Surgical Technology Admission Requirements

Applications are open January 2 – February 28, 2024, for 2024 Fall. Applications will be reviewed in March after the application window has closed.

Admission to the Surgical Technology Program Prerequisites

1. Up to 20 students will be accepted into the second year based on these criteria:

  • Priority for Admission into the second year will be given to students who have completed all first-year classes or will have completed all first-year classes by the end of the spring semester.
  • Students who complete their classes during summer school will be considered on a space-available basis.
  • A minimum grade of 2.0 (C) in each first-year class is required.
  • Overall GPA 2.0
  • Points will be given for classes completed using the following scoring system:
    A B C
    BIOL 1217 7 5 3
    BIOL 1218 7 5 3
    HCOP 1610 7 5 3
    A B C
    NA 1610 4 3 2
    ENGL 1117 4 3 2
    A B C
    CHEM 1101 3 2 1
    PSYC 1611 3 2 1
    AOP 2870 3 2 1
  • Admission to the program will be based on the total accumulation of points earned from completed classes prior to the admission deadline.
  • All general education must be completed prior to the start of the fall semester of the Surgical Technology classes.

2. If students are tied in points, applicants will then be ranked using the following criteria:

  • Applicants who have completed all of the general education courses will be ranked ahead of those who have not.
  • Seniority will be given priority. The semester that Surgical Technology was declared as a major will be used.
  • Program course GPA will be calculated. Applicants with a higher GPA will be given a higher rank
  • If applicants remain tied after previous criteria, the actual date of the Surgical Technology major declared will be used to determine rank.
  • Students will be notified of admission into the second year before Fall semester registration.

Additional Second-Year Requirements

  • Must be certified in Basic Life Support for the Healthcare Provider including adult, infant, and child CPR and AED from the American Heart Association OR CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuers and Healthcare Providers from the American Red Cross.
  • Meet health requirements: completed health assessment, immunizations, including the two-step Mantoux test, Hepatitis B vaccination series, and COVID-19 vaccinations.
  • Document proof of health insurance.
  • Complete criminal background study as required by the State of Minnesota.
  • Complete a national background study as required by the Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences.
  • If the clinical facilities will not accept a student based on either background study, the student will not be allowed to continue in the program.

Surgical Technology Program Completion

  • Must complete each Surgical Technology sequence course with a minimum grade of 2.0.
  • As part of the requirements to graduate from the Surgical Technology Program, students must take the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) Certifying Examination for Surgical Technologists.
  • Upon successful completion of the program, an Associate of Applied Science degree will be awarded.

Re-admission to the Surgical Technology Program

Students who leave the ST Program before completion and wish to return at a later date will be subject to the following criteria:

  1. Readmission to the ST program will be on a space-available basis.
  2. Students who fail or withdraw failing from the ST program courses will not be automatically readmitted.
  • Students who reapply must wait one (1) complete academic year before reapplying.
  • After the student has stayed out of the ST program for 1 academic year (fall and spring semester), and wishes to return to the program, they must complete the following requirements:
  • If the student successfully completed ST 2120, and then withdrew or failed from ST 2121, they would need to first successfully complete credit by exam for ST 2120, even though they may have received a passing grade for ST 2120. It is the student’s responsibility to review the curriculum, complete the necessary form(s), and pay the fees for the credit by exam.
  • If the student successfully completed ST 2120 and 2121, and withdrew or failed other classes, and has stayed out of the ST program for 1 academic year (fall and spring semester) or more, they would need to first successfully complete credit by exam for ST 2121 even though they may have received a passing grade.  It is the student’s responsibility to review the curriculum, complete the necessary form(s), and pay the fees for the credit by exam.
  • If academic difficulty contributed to the student exiting the program, the student must submit a written “Plan of Action” that provides proof of tangible changes of their environment that will provide the opportunity for success, and what steps the student will take to improve their ability to complete the program. The “Plan of Action” will be reviewed by the program leader, program faculty, and academic advisor.  If the plan has merited a “Contract for Completion” will be developed to determine the student’s standing in the program as they progress through the curriculum.  The student’s plan must show sufficient merit, demonstrating how the student is and will be addressing the issues that contributed to the previous unsuccessful attempt in the program.

Please schedule an appointment with your advisor for any questions regarding this application or for additional program information.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER AND EDUCATOR
Rochester Community and Technical College is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in employment and education opportunities. No person shall be discriminated against in the terms and conditions of employment, personnel practices, or access to and participation in, programs, services, and activities. Applicants having special needs who require accommodations should contact the Director of Disability Services at 507-280-2968.