SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY

Important updates about the program:

• Students will be admitted into the program based on a point system starting in the Fall of 2025.  
• STAT-C1000 (Formerly MATH 119) or PSYC 270 or SOC 270 (Statistics for Behavioral Sciences) or equivalent is required if starting the program in the Fall of 2025 and future classes. Math 60/70/72 will no longer be accepted.
• The Surgical Technology (ST) Program certificate option was discontinued due to changes in accreditation. ST Program curriculum change was finalized in November of 2021. Students will need to complete program prerequisites and associate degree/general education requirements before applying for the program. Scroll down the page for program prerequisites and other requirements. 

Operate Your Future

The Surgical Technology Program prepares the student to function in the operating room under the direct supervision of physicians and nurses. Work settings are typically hospital operating rooms and out-patient surgical clinics. The program is designed to prepare competent entry-level Surgical Technologists in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains. Salaries in the San Diego area range from $65,000 to over $100,000 per year.

The Surgical Technology Program is three semesters: fall, spring and summer. Prospective students may apply for the program after completing the prerequisites and other requirements. 

The Surgical Technology Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon the recommendation of The Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting.

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs 9355-113th St. N., #7709 Seminole, FL 33775 (727) 210-2350

Learn More. Earn More.

Program Student Learning Outcome Statement

• Upon completion of the program, the student will demonstrate the ability to articulate professionally and competently in perioperative setting.
• Upon completion of the program, the student will demonstrate the ability to analyze patient data related to their surgical condition and adjust the patient’s intraoperative plan of care according to the findings.
• Upon completion of the program, the student will analyze, compute and adjust operative equipment and instrument settings for the surgical patient in the perioperative setting.
• Upon completion of the program, the student will demonstrate collegiality and appropriate communication techniques when working with diverse healthcare providers and patients in the perioperative setting.
• Upon completion of the program, the student will demonstrate critical thinking skills and differentiation in provision of intraoperative care for patients from various cultural backgrounds.

Surgical Technology (ST) Prerequisites and Other Requirements

ST Prerequisites and Other Requirements (PDF) must be completed before applying for the program. Coursework in progress will not be accepted. Updated 8/2025.

Class	Course Number	Units
*Human Anatomy  Theory & lab must be taken concurrently.	BIOL 260	4 with lab
*Microbiology Theory & lab must be taken concurrently.	BIOL 265	4 with lab
Medical Terminology	MEDOP 230	3
**Introduction to Statistics (Formerly MATH 119)  or Statistics for Behavioral Sciences	**STAT-C1000 (or) PSYC 270 (or) SOC 270 (or equivalent)	4 3 3
**Academic Reading and Writing (Formerly ENGL 115)  or **Critical Thinking and Argument (Formerly ENGL 116)	**ENGL-C1000 (or equivalent) or **ENGL-C1001	4
Interpersonal Communication	COMM 174	3
**Introduction to Psychology (Formerly PSYC 101)	**PSYC-C1000	3
Select one Arts and Humanities General Education (GE) course	The Arts and Humanities GE course must be passed with a grade of “C” or better or “Pass.”  For a list of courses, reference SWC Catalog and/or meet with a counselor.	3
Select one Ethnic Studies course	The Ethnic Studies course must be passed with a grade of “C” or better or “Pass.” For a list of courses, reference SWC Catalog and/or meet with a counselor.	3

*Science prerequisites do not expire for Surgical Technology Program.

**Effective Fall 2025, The California Community College system will have the same course titles and numbers for all community colleges. The program will accept either the old course or the new common course number, whichever is reflected on the transcript.

+STAT-C100 (Formerly Math 119) or PSYC/SOC 270 is the required math for those applying to Surgical Tech. with a program acceptance & start date effective Fall 2025. Math 60/70/72 will no longer be accepted.

++Please make an appointment with SWC Counseling to review your catalog rights and academic records so that if you have not met the Ethnic Studies requirement, you can take a course. You may review the college catalog for more information. 

Admission Procedures

After completing ST Program prerequisites and other requirements, you may submit your application packet during the application period. Students will be admitted to the program using the Surgical Technology Point System Grid. Each year, 10-20 students are accepted and begin the program in the fall semester.  

Surgical Technology Program application packets will be accepted:
May 4 - June 18, 2026
Students applying during this application period will be considered for the class that begins Fall of 2026.

The ST Program application packet can be submitted in person or by U.S. Mail.
If sending by mail, the application packet must be postmarked by the deadline to be considered.

• Download and review the Surgical Technology Program Checklist & Application (PDF) for details on all that is needed to apply.
• The required documents and forms on pages 1-2 must be submitted by the application deadline.
• If you are offered a seat in the program, additional documents and forms listed on page 3 will be submitted to the Nursing & Health Occupation Programs (NHOP) Office by the set deadlines.

Letters of acceptance will be emailed to SWC email accounts after the application deadline, and after all applications have been reviewed. Notifications will not be sent to personal email accounts. 

Transcripts

• Those admitted in the program will be required to submit *official transcripts to SWC Admissions & Records. Students should request that their former school(s) send an official transcript of their records to SWC Admissions & Records Office.  
• *SWC defines official transcripts as those sent directly from college to college. Transcripts in a student's hands are considered "unofficial transcripts," even if transcripts are in a sealed and stamped envelope.
• Important: Program prerequisites completed outside of SWC must be cleared by the Prerequisites Office using a Program Enrollment Prerequisite Evaluation form. Please see the Surgical Technology Program Checklist & Application (PDF) for details and the link to the form. It takes 3-5 business days to process this form. A copy of the processed forms must be included in your ST application packet showing prerequisites taken at previously attended colleges have been cleared for the program.  

Transcripts from an institution outside of the United States (U.S.) must be evaluated by a certified credentials evaluation service before credit can be granted. If you have a degree from a college or university outside the U.S., your transcripts must be evaluated by an approved National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) agency. A copy of the evaluated transcript must be submitted with your application packet to meet program and/or graduation requirements.

Quarter units are not equal to semester units. Transfer courses taken on the quarter system may not be equivalent to the required semester units.

Cost

The cost of the Surgical Technology Program is approximately $2,900 - $3,060 (cost is subject to change). The greatest direct expense is at the beginning of the first semester. Textbooks, enrollment fees, material fees, malpractice insurance and uniforms are the major cost items. Eligibility for financial aid can help offset the cost.

Program Class Schedule

View Surgical Technology Program Class Schedule (PDF)

Application Documents & Instructions

Use the Surgical Technology Program Checklist & Application (PDF) on pages 1-2 as a guide to help you prepare and gather all required documents and forms to apply for the program.

If you are offered a seat in the program, additional documents and forms listed on page 3 will be submitted by specific dates provided to you by the Nursing & Health Occupation Programs (NHOP) Office. Acceptance into the program will be contingent upon the NHOP Office receiving these additional documents and forms by the given deadlines.

Update related to Covid-19 vaccine: Major Healthcare Systems in San Diego County require students and faculty to be fully vaccinated for Covid-19. Students and faculty must have the most recent Covid-19 booster recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Applicants to any Nursing and Health Occupations Program (ADN, VN-Step-up, VN, CNA, Acute Care CNA, Surgical Technology, Central Service Technician, and Operating Room Nurse) will be required to submit proof of vaccine status and most recent booster at time of application (Rev. 10-10-24).

• Surgical Technology Program Checklist & Application (PDF) will be posted in September 
• Physical Exam and Immunization Forms (PDF)
• Surgical Technology Program Prerequisites (PDF) (Rev. 8/2025)
• ST Program Point System Grid (PDF)

Degrees/Certificates Available

• Associate in Science Degree: Career/Technical