How to Apply

Applications for the fall 2024 class are being accepted now and must include all requested academic transcripts to be received no later than June 1, 2024. If you are interested in the program but want to find out specifically what requirements you do not meet or what will be necessary, you should apply to the college and submit your official high school and college transcripts directly to one of the Health Professions Advising and Applications Office (Pam Woody or Jasmine Terry). They can review them and then discuss (or refer you to one of the Health Professions Advisors) your particular circumstances with you to answer these questions. We encourage applicants to apply and submit official transcripts as early as possible for advising purposes.

We require all application material(s) be submitted directly to the Health Professions Advising and Applications Office (HPAAO). If you fail to do so, be aware we will not be responsible for any delays in processing your file. Complete the following and submit in one envelope to:

Pam Woody, VWCC – Health Professions
3091 Colonial Ave.
Roanoke, VA 24015

A meeting with the Health Professions Advising and Applications Office (HPAAO) team is not required. If you have questions, it is suggested that any meeting not be conducted until after all official transcripts have been submitted to the HPAAO. You may contact a member of the team directly after that time by email, or if needed in the office. In addition, the pre-health advisor, Ms. Rhonda Perdue (rperdue@virginiawestern.edu) can assist you with career planning and course selections. You may schedule a meeting with Ms. Perdue using Navigate as well. You should follow the steps below.

1. Apply to VWCC.

If you are not a current VWCC student, apply to the college by completing a VWCC Application. Please make sure you indicate your plan of study as Career Studies Certificate: Introduction to Surgical Technology (curricular/credit classes) on the college application.

All NEW students intending to enroll in classes at Virginia Western should consider contacting the Enrollment Center staff in Chapman Hall, if they have basic questions about direct enrollment, course requirements, financial aid, etc. You may need an appointment to visit the Enrollment Center and it’s a great way to learn more about available resources. They may allow walk-in appointments as well. They will refer you to A New Student Advisor, if needed, or to one of the pre-admission advisor for Surgical Technology, when necessary.

Note: If you already attend a Virginia community college, you have either completed the direct enrollment process regarding Math and English or completed the required courses necessary to begin courses. If you attend another college or university, the official transcripts you provide will be evaluated to see if preparatory coursework is necessary. Again, the advisor will request in the advising form letter if you need to take preparatory coursework to prepare for necessary courses for Surgical Technology or any of the prerequisites required for Surgical Technology. Applicants who need to begin prerequisite courses at Virginia Western (home college) should make it a priority to seek assistance from Chapman Hall, if a new student.

2. Apply to the Surgical Technology Program.

Apply to the Surgical Technology Program by completing a 2023 Surgical Technology Application Form.

• Surgical Technology Application (PDF)
• Application Instructions (PDF)

3. Obtain and submit your transcripts.

Have all official sealed transcripts (high school and college) and a copy of GED scores (if applicable) to submit in your application packet. We strongly suggest applicants request transcripts be sent to the applicant’s mailing address, so you are fully aware of whether your request is filled and all material can be placed by you in one larger envelope for submission. Remember, do not open any envelope which contains a transcript, they are no longer “official” to us when you open. Official electronic transcripts are acceptable from the institution when using an electronic platform such as Parchment, Scribbles or National Clearinghouse. Transcripts must be received by the Health Professions Advising and Applications Office by June 1.

If any school’s policy prevents them from issuing “official” transcripts directly to you, please request they be sent addressed directly to Pam Woody at the address above. Please do not request transcripts from VWCC or any other community college in Virginia. Transcripts must include Continuing Education courses. HS transcripts are required even if you are a college graduate. GED holders must also submit official high school transcripts if completed at least through the 9th grade. If you were home-schooled, a detailed academic curriculum report showing completion and signed by the school administrator is required (including a statement indicating if a lab component was completed for Biology and Chemistry).

Transcript Request Form (PDF)

4. Submit your application materials.

We suggest mailing your application packet to Miss Woody at the address above. Material being hand-delivered to campus should be brought to the 3rd floor of the Fralin Center, Room HP339. The Health Professions Advising and Applications Office is usually accessible from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM. If the office is closed, please slide the materials under the door of Fralin 339. The Surgical Technology advising form letter is scanned to either your school email account, after your complete academic file is reviewed by the Advisor (usually within 4 weeks if received from May – December), to the email on the application, or to the email attached to the platform Navigate (please be sure and turn on your notifications). It is the applicant’s responsibility to request their own transcripts and pay any required fees. Faxed transcripts are not considered “official” for application.

Note: Applicants should remember to update the Health Professions Advising and Applications Office with any changes to their email address throughout the process. We use the Surgical Technology application form email address, the school email, or the email attached to the Navigate platform until we receive notification directly from the applicant to change it in their application file. We do not receive notification about email address changes from the college SIS student account information. All future contact from the advisors office regarding the application, will be sent via email to the last email address given to us directly from the applicant. (Again, sometimes, for status letters for fall, we may use the email attached to Navigate. Please be sure and turn on your notifications in Navigate.)

5. Review the Surgical Technology Checklist.

Details about other steps taken after the deadline are discussed.

Surgical Technology Checklist (PDF)

The pre-advisor will be in contact by letter, once an applicant has supplied all their transcripts. The pre-advisor does not have any input in the final admission decisions for a program, so face-to-face contact with the advisor is not a requirement.

Apply Early

By applying early to VWCC and submitting your official high school/GED records and all official college transcripts from all colleges attempted, Pam Woody and the other Health Professions Advisors will be able to provide answers to many of your questions and help guide you in making decisions for this restricted program. They will notify you of any prerequisite requirements you have not met and provide advising on how to meet those requirements, as well as selecting courses that can be utilized to increase your cumulative GPA by the end of the Fall semester for fall 24 consideration. Current enrollment in missing prerequisites is not required to apply early, but all prerequisites must be completed with a “C” or better by the summer semester prior to the first fall semester of the program.