Surgical Technology

Program Information

We appreciate your interest in PRCC and our Surgical Technology Program! 

The SUT Program has two start dates per year—one in August and one in January.

*  Deadline to apply for August (Fall semester) class: May 1

*  Deadline to apply for January (Spring semester) class: October 1

Upcoming Information Sessions:

            February 26th and April 9th, from 3:00 to 4:00 pm, in the Allied Health building, room 161.

Note: The Surgical Technology Program offers only an Associate Degree. The AAS Degree may be obtained using previous academic coursework along with the SUT Plan of Study Curriculum, or students may take academic coursework alongside SUT courses. See Plan of Study for details and curriculum. Applicants who are offered a class position will have to meet additional requirements to secure their class position.

 

Location of Program:

Forrest County Campus

Program Start:

Fall & Spring Semesters

Program Information:

Leah Backstrom, A.A.S., RCIS, CST
Surgical Technology Program Director
lbackstrom@prcc.edu

Monika Phillips, A.A.S., CST
Clinical Coordinator / SUT Instructor
mdphillips@prcc.edu

Deidre Brumfield, A.A.S, CST
SUT Instructor
dbrumfield@prcc.edu

For program information, contact:
Cheryl Breland
Allied Health & CTE Support Specialist
601-554-5487
surgicaltech@prcc.edu

Brief Description of Program:

Surgical Technologist graduates will receive an Associate in Applied Science Degree (A.A.S.). The students spend their time in the classroom, lab, and clinical settings. Prior to completion of the program, the students are required to sit for the National Certification Exam. The educational goal of the SUT program is to prepare the student for satisfactory completion of the program, attainment of national certification, and above average competency on skills as stated in the Association of Surgical Technologist's Standards of Practice-Description of the Surgical Technologist.
How to Apply >
Pearl River Community College_PRCC_Surgical Technology

Accreditation Status

In 2019 The College’s Surgical Technology Program accreditation was reaffirmed by CAAHEP for a period of 10 years. The PRCC Surgical Technology Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) 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, 9355 113th Street N., # 7709, Seminole, FL 33775-7709, Phone: 727-210-2350    mail@caahep.org    http://www.arcstsa.org 

  • AST The Association of Surgical Technologists- The oldest and most widely recognized professional organization for surgical technologists. AST actively promotes education for the profession, legislatively advocated for practitioner recognition, supports state-level constituent organizations, and has committed to students as the future of the profession. www.ast.org 
  • ARC/STSA Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting- Provides recognition for the quality of the education programs in its system to the public. The ARC/STSA is the only CAAHEP-recognized committee on Accreditation for education programs in surgical technology and surgical assisting. www.arcstsa.org 
  • CAAHEP The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs – The largest programmatic accreditor in the health sciences field, reviewing over 2,000 educational programs in 26 health science occupations. www.caahep.org 
  • NBSTSA The National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting- Promotes the highest level of professional certification of surgical technologists (CST) and surgical first assistants (CFSA), thus promoting quality patient care in the surgical setting. www.nbstsa.org 

SUT Surgical Technology Program 
Retention, Outcomes Assessment, Job Placement data

The sponsor must maintain and make accessible to the public on its website a current and consistent summary of student/graduate achievements that includes one or more of these program outcomes: national credentialing examination(s), programmatic retention, and placement in full or part-time employment in the profession or a related profession as established by the ARC/STSA. 

Core Outcomes Indicator (Summative Assessment Measure)Outcomes Assessment Threshold (Minimum Requirement)2021 Jan. – Dec.  2021 Graduates

2020 Jan.- Dec. 2020Graduates

2019 Jan- Dec. 2019 Graduates
Programmatic Retention60% of students should graduate/complete

2023 Annual Report  

74 % retention

2022 Annual Report 

68 % retention

2021 Annual Report 

45 % retention

Job (positive) Placement (employment)80% of graduates employed in field related to surgical technology

2024 Annual Report

100 % Job placement

2023 Annual Report

100 % Job placement

2022 Annual Report

100 % Job placement

Outcomes Assessment Exam (OAE) Performance CST Exam CST: 100% participation rate and 70% pass rate

2023 Annual Report

100 % Participation               

35 % passage rate

2022 Annual Report

100 % Participation               

42 % passage rate

2021 Annual Report

100 % Participation

67 % passage rate

Possible careers in this program:

The Surgical Technologist is an allied health professional employed as part of the surgical team preparing the operating rooms, equipment, instruments, and supplies used during surgery and other related health care procedures. The Surgical Technologist assists the surgical team during surgical and other related procedures. Surgical Technologists may be employed in hospital operating rooms, labor and delivery suites, surgeon's offices, specialty clinics, sterile processing, endoscopic department, cardiac and peripheral vascular lab departments, and additional areas.

What a student can expect from a career in this field:

 Surgical Technologists will become integral members of the surgical team and will work closely with surgeons, anesthesiologists, registered nurses, and other surgical personnel delivering patient care before, during, and after surgery.

Essential requirements of a person in this career field:

May be required to work long hours, weekends and holidays. Ability to stand for long periods, work around unusual sights and smells.

Click here to view possible earnings of jobs in this career field

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics gives you comprehensive tools to explore salaries and incomes for any industry across the state.

Mission of Program:

 The mission of the Surgical Technology Program is to provide students with the general and technical education to function as safe, competent surgical technologists in entry-level positions. The program also seeks to foster partnerships with public, private, and government health care facilities and educational institutions in Mississippi. “To prepare competent entry-level surgical technologists in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.”

Pearl River Community College_PRCC_Surgical Technology

Goals of Program:

The educational goal of the SUT Program at PRCC is to prepare the student for satisfactory completion of the program, attainment of national certification, and above–average competency in skills as stated in the Association of Surgical Technologist’s Standards of Practice-Description of the Surgical Technologist. This goal is accomplished through the stated objectives.

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Each community college president is asked to bring two (2) wrapped door prizes, minimum value of $50 each. We will have a station set up at the conference for you to drop off the door prizes.

Each community college is asked to provide name tags for their Board members, administration, and staff attending the conference.

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