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Surgical Technology Admission Procedures

Level I: Surgical Technology Degree Program

All Surgical Technology applicants must complete the requirements listed in steps 1-5.

  1. Complete the Residency Determination Service (RDS) to obtain a Residency Certification Number (RCN) to start the admissions process. The Application for Admission cannot be submitted without an RCN.

  2. Submit a Blue Ridge Application for Admission. If you have applied to Blue Ridge Community College previously or have taken Curriculum courses here before, you will need to update your information by completing a Blue Ridge application available on our website. Students will need to select General Education-Surgical Technology as their program of study. Once accepted into the program, students will be given an Allied Health-Change of Program Form during orientation to declare Surgical Technology as their program of study.

  3. Applicants pursuing the Surgical Technology program are required to submit official transcripts from all previously attended institutions. High School, High School Equivalency, and College transcripts are all required.

  4. If additional coursework is completed after submission of transcripts, an official updated transcript must be submitted to Blue Ridge to ensure all possible transfer credit is awarded.

  5. Complete BIO 090 or high school Biology with a grade of “C” or higher. A College-Level Biology of BIO 110 or higher will waive the BIO 090 requirement. For High School Equivalency Diploma: A standard score of 150 or above on the Science Test will count as one unit of Biology. For GED, a standard score of 450 or above on the Natural Science Test will count as one unit of Biology.

    Students who do not meet the Biology requirement can do so by taking BIO 090 Foundations of Biology. All courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher in order to meet these high school requirements.

    Applicants who are currently enrolled in high school, taking these courses and anticipating completing the grade and course requirements may continue with the application process. Students enrolled in high school should request that the high school mail a final transcript to Blue Ridge as soon as possible upon graduation.

  6. Demonstrate College readiness by appropriate developmental courses, College courses, SAT/ACT scores, NROC Placement Test, or RISE placement assignment. The following course work must be exempted or completed with a grade of “P:”

    MAT 003/BSP 4003 P2 – Transition Math

    ENG 002/BSP 4002 P2 – Transition English

  7. Placement testing is waived for applicants with an associate degree or higher, transferable College-level English and Math with a “C” grade or above, or acceptable SAT or ACT scores taken within the last 10 years. Acceptable scores are an SAT score of 500 or above on Writing or Critical Reading and 500 or above in Mathematics if taken before March 2016; a score of 480 or higher on Evidence Based Reading and Writing and a score of 530 on Mathematics if the SAT is taken after March 2016; or a minimum of 18 on ACT English or 22 on ACT Reading, or a minimum of 22 on ACT Mathematics.

  8. Anatomy and Physiology I (BIO 168) and Anatomy and Physiology II (BIO 169) must be completed prior to entry into the program. Both Anatomy and Physiology I and II (BIO 168/169) must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher.

  9. The student must maintain a Program GPA of 2.00 or higher throughout the duration of the Surgical Technology program, and a “C” or better in all SUR and BIO courses.

  10. Attend one of the scheduled Surgical Technology Information Sessions to receive important information about the curriculum and career in Surgical Technology. Dates will be posted in the application package.

  11. Submit the completed Admission Requirements Checklist (ARC) before the deadline to the Registrar’s Office.

Applicants meeting the above requirements will receive notification of their acceptance into the Surgical Technology program by the program director. Once accepted, and if the program is filled, a waiting list of applicants will be formulated. A medical form verifying acceptable levels of immunization, physical health, and mental health will be required prior to entering surgical technology core courses in the fall.

Additional requirements may be required based upon the clinical agencies utilized for clinical sites.

Level II: Surgical Technology - Associate Degree Bridge Program

This program is designed for students who have graduated with their Surgical Technology diploma and wish to continue their education with the Surgical Technology associate degree. In addition to meeting the Surgical Technology program’s admissions requirements listed under Level 1, the applicant must complete the requirements listed in steps 1-5:

  1. Make an appointment with the Surgical Technology Program Faculty.

  2. Successfully pass the National Certification Exam and provide proof of current CST card.

  3. Present proof of current American Heart Association Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Healthcare Provider level certification.

  4. Documentation of 500 hours or more work experience or documentation of having been the primary scrub on 125 cases or successful completion of the SUR 212 course.

  5. If a diploma is earned from an institution other than Blue Ridge Community College, two professional references will be required. Forms will be provided by Program Faculty.

Additional requirements may be required based upon the clinical agencies utilized for clinical sites.