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Surgical Technology

Program at a Glance

18 Month Associate's Degree
66 Total Credits

Clinical Training Experience
Life-Like Simulations



Surgical Technology Degree Overview

The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Surgical Technology program is designed to prepare students for entry-level roles in the field of surgical technology. Surgical Technologists play a critical role in the operating room, assisting surgeons, nurses, and other team members to ensure safe and efficient surgical procedures.

The curriculum includes coursework in surgical anatomy and physiology, aseptic techniques, surgical instrumentation, and the sequence of surgical procedures. Students also gain hands-on experience in maintaining sterile environments, preparing operating rooms, and handling surgical equipment.

Surgical Technologists, also known as scrubs or surgical operating technicians, work under the supervision of surgeons and nurses to support patient care during surgery. They are responsible for ensuring that instruments and equipment are sterile, organized, and readily available to the surgical team.

Through ECPI’s year-round accelerated schedule, students can earn their Associate degree in Surgical Technology in as little as 18-months.

Knowledge and Skills

This program prepares graduates with the following knowledge and skills:

  • Surgical Procedures and Instruments
    Understanding of the flow of surgical procedures from start to finish. Familiarity with various surgical instruments and their uses.
  • Clinical Skills
    Ability to function as a primary scrub in various surgical procedures and participate in all aspects of the operating room experience.
  • Foundational Knowledge
    Basic understanding of surgical anatomy and physiology. Entry-level knowledge of surgical technology and its role in healthcare.

University Benefits

Clinical Training Experience

Hands-on training in instrument setup, equipment assembly, patient positioning, and assisting during surgeries.

Comprehensive Education

Covers surgical anatomy, instrumentation, aseptic techniques, and procedural flow for operating room readiness.

Graduate Faster

Our year-round, accelerated, programs let you earn your degree in just 18 months.

Surgical Technology Curriculum

The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Surgical Technology program

Featured Courses

Surgical Procedures I SUR120

This course introduces the student to skills including creation and maintenance of the sterile field, sterile and non-sterile equipment and supplies, and surgical counts. The students should be able to name and identify instruments, equipment and supplies used in the operative setting. The student will learn concepts related to wound healing and the devices and methods of wound closure, pre/intra/post-operative routines, patient skin prep, positioning and draping and urethral catheterization.

Surgical Theory I SUR101

This course provides general introductory information for the surgical technology student. The student will learn the history and development of surgery, healthcare facilities organization and accreditation, physical environment and safety, biomedical science, surgical technologist and other team members job descriptions, medical/legal aspects of surgery including informed consent, risk management, patient’s Bill of Rights, the surgical patient and treatment of “special populations” of patients, professional management, communication skills and teamwork, microbiology related to the perioperative environment.

Program Requirements

To receive the Associate of Applied Science in Surgical Technology, students must earn 66 semester credit hours. The program requires a minimum of 5 semesters, which is equivalent to 15 months or 65 weeks of instruction. Program courses may be offered via Remote Synchronous Delivery (See Remote Synchronous and Hybrid Delivery).

The program requirements are as follows:

Complete ALL of the following Courses:

*For allowable substitutions of arts and sciences courses, see the Arts & Sciences Department page. The following courses are available online for Surgical Technical students: course, course, course, course, and course.

Course IDCourse NameCredit Hours
BIO101Human Anatomy and Physiology I3
BIO104Human Anatomy and Physiology II3
ENG110College Composition3
HUM205Culture, Thought, and the Human Experience3
MTH120College Mathematics3
PSY105Introduction to Psychology3

Complete ALL of the following Courses:

*All of these self-integration courses are available online for Surgical Technology students.

Course IDCourse NameCredit Hours
CIS108Office Applications2
COR191Career Orientation1
FOR110Essentials for Success3

Programmatic Accreditation

The Surgical Technology programs are accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) at the following ECPI campuses: Northern Virginia and Richmond, Virginia campuses. This is a programmatic accreditation by ABHES, a recognized accrediting agency for allied health programs including surgical technology. For more information, For more information, visit www.abhes.org.

Institutional Accreditation

ECPI University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, and master’s degrees. ECPI University also offers credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels.

Questions about the accreditation of ECPI University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

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