Surgical Technology

Virginia Western is the only community college within 100 miles that offers a Surgical Technology program. Begin your journey today to a career that provides the opportunity to care for the surgical patient in a wide variety of surgical specialties.

The AAS program consists of lecture courses, skills lab courses and three semesters of clinical rotations conducted at area facilities over a span of five semesters. Students are rotated through different health care facilities where they are given the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in multiple specialties. The exposure to a variety of surgical specialties helps our graduates to be marketable no matter where they choose to live after graduation.

What do surgical technologists do?

• Surgical technologists are a valuable part of the team of medical practitioners, working under the surgeon’s supervision to facilitate safe and effective surgical procedures.
• Surgical technologists scrub into surgical procedures and carry out tasks such as preparing and managing the sterile field, passing specialty instrumentation to other sterile team members, monitoring the surgical field for breaks in sterility and holding retractors.
• Surgical technologists work with the utmost integrity to advocate for the patient’s needs by exercising their surgical conscience.
• Surgical technologists are considered experts in the theory and application of the principles of asepsis.
• Surgical technologists combine knowledge related to human anatomy, surgical procedures, instrumentation and specialty equipment to deliver high-quality patient care as part of the surgical team.

What skills should a surgical technologist have?

• A strong background in anatomy and physiology and medical terminology
• Excellent integrity and the ability to prioritize tasks related to patient safety
• Maturity, compassion and desire to work with surgical patients
• Self-motivation and ability to work autonomously while being part of a team

Why choose Virginia Western’s Surgical Technology program?

• The Virginia Western Surgical Technology Lab is conveniently located within the Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital building. This lab contains two mock operating rooms stocked with working OR beds, manikins and a wide variety of equipment and supplies. An ancillary classroom contains AV equipment for hands-on lessons, as well as general and specialty instrumentation.
• Students receive consistent instruction on the hands-on skills necessary to function as a surgical technologist and are given the autonomy to practice these skills in a supervised lab setting.
• Students are rotated through three clinical semesters, participating in clinical experiences at a variety of health care entities such as Level I trauma, Level II and ambulatory surgery centers.
• The Surgical Technology program at Virginia Western has a 100% employment rate for students who graduate from the program.

VWCC Surgical Technology Lab

The VWCC Surgical Technology Lab is conveniently located on the 6th floor of the Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital building on 101 Elm Ave SE. This lab contains 2 separate mock operating rooms stocked with working OR beds, manikins, and a wide variety of equipment and supplies to provide students with a well-rounded lab experience to prepare them for upcoming clinical rotations. Additionally, the Surgical Technology labs have an ancillary classroom with AV equipment for hands on lessons, as well as general and specialty instrumentation.  Students receive consistent instruction on the hands-on skills necessary to function as a Surgical Technologist and are given the autonomy to practice these skills in a supervised lab setting. 

Accreditation

The Surgical Technology Program at Virginia Western Community College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of Accreditation Review Council On Education In Surgical Technology And Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA).

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

Transferring

If you’re considering an AAS program and are interested in transferring to a four-year college or university, contact a program advisor upon entry to the program to discuss your plans.  

Credit for Prior Learning

Our Credit for Prior Learning Program may award college credit for college-level skills and knowledge gained outside of a college classroom. Examples of Credit for Prior Learning include:

• Certifications and licensures
• Military and law enforcement training
• Work-based learning
• National or institutional examinations
• Workforce training

Click here to learn more about Credit for Prior Learning.

Professional Licensure Disclosure

Current and prospective students located outside the state of Virginia or who may be considering licensure in a state other than Virginia should review the disclosure information for this program here: Virginia Western Professional License Disclosures for Students Outside of Virginia.