessment program (ALEKS) required with the following exceptions:
- Meet or exceed ACT/SAT math score required for MTH 100 (within the past 5 years), OR
- Successful completion of college-level math (grade of “C” or better), OR
- Transfer credit (MTH 100 level or higher with a grade of “C” or better).
Criminal background checks, drug screens, health records, and titers/immunizations are required prior to the start of the clinical program. Program requirements and instructions are maintained on the College website at https://mercycollege.edu/background. The Policy can be found at https://mercycollege.edu/about/compliance-consumer-information.
To earn the Associate of Applied Science Degree in Surgical Technology students must complete all college requirements for an Associate of Applied Science Degree with a grade of "C" or better including:
General Education Requirements
Complete All of the Following Courses:
Oral and Written Communication (GCOM) - 6 minimum
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
| ENG 101 | English Composition I | 3 |
| ENG 102 | English Composition II | 3 |
Math, Statistics, and Logic (GMSL) - 3 minimum
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
| MTH 104 | Mathematical Formulas, Models, and Probability | 3 |
Arts, Humanities, Culture, and Diversity (including Religious Studies) (GAHD/GAHR) - 3 minimum
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
| REL 290 | Medical Ethics | 3 |
Natural Sciences, Technology, and Innovation - 6 minimum
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
| BIO 220 | Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| BIO 221 | Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
Additional hours from one or more of the above categories; Social and Behavioral Sciences (GSBS); Arts, Humanities, Culture, and Diversity, and/or Applied General Education (GAPL) courses - 12 minimum
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
| BIO 210 | Microbiology | 4 |
| HIT 105 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
| PSY 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
Required Surgical Technology Program Course Requirements
Complete All of the Following Program Courses:
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
| SUR 105 | Intro to Surgical Technology | 2 |
| SUR 110 | Principles and Practice of Surgical Technology | 4 |
| SUR 115 | Surgical Procedures I | 4 |
| SUR 120 | Pharmacology for Surgical Technology | 2 |
| SUR 135 | Surgical Technology Directed Practice I | 2 |
| SUR 215 | Surgical Procedures II | 4 |
| SUR 235 | Surgical Technology Directed Practice II | 8 |
| SUR 245 | Surgical Technology Directed Practice III | 8 |
| SUR 250 | Surgical Technology Capstone | 1 |
Semester I
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
| ENG 101 | English Composition I | 3 |
| HIT 105 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
| BIO 210 | Microbiology | 4 |
| SUR 105 | Intro to Surgical Technology | 2 |
Semester II
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
| ENG 102 | English Composition II | 3 |
| MTH 104 | Mathematical Formulas, Models, and Probability | 3 |
| SUR 110 | Principles and Practice of Surgical Technology | 4 |
| SUR 120 | Pharmacology for Surgical Technology | 2 |
Semester III
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
| BIO 220 | Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| PSY 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| SUR 115 | Surgical Procedures I | 4 |
| SUR 135 | Surgical Technology Directed Practice I | 2 |
Semester IV
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
| BIO 221 | Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| SUR 215 | Surgical Procedures II | 4 |
| SUR 235 | Surgical Technology Directed Practice II | 8 |
Semester V
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
| REL 290 | Medical Ethics | 3 |
| SUR 245 | Surgical Technology Directed Practice III | 8 |
| SUR 250 | Surgical Technology Capstone | 1 |
Career Outlook
Employment Growth
According to the United State Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics “Employment of surgical technologists is projected to grow 9 percent from 2020 to 2030, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
About 9,000 openings for surgical technologists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.”
Critical need for STs in operating rooms and surgery centers across the country. Employment opportunities do extend beyond the operating room – medical sales, tissue procurement, sterile processing, labor and delivery, and travel surgical technologist.
Salary Range
The median annual wage for surgical technologists was $48,530 in May 2021. [Bureau of Labor Statistics].