Frequently Asked Questions

Applicants must:

• meet the general admission requirements for the college.
• hold a high school diploma or GED.
• have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) ≥ 2.5 based on the GPA calculated at the most recent institution/college at which you completed at least 12 college credit hours.

If you have not taken 12 college credit hours at any one college by the end of Fall 2025, your high school GPA must be ≥ 2.5.

The following are the prerequisites for Fall 2026 consideration.

Completed by the end of Spring 2026

• BIO 141 (Human Anatomy & Physiology I – 4 credits with lab)

Completed by the end of Summer 2026

• HLT 141 (Medical Terminology – 1 credit)
• SDV 101 (Orientation to Health Professions – 2 credits)

Each course must be completed with a C or higher.

Note: It is suggested that you also complete BIO 142 prior to beginning the program, but it can be completed in the first semester with your SUR courses.

If your college offers a one-credit SDV 100 and a one-credit SDV 101, we can combine those two courses to equate to the two-credit SDV 101 prerequisite, provided the final grades are a C or higher.  Alternately, if you have completed an Associate degree or higher, upon receipt of the official transcript showing degree completion we can use the previous degree to award credit for prior learning for the two credit SDV prerequisite.

If your college only offers the one-credit SDV, we can use the one credit of SDV and a completed HLT or PED course for the second SDV credit. In addition, several community colleges, including Virginia Western, offer their two credit SDV courses online. You can apply to that college and complete the two credit SDV online.

In 2025, there were over 45 qualified applicants considered out of 76 total applicants. Approximately twenty (20) students will be admitted yearly to the Surgical Technology class.

Program admission decisions are based on:

• academic record and GPA
• results of the interview and written prompt

There is not a waiting list. All applicants who meet the deadline, are minimally qualified, and complete the interview portion of the admission process are considered for the program. 

The core SUR courses are 9-11 credits per semester (summer semester will be 7 credits), and you will need to take the required co-requisites (if not already completed) to successfully complete the plan of study. Any SUR prefix lecture and lab courses are held during daytime hours only. You should expect clinical experience to be 9-hour days, and can vary depending on clinical site requirements. The SUR courses must be completed in sequence according to the plan of study.

Due to the rigorous coursework and clinical preparation required throughout the program, students are recommended to limit work hours, or implement an alternative work schedule that will accommodate your school schedule. 

The curriculum is designed to prepare students to become part of the operating room team under the direct supervision of a Surgical Technologist. Students are taught the basic hands-on skills in the lab course, and then apply those skills in the clinical setting while scrubbing in on surgical procedures in a variety of surgical settings and specialties needed to satisfy graduation requirements set forth by ARC-STSA.  Students are expected to be able to function in a wide variety of specialties, therefore, coursework is designed to cover a multitude of topics necessary to be prepared for the clinical rotation.

To assist students in preparation for successfully completing their clinical rotations and their licensing examination, the program uses a seven-point grading scale, and all courses must be passed with a grade of C or above to ensure continued enrollment. Students must demonstrate a mastery of both academic and hands-on course material in order to progress through the program. Continuance in the program is based upon academic criteria and adherence to attendance and other program policies covered at orientation. Satisfactory progress and graduation is necessary for eligibility to take licensure examinations.

We accept permanent residents, asylee, refugees and most visa types. However, we do not accept students on F1 or M1 visas as those visas are affiliated with a particular school. Students on F1 or M1 visas are not allowed to pursue a degree or certificate program with Virginia Western. Students on B1 and B2 visas are also not allowed to enroll at Virginia Western.

Yes. Please refer to the Estimated Cost page for more detailed information.

The Introduction to Surgical Technology CSC allows applicants who may not be accepted into the AAS program to academically prepare to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) certification exam, if the EMS 111/120 course sequence is completed. 

Additionally, if you already have a healthcare licensure/certification (such as CCMA, CNA, Phlebotomist, etc,) if you submit a copy of your current license to the HPAAO, we can complete paperwork on your behalf to determine if  Credit for Prior Learning can be awarded for one of the options under the job skill portion of the Introduction to Surgical Technology CSC.

The Introduction to Surgical Technology  CSC consists of specific coursework that is designed to allow applicants to the Surgical Technology program to complete some of the courses required within the AAS and to also offer a job skill option to applicants in case of non-admittance to the program. Not all prerequisite and support classes are included in the CSC. BIO 142 is not included, and only one of either PHI 220 or PHY 230 can be taken.

If you are using financial aid to cover the cost of classes, financial aid will only cover the cost of one of either PHI 220 or PHY 230, if you are eligible for financial aid.

If you wish to complete these courses prior to entry, you need to pay for those courses out of pocket.  If you are accepted into the AAS Surgical Technology program, financial aid will then cover those courses. The plan change for accepted students from the CSC to the AAS typically occurs in late May or early June and will not be effective until the fall term.

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

Applicants for admission to the Surgical Technology program are considered for class positions based on their ability to meet the program admission standards, without regard to race, color, sex, age, religion, disability, national origin, or other non-merit factors.

Applicants can complete the GED and submit official scores of the GED to the HPAAO. Applicants can also submit their transcripts to one of the organizations who are members of NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) and have the official report that verifies completion of United States High School education equivalency sent to the HPAAO. Either the copy of the GED scores or the official report from a NACES organization member must arrive by the application deadline of June 1 to be considered for the fall program. Here is a link to the current members of the NACES.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to schedule their observation experience. A popular option for observation experiences is through Carilion Visiting Student Affairs. Follow the instructions for documentation and application to apply for the job shadow opportunity. All timing and scheduling is based on availability through Visiting Student Affairs so you should plan accordingly and allow sufficient time to complete your hours before the application deadline.

We have a team of advisors for Health Professions.

Submission of all academic materials including application and official transcripts from High School and all colleges attempted should be directed to: Attention: Pam Woody; VWCC; School of Health Professions; 3091 Colonial Avenue, SW; Roanoke VA 24015.

You may also contact the team of advisors at healthprofessions@virginiawestern.edu.

A Surgical Technology Admissions Committee, which meets near mid-June, makes the admission decisions. Decisions are emailed to the applicants as soon as possible, usually in mid-June.

Students should expect to be in lab and/or lecture all 5 days in the first semester. Students have scheduled lecture courses on Mondays from 9 AM – 2:50 PM with a one-hour lunch break in between; ST labs on Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday from 9 – 11:50 AM or 12 – 2:50 PM; and a lecture on Fridays from 9 – 10:50 AM. The first semester is the most cumbersome due to some students needing BIO 142 in addition to the scheduled Surgical Technology courses. 

Virginia Western Community College faculty and students must comply with the policies required by clinical facilities with which we have legal agreements. If a student refuses to comply with a clinical facility immunization and vaccination requirement, Virginia Western Community College will attempt, but cannot guarantee, to assign a student to an alternative clinical facility. A student will be placed in an alternative location only if it meets the educational objectives of Virginia Western Community College and program requirements for clinical placement. Faculty also must be available to appropriately supervise students at the clinical facility. Refusal to comply with a clinical facility immunization and vaccination requirement by a student in our health programs may impede your progress in the program or your ability to remain in the program.

It is the student’s responsibility to clear their urine drug screen. Marijuana may be legalized under state law for medical use with an MMJ card, but medical marijuana use is prohibited at all clinical sites. The presence of marijuana metabolites in urine will result in a positive drug screen finding that prevents a student from obtaining clinical placement and results in removal from the program. There are no exceptions to this rule as healthcare facilities have the right to ban the use of these drugs by hospital employees or clinical students.

Yes! In order to work in the state of Virginia, all Surgical Technologists must pass the National Certification Examination after graduating from a nationally accredited Surgical Technology Program. The state of Virginia also requires that anyone practicing as a Surgical Technologist register with the Virginia Board of Medicine. Requirements for certification vary from state to state.