Surgical Tech Graduates Become Certified

Last year, 100% of ACTCs Surgical Technology Program graduates passed the National Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) test. The test is given by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting, and the national pass rate in 2013 was about 71% for CST and 75 % for the web-based test.

The test is a measure of what was learned during the three semester program, said Program Coordinator Jacqueline Cavins. Im pleased that our students take their classes seriously and are willing to put in the effort required to learn the material.

I tell the students that if they really apply themselves, they will be able to pass the test and get good jobs, Cavins said. Each year I have several requests from medical facilities seeking well-trained surgical technologists, and last years graduates were all offered jobs in area hospitals.

Surgical technologists work under the supervision of a surgeon in the operating room. The ACTC program combines classwork and laboratory practice with hospital clinicals where students experience operating room procedures. The selective admission program is accredited by the Commission of Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.