Apply for Surgical Technology by October 1

October 1 is the application deadline for the Surgical Technology Program that begins next spring at Ashland Community and Technical College.

The Surgical Technology program prepares students for the national certification exam and employment in operating rooms, private or public hospitals and clinics."The program requires a lot of study," said Jacqueline Cavins, Associate Professor and Program Coordinator, "but it pays off when our graduates do well on the national certification exam.

Last year, 100% of the ACTC program graduates taking the national certification exam passed the test and became Certified Surgical Technologists. The program received a Certificate of Merit from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting.

Im in the program to create a better future for myself and my family, said Zachary Christian, a Huntington resident and 2001 Spring Valley High School graduate. I was involved in a workplace injury in 2011 that forced a career change. I had contacted colleges and the staff at ACTC was absolutely incredible. After I completed the tour of the facilities, I knew that I was going to attend ACTC.

The three-semester diploma program at the College Drive Campus includes basic sciences, surgical decorum and protocol, and technical skills for assisting surgeons in the operating room. They practice operating room set-ups in class to get comfortable with procedures before going to clinicals at area hospitals..

The program is fast paced and it energizes you you learn so much about surgical tech without feeling overwhelmed, said Tessa Ellis, a December 2012 Surgical Technology graduate. A Louisa native and 2009 Lawrence County High School graduate, she began work in a hospital setting and now works for a private surgical practice in Lexington.

Surgical tech can be a great stepping stone to other health care fields, Ellis said. This is something I could do for the rest of my life but it also gives me choices.

Graduates work in health facilities throughout the region. "I regularly get calls from hospitals in the Tri-State seeking surgical technologists," Cavins said. Many of our students have job offers before they graduate, and quite a few of those jobs are at the hospitals that serve as our clinical sites.

The Surgical Technology program is accredited by the Committee on Allied Health Education, and it is a selective admission programs. Prospective students need to complete a Surgical Technology application, and applicants who are not current ACTC students also need to complete the ACTC application process.

Applications are available online at ashland.kctcs.edu and in the Admissions Offices at the College Drive and Technology Drive Campuses. To request applications, call ACTC Admissions, 606-326-2000 or 800-928-4256. Application to the program does not guarantee admission.

I was very apprehensive about going to college at 30 years old, but the staff has made me feel at ease and treated me with nothing but respect, as they did every other student, Christian said. This is a great place to start your college career! He plans to work as a surgical technologist in a local hospital and pursue a Bachelors Degree at Marshall University.

PRECONFERENCE SESSION SEPTEMBER 14

Students and area residents interested in the program are invited to a Preconference Session on Monday, Sept. 14, at 1:00 p.m. at the College Drive Campus, Room 420. Attendance of a preconference session is required for those applying to the program.

For details on Surgical Technology or the preconference, contact Professor Cavins, 606-326-2006 or email: jaqueline.cavins@kctcs.edu.