The CAAHEP-accredited Surgical Tech Associate’s degree will prepare you to professionally carry out common OR (operating room) procedures and handle high-pressure situations as a valuable member of a surgical team. In as few as 21 months, you can earn you can earn your surgical tech Associate’s degree, which provides hands-on training in surgical suite labs to help you prepare for surgical tech certification and a fulfilling career.1 Surgical Tech program online and on campus is available with $149 self-directed assessments, which allow you to prove that you already have the knowledge for a particular course and don't need to take it.
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What Will I Be Prepared to Do When I’m Done?
Pursue Surgical Tech Certification
Upon graduation, students are prepared to take the CST National Surgical Technologist Certification exam to add to your professional credentials at no additional cost.2 Students are eligible to prepare and take the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) Tech in Surgery – Certified TS-C exam at non-accredited campuses at no additional cost.2
Advance Your Education
Once you graduate from this Surgical Tech program, you can choose to continue your education by transferring your credits into our Health and Wellness Bachelor’s degree for even more in-demand knowledge and skills within the healthcare industry.
Pursue Potential Job Growth
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the projected job growth potential between 2020 and 2030 for Surgical Technologists is 9%.3 A Surgical Technologist Associate's degree from Rasmussen University can help set you up for success in this growing field.
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What Skills Will I Gain?
Operating Room Preparation
Learn how to prepare an operating room for surgery and develop tactics used to handle high-pressure situations from experienced instructors.
Surgical Procedures
Develop a thorough understanding of surgical procedures so you can anticipate the surgeon’s needs and monitor operating room conditions.
Sterilization Techniques
Gain expertise in the aseptic techniques needed to keep the operating room sterile and promote patient safety.
Compassionate Patient Care
Build your interpersonal skills to help you promote successful and compassionate patient care, both inside and outside the operating room.
What Types of Classes Will I Take?
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Fundamentals of Surgical Technology
- STS 1005C
- On Campus
- 4 Credits
Orients students to surgery and technology and prepares them for scrub and circular duties.
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Surgical Procedures III
- STS 2180C
- On Campus
- 4 Credits
Expands on the duties and responsibilities in the role of scrub in the field of surgical technology, as well as explores specialty surgery areas.
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Surgical Tech Practicum I
- STS 2304
- On Campus
- 8 Credits
Provides students with a clinical experience that includes a solid introduction to the operating room, as well as scrub and circulating routines.
22 Courses to Complete
92 Credit Hours
Estimate Your Tuition
Rasmussen University is committed to making education more affordable for all students. Our tuition estimating tool can help you visualize the cost of your degree and see what savings opportunities are available to help you achieve it.
Tuition Estimator
Rasmussen University believes in helping you make your education as affordable as possible.
Our interactive tuition estimator is designed to help you discover how much you could save on a degree from Rasmussen University.
Simply enter your ZIP code, select the program and credential you're interested in, and click “next”.
Right away, you can see the total estimated cost of your selected degree.
As you engage with the tool, you may see this number start to go down.
You also have the option to see how attending full-time or part-time could impact your tuition—and what your tuition estimate looks like, broken down by quarter.
The tuition estimator walks you through a number of ways you could reduce your overall tuition.
Click the tabs or the “back” and “next” buttons to move through the tool.
Within each tab, answer the question shown as accurately as you can, by interacting with the slider, select menu or radio buttons shown.
You might not feel totally confident in all of your answers. That's okay. This tool is just generating an estimate of how much your degree might cost.
The last tab of the tool shows you your results, including how much you could potentially save on your Rasmussen degree.
Remember, the numbers shown here are just estimates, and the true cost of your degree will vary.
Talk with an admissions advisor for more information about how to make your Rasmussen degree as affordable as possible.
What Should I Know Before I Enroll?
Entrance Requirements
Entrance requirements for the School of Health Sciences vary by program. To learn more and receive help planning your healthcare education path, contact an admissions advisor who will speak to you about immunizations, background checks and entrance exam options.
Transfer Student
We believe in giving credit where it’s due. You can get an estimate of your transfer credits without an official transcript in one business day (on average). Talk to an admissions advisor today, or explore our Transfer Policy page for our seamless credit policies designed to maximize credits, potentially save money and expedite graduation.
Help Paying for College
Higher education should be a manageable investment. Talk to an admissions advisor and learn how these programs can make it more affordable with self-directed assessments, credit for prior learning, loans and grants, scholarship opportunities, corporate grants and military discounts for those who qualify.
Where Can I Find a Surgical Technologist Program Near Me?
At Rasmussen University, we want our courses to be available on your schedule, not the other way around. Select programs are available for enrollment through a specific campus and nationally online, but students complete the courses online and can utilize online and on-campus support and resources.
The degree type can vary based on the state. This is an Associate of Science (AS) degree in FL, and an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in MN and IL.
See below to find out where you can find a Surgical Technologist program near you.
Accreditation
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
The Surgical Technologist AAS Program at the Hennepin/Anoka, Minnesota, campus, the Central Pasco, Florida, campus, and the Rockford and Romeoville/Joliet, Illinois, campuses is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP.org) on the recommendation of the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA).
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
9355 113th Street N, Suite 7709
Seminole, FL 33775
727-210-2350
www.caahep.org
Surgical Technologist Program Outcomes
Rasmussen University has Rasmussen University and National NBSTSA Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) exam pass rates available to view.