College to Offer Programs for Those Interested in Becoming Surgical Technologists

August 3, 2015

Hudson Valley Community College this fall will offer new degree and certificate programs for those interested in becoming surgical technologists.

Surgical technologists prepare operating rooms, arrange equipment and help surgeons during a range of surgical procedures. They also are responsible for ensuring aseptic conditions in the operating room, as well as cleaning and preparing all instruments that might be needed in an operation.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of surgical techs is expected to grow 30 percent between 2012 and 2022. The college will offer both a part-time certificate program and a full-time associate in applied science (A.A.S.) degree program. Upon completion of either program, successful graduates will be eligible to take the Certified Surgical Technology exam through the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting.

The salary range for surgical technologists is similar to other allied health care professions. The median salary for a surgical technologist in the United States in 2012 was approximately $41,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

New York State law recently mandated that all new surgical techs be certified from an accredited program. Hudson Valley will offer one of only four such programs within the SUNY system. The others are located at Mohawk Valley Community College, Niagara County Community College and Onondaga Community College.

Students interested in the program must meet several academic prerequisites for entrance. The Surgical Technology program is offered through the college's Nursing department. For more detailed information about the program, contact program director Shawn Jeune at s.jeune@hvcc.edu. Those interested in admission to the program can contact the Admissions office at (518) 629-7309.

This is the second new health science career program created by the college in the past four years. A new Polysomnography A.A.S. degree was created in 2011 for those interested in becoming sleep lab technicians. The college is one of the largest health care education providers in the Capital Region, annually graduating approximately 350 students in health-care related fields.