Surgical Technology Program

AST Career Video from AST on Vimeo.

Surgical technologists are allied health professionals, who are an integral part of the team of medical practitioners providing surgical care to patients. Surgical technologists work under the supervision of a surgeon to facilitate the safe and effective conduct of invasive surgical procedures, ensuring that the operating room environment is safe, that equipment functions properly, and that the operative procedure is conducted under conditions that maximize patient safety. Surgical technologists possess expertise in the theory and application of sterile and aseptic technique and combine the knowledge of human anatomy, surgical procedures, and implementation tools and technologies to facilitate a physician’s performance of invasive therapeutic and diagnostic procedures. (AST 2013)

This is a physically demanding job that requires standing for extended periods of time with no breaks and requires the ability to perform under pressure in very stressful and emergency situations. Surgical technologist must maintain a strong knowledge of human anatomy and procedural steps to allow them to anticipate the needs of surgeons in ever-changing environments.

Job Title	Median Wage	Annual Job Openings	Expected Growth
Surgical Technologist	MT: $49,480 US: $48,300	MT: 5 US: 9,300	MT: 6.8% US: 3.7%

Not surprisingly, most surgical techs work in hospitals. A hospital environment may be perfect if you prefer variety, excitement and the opportunity for overtime or on-call hours.

However, other surgical techs may prefer a smaller workplace, one that is limited to daytime hours. They may find such an environment in outpatient care centers, ambulatory surgical centers, private surgery clinics, or medical equipment sales. Private surgery clinics may include; plastics, podiatry, eye and dental specialties.

Surgical Technology Program Estimated Costs

---

Figure Out Your Finances

Students seeking federal financial aid (which includes grants and loans) must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) which online at fafsa.ed.gov. As a result of completing a FAFSA, an applicant will receive a federal Student Aid Report (SAR) in the mail or online. An electronic version of the SAR is automatically sent to the schools listed on the FAFSA. To list Great Falls College MSU, use our school code: 009314.

Students applying for financial aid may also be required to provide proper federal income tax information, completed verification materials, and any other information requested by the Financial Aid Office. Students must apply for financial aid annually.

Assistance is available to prospective students applying for financial aid. In addition, financial aid counseling for new students is an integral part of the admissions and orientation process. Once enrolled, students may receive counseling and assistance as needed. For assistance, please call 406-771-4334, or write to the Financial Aid Office, Great Falls College MSU, 2100 16th Ave S, Great Falls, MT 59405, or email finaid@gfcmsu.edu.

Great Falls College MSU also offers a wide variety of different scholarships to assist you in paying for your college. To view a list of current scholarship offerings, please see our scholarship page.

Surgical Technology Program Requirements

Program Admission Process

To be eligible to apply for admission into the Surgical Technology Program, applicants must:

• Be admitted to Great Falls College MSU and have a complete admissions file (if you are coming from another college besides GFC MSU, please send official transcripts).
• Be currently in Good Academic Standing.
• All prerequisites must have been completed with a “C-“or better.
• Anatomy and Physiology and Microbiology classes must have been completed within the last 5 years.

The deadline for applications to the Surgical Technology Program is October 27, 2023. Completed applications may be hand delivered, emailed or mailed to the Health Science Program Assistant at the college. If mailed in, applications must be postmarked by October 27, 2023, or they will be placed at the back of the application review and will only be reviewed if there are spots left unfilled.

Mailing Address

Surgical Technology Program Admissions Committee
Great Falls College MSU
2100 16th Ave S
Great Falls, MT 59405

When applying for admission into the Surgical Technology Program:

• Please note that any documents submitted to the College for application to the Surgical Technology Program become part of the student program file and will not be returned to the student.
• Applicants should keep copies of all documents for their own records. Please only submit copies of the original documents.
• Please send all application items as a completed packet. Items sent separately and at random are easily lost or misfiled. We are not responsible for any late, lost or misfiled information.
• It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all requirements are met by the established deadline. Deadlines, guidelines, and policies apply equally to all students; thus, there can be no exceptions.
• Any late or incomplete applications will not be considered in the application process. Do not send any portion separately; only applicants meeting all requirements will be further evaluated by the selection committee.
• Submission of false material in this Application Packet will be grounds for non-admission or, if discovered after admission, grounds for expulsion.
• Great Falls College MSU’s Surgical Technology Program does not maintain a waiting list. Applicants must reapply each year.
• Please only send required documentation as other supplemental items will be discarded.
• Current students may apply in the semester in which they are finishing their prerequisites and may be considered for conditional acceptance if space is available. Final determination will be made after completion of grades at the end of the semester.

Surgical Technology Program Application

Surgical Cases

Upon completion of the surgical technology program, each student will have completed a minimum of 120 surgical cases.

Safeguards

The health and safety of patients/clients, students, faculty, and other participants associated with the educational activities of the students must be adequately safeguarded. Surgical Technology students must be readily identifiable as students.

All activities required in the program must be educational and students must not be substituted for staff.

Graduation Degree: Associate of Applied Science (AAS) and Certification

Students will graduate with an Associate of Applied Science degree upon completion from this program. As part of the core curriculum, the GFC MSU will administer the NBSTSA national certifying exam. Once you become certified you will be required to maintain that certification by retesting or obtaining 30 continuing education units (CEU’s) every 2 years.

Accreditating Bodies

For detailed information on our accrediting and supporting bodies please visit/contact the sites below:

Distance Education - NOT Online

DEFINED BY ARC/STSA - distance education is a formal educational process in which the majority of synchronous or asynchronous instruction occurs when student and instructor are not in the same place. Distance education may employ correspondence study, audio, video, or computer technologies.

The distance education piece offered by Great Falls College MSU is not an online surgical technology program. Students must attend classes in the Great Falls, Bozeman, or Billings, MT area. Through the distance education piece of this program, students are required to uphold the same rigor and time commitment that those located at the Great Falls College MSU campus.

Lecture classes will be taught through WebEx from the Great Falls campus and students must attend classes at one of the designated class rooms to participate. Lab classes will be taught by an instructor at your location in a designated lab space. Clinical and Internship spots will be assigned to you by your lab instructor and may require you to travel out of your designated area to fulfill your minimal requirement of 120 surgical cases.

Participating Colleges:

• Gallatin College MSU - Bozeman, MT
• City College-MSU Billings - Billings, MT

Graduation Year	# of students starting in the cohort (cohort start and end date)	Graduating # in cohort	# passing certification test in cohort	% passing the certification test at GFC MSU	% employed after the first year of graduation as a CST
2020	10 (2019-2020)	8	8	100%	100%
2019	12 (2018-2019)	10	10	100%	100%
2018	12 (2017-2018)	10	10	100%	90%
2017	11 (2016-2017)	10	10	100%	100%
2016	10 (2015-2016)	6	6	100%	83%
2015	11 (2014-2015)	6	6	100%	83%
2014	12 (2013-2014)	8	8	100%	88%
2013	12 (2012-2013)	8	8	100%	88%
2012	14 (2011-2012)	7	7	100%	88%
2011	10 (2010-2011)	6	6	100%	100%
2010	7 (2009-2010)	7	7	100%	100%