Surgical Technology is an allied health profession that includes surgical technologists whose function is to work in close association with surgeons, registered nurses, anesthesiologists, and other surgical services personnel as integral members of the surgical team before, during, and after surgery. Knowledge of and experience with aseptic technique, surgical techniques and surgical instrumentation qualify surgical technologists to prepare materials and equipment for use at the operative field and to assist in their use.

Classes are enrolled annually in January and September. The eleven month, full-time program consists of classroom and clinical instruction. Classes are conducted Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Hours for clinical experiences are normally 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, but may include rotations on various shifts and a weekend assignment.

Admission Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited high school with an overall grade point average of 2.0 is highly recommended; or a GED certificate.
• Completion of Anatomy & Physiology with lab, 5-8 semester hours, with a grade of "C" or above. See curriculum section for the list of the required prerequisite courses. - NEW!
• Satisfactory score on the PSB Entrance Test.
• Must be able to meet essential requirements of the program.
• Two satisfactory Professional or Academic Reference Forms. Current or past employees of Riverside Health System will be evaluated for job performance and eligibility for rehire.
• Official TOEFL results if English is your second language. Minimum score of 550 (paper) or 79 (Internet-based)
• Applicants who are not U.S. citizens by birth must provide immigration or citizenship documentation.
• Essay
• Satisfactory interview (for applicants meeting above requirements).

Admission is on a competitive bases. Riverside School of Health Careers reserves the right to select those applicants who are deemed best qualified for both the program of study and potential employment by Riverside Health System.

A complete physical, immunizations, and CPR certification are required prior to beginning clinical courses.

Transfer Credit

• Applicants requesting transfer credit considerations for courses taken at other accredited educational institutions must submit an official transfer evaluation and fee.
• The applicant must provide an official transcript, copy of the course syllabi, and course catalog for each request.
• Only courses successfully completed with a grade of "C" or better within three years of the application date will be considered.
• A reference from the director or advisor of the previous school is required for evaluation of the request.
• The admission entrance requirements for the individual program must be met.

• A list of clinical competencies achieved must be provided prior to advanced placement or re-entry.
• Assurance of continued clinical competency in an area previously mastered is at the discretion of the individual program director in a manner and time frame established by the individual school.

Educational Facilities

The School of Health Careers is located at 316 Main Street, Newport News, VA. Faculty offices, classrooms, clinical skills laboratories, student services, computer lab, Health Sciences Library, student cafe', and alumni meeting room are conveniently located at the campus location at 316 Main Street. The Computer Learning Lab offers a generous number of computers and computer-assisted instruction. Students use these programs to reinforce surgical technology concepts and clinical skills during day, evening, and weekend hours. The clinical skills laboratories offer advanced technology, and the Health Sciences Library has a wide selection of professional books and periodicals.

As part of the Riverside Health System, the School of Health Careers operates in association with Riverside Regional Medical Center, a state-of-the-art health system serving the area's 400,000 residents. With 570 beds and a medical staff of more than 350, Riverside Regional Medical Center offers 35 specialty practices and expansive medical services. 

The medical center houses a regional Cancer Treatment Center; a Heart Center with a full spectrum of services from emergency care, diagnostics and delicate heart surgery to three stages of Cardiac Rehabilitation; and a Magnetic Resonance Imaging Center. The Riverside Emergency/Trauma Center, a Level II facility, responds to more than 58,000 emergencies each year.  

In addition, our affiliated healthcare institutions include our nationally recognized Hospice Program, fully-computerized laboratory, Home Health Agency and Diabetes, Orthopedics, Geriatrics, Neurosurgery, Dialysis, Pediatrics, One-Day Surgery, Convalescent Centers and Sleep Disorders specialty units. With Wellness as a major focus in today's health care, Riverside takes the lead in Wellness promotion with Positive Life Style programs, Wellness Centers and community education. 

Riverside Health System covers the healthcare needs of more than a quarter of a million people each year. The finely-tuned combined effort of our 6,000-plus employees position Riverside to maintain its leadership and reputation for quality well into the 21st century. 

Students in the Riverside School of Health Careers also have the opportunity for learning experiences in selected areas of other Riverside facilities as well as in community based agencies.

Accreditation

The School of Surgical Technology is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs in collaboration with the Accreditation Review Committee on Education in Surgical Technology.

Prerequisites for the Surgical Technology Program - NEW!

• Anatomy & Physiology with Lab: 5-8 semester hours
• Medical Terminology: 3 semester hours
• College Math, any 100-level or higher: 3 semester hours

Surgical Technology Program Curriculum

How to apply

Download, complete, and submit the following application packet:

• Welcome Letter
• Application
• Admissions Procedure Checklist
• ST Prerequisites - NEW!
• Preadmission Test Registration
• Essential Program Requirements
• Reference Forms (2 required)
• Tuition and General Financial Aid Information Sheet
  
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Disclaimer

Riverside School of Health Careers provides educational opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, physical or mental condition(s) so long as the condition(s) do not limit the applicant's ability to perform essential functions of a student with or without reasonable accommodations. An individuals qualifications must meet the established criteria for admission to the selected program of study.

Riverside Health System is committed to making its educational programs available to individuals with mental or physical disabilities to the fullest extent practicable. However, admission to an educational program sponsored by Riverside Health Systems does not necessarily indicate that the individual will be capable of performing all the essential functions of the particular job or jobs for which that educational program is preparing. If accommodations are provided by the school, this does not necessarily mean future employers will be able to accommodate. Please read the essential program requirements.

The information contained in this website is informational only, and not intended to be contractual in nature.  We reserve the right to change or alter any statements herein without prior notice.