How to Get Started
To get started in the Surgical Technology program, complete the admissions process at El Centro College.
When you meet with an academic advisor, mention your interest in the Surgical Technology program so he or she can help you determine which courses you should take.
If you are planning to earn an associate degree or certificate, please note that you must complete 25 percent of your degree requirements at the college awarding the degree.
Information Sessions
Attendance at an information session (held monthly on the main El Centro College campus) is required and will address program admission, application and acceptance policies in detail. No advance reservation is necessary to attend an information session.
Get the information session schedule:
Application Filing Period
There are up to 20 spaces available in each beginning class of the Surgical Technology program, which starts in August of each year. The application filing period is Jan. 1 to May 31. Submitting your application early does not influence ranking for admission.
Acceptance letters are mailed by June 15 of each academic year.
Drug Testing and Criminal Background Check
All students enrolled in DCCCD Health Occupation programs are required by Dallas/Fort Worth Hospital Council member facilities to undergo drug testing and a criminal background check after admission to the program but within 30 days prior to the start of clinical rotations.
Tuition
Dallas County residents pay $123 per three-hour class — that’s $41 per credit hour, or less than $500 for a full semester load of 12 credit hours.
Compare that to what you’d pay elsewhere! See DCCCD tuition rates for tuition according to your place of residency.
Courses Offered (Curriculum)
Our catalog provides detailed information about the courses we offer and the courses required for the following certificates:
Surgical Technologist Certificate
Perioperative Nursing Enhanced Skills Certificate
- El Centro College also offers a Perioperative Nurse Internship program that gives registered nurses and graduate nurses the opportunity to acquire additional theory and skills required for patient care in the surgical setting.
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Accreditation
Like all colleges of the Dallas County Community College District, El Centro College is accredited by the Commission of Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and is a member of the American Association of Community Colleges, the Association of Texas Colleges and Universities (formerly the college section of the Texas State Teachers Association) and the League for Innovation in the Community College.
The Surgical Technologist program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA). The professional organization is the Association of Surgical Technologists, and the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting is responsible for administering the certification exam.
Related Programs at DCCCD
We offer several additional health care-related programs that might interest you, including Nursing, Diagnostic Medical Sonography and Medical Laboratory Technology.
Developing Skills for Success
The Surgical Technology program is located in the Center for Allied Health and Nursing, in the Paramount Building, located at 301 N. Market St. at Pacific, a block from the main El Centro College campus. Opened in June 2008 to house all of El Centro’s booming allied health programs, the center comprises 55 classrooms and labs that contain some of the most advanced equipment available to educate health care students.
The center’s high-tech equipment includes:
- Teaching labs that simulate surgical and hospital settings for specific program applications
- Microphones and cameras in each classroom to capture audio and video instruction
- Three classrooms with videoconferencing for two-way viewing
- Two simulation labs with computerized patient mannequins
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Faculty Profiles
Our Surgical Technology faculty not only have relevant degrees but also have real-world experience in the field, which makes them able to relate to the challenges you’ll face at work. Our instructors work closely with you one-on-one, encouraging you and helping you to succeed in school and in your career. See profiles of some of our Surgical Technology faculty.
Transferring From DCCCD
The Surgical Technology program is designed for direct entry into the workforce. However, if you are interested in earning a degree at a four-year institution, please visit the Transfer Services Web site for guidance on the transfer process.
Contact Us
If you have questions about the Surgical Technology program that aren’t answered on our Web site, please feel free to contact us.