2026-2027 Course Catalog
Surgical Technology, AAS
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 Return to: Urban/Des Moines Campus Programs
The Surgical Technology program prepares students for national certification and the ability to earn the credential Certified Surgical Technologist (CST). The CST will find employment in a hospital, surgery center, or any facility that provides procedural care to patients. As a skilled health professional, the CST is able to scrub independently for a variety of surgical specialties and procedures, and circulate with a registered nurse (RN) in the operating room.
Students gain a basic knowledge of anatomy, physiology, microbiology, aseptic technique, surgical techniques and procedures, and patient care techniques. The courses include a web-enhanced classroom, laboratory experience, and a supervised clinical setting. The curriculum provides assessment in the cognitive, psychomotor, and effective learning domains. The award is an Associate’s of Applied Science Degree and graduation allows the student sit for the national certification exam and become credentialed as a Certified Surgical Technologist (CST).
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Location: Urban/Des Moines
Students may start this program Fall semester
Program Entry Requirements
- Complete an application for admission to DMACC and to the DMACC - STP
- Attend a live information session in our classroom/lab that is led by program faculty (within 18 months of entry)
- Submit all transcripts to Admissions
- High school graduation, GED, or HiSET
- All other higher education transcripts
- Satisfy DMACC’s basic assessment requirements
- ACCUPLACER® - reading (248 min) and writing (254 min)
- ALEKS - mathematics (30% min)
- Submit evidence of obtaining the grade of “C” or better in one year of high school BIOLOGY -OR- a grade of “C” or better in DMACC Academic Achievement Center Biology I and II -Or- a grade of “C” or better in BIO 157 .
- ATI TEAS EXAM - atitesting.com
- The student must achieve a minimum composite score of 60%
- Each student allowed three attempts at this exam
Program Graduation Requirements
To earn a Surgical Technology, AAS a student must complete all coursework as prescribed and maintain a “C” or above in each course. All courses run concurrently and require a passing grade of “C” or better to advance in the program
Total Credits Required to Complete this Award - 64
Fixed Costs
Tuition……………………………………………………………………………………..$215.00 per credit The costs for each program are estimates and subject to change. Varied Costs
| | Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Semester 3 | Semester 4 | Semester 5 | | Books (approximate) | $260 | | | | $100.00 | | Supplies | $150 | | | | | | Uniform, Shoe, ect. | | | $200 | | | | Health Exams/Tests | $450 | | | | | | CPR - BLS Course | | | $75 | | | | Criminal Background check | $100 | | | | | | Trajecsys online clinical reporting | | | | $100 | | | ATI TEAS Exam | $100 | | | | | | AST Gold Bundle Student Package | | | | $250 | | *Transportation to and from clinical sites is the responsibility of the student *Students may opt for housing near clinical sites at their own expense Approximate total cost for the program: $15,545** **Program entry requirements are not included in the total approximate cost. What Kind of Work Will You Do?
- The surgical technologist is responsible for preparing the instrumentation and supplies needed for surgical procedures.
- The surgical technologist will be accountable for, and pass all instruments, medications, suture, and supplies to the surgical team.
- The surgical technologist and the circulator (Registered Nurse) are together responsible for all counts in the operating room.
What Skills and Abilities Will You Need?
- Understanding patient needs and safety.
- Perform activities in an organized, detailed, and efficient manner.
- The ability to perform in a high-stress and life-threatening environment.
- Apply knowledge from biological and social sciences.
- Good critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Knowledge of surgical instrumentation, equipment, and procedures
What Else Should I Consider about this Program or Career Choice?
- Good communication skills are necessary to work with a variety of patients and staff.
- Surgical technologists work with patients’ blood and body fluids.
- Surgical technologists will stand and walk most of their shift.
- Students will not receive pay or be working as a surgical technologist during the program.
Program Competencies
- Analyze central supply and sterile processing concepts and characteristics
- Demonstrate the role of the surgical technologist in basic patient care concepts of diagnosis, admission, education, assessment, documentation, equipment, safety, and discharge from the perioperative surgical suite
- Interpret aseptic technique and surgical conscience relating to preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative case management
- Organize the use of basic surgical instruments, sutures, equipment, and supplies for surgical specialties
- Compose medical terms from word parts relating to body systems, disease and disorders, diagnostics, and surgical intervention
- Interpret government and private agency regulations and guidelines relating to surgery
- Assess pharmacology and anesthesia principles for the surgical patient
- Evaluate surgical procedures and techniques including relevant anatomy, diagnostic procedures, risk, perioperative care, and possible complications
- Distinguish the practical considerations for each surgical specialty and relative procedures
- Demonstrate the ability to perform as a competent surgical technologist in the first scrub role within a clinical setting
- Compile a complete clinical record of all case studies, surgical procedures, evaluations, and achieved skill competencies from clinical practicum
- Assess the environment of continuous change and improvement in surgery
- Prepare for and complete the national certification examination
- Produce employment documentation and prepare for a behavioral interview process
- Interpret the necessity for continuing education related to national certification
Competencies revised date
AY2025 Nondiscrimination Statement
It is the policy of Des Moines Area Community College not to discriminate in its programs, activities, or employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, genetic information (in employment) and actual or potential parental, family or marital status. Veteran status in educational programs, activities, employment practices, or admission procedures is also included to the extent covered by law. If you have questions or complaints related to compliance with this policy, please contact Director, Enterprise Risk Management, 2006 South Ankeny Boulevard, Bldg 22, Ankeny, IA 50023, 515-513-0655, feedback@dmacc.edu or the Director of the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, Cesar E. Chavez Memorial Building, 1244 Speer Boulevard, Suite 310, Denver, CO 80204-3582, Telephone: (303) 844-5695 FAX: (303) 844-4303, TDD 800-877-8339 Email: OCR.Denver@ed.gov (2026) |
Return to: Urban/Des Moines Campus Programs
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