Skip to main content

Surgical Technology

Published or Revised June 12, 2022

Paris Junior College's Surgical Technology Program prepares students for entry-level employment as surgical technologists in the acute-care operating room environment under the direct supervision of licensed health-care providers. As an essential member of the surgical team, the surgical technologist assists in providing quality patient care in the surgical suite.

Principles of safety and sterility are emphasized, and specialized skills are developed. The surgical technologist will prepare the surgical field, pass instruments to surgeons, cut sutures, and assist with tissue retraction and surgical site visualization.

From preparation to anticipation and critical thinking, the surgical technologist helps the surgical team accomplish safe and efficient surgical intervention for a variety of surgical specialties.

Program graduates are eligible to sit for the National Certifying Examination for Surgical Technologist (Capstone) in order to achieve the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) credential. The certification examination is administered by the National Board of Surgical Technologists and Surgical Assisting, https://www.nbstsa.org/. The Surgical Technology Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), by recommendation of the Accreditation Review Committee in Surgical Technology & Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA). The CAAHEP offices are located at: 9355 - 113th St. N, #7709, Seminole, FL 33775; 727-210-2350; www.caahep.org. The ARC/STSA offices are located at: #6 West Dry Creek Circle, Suite #210, Littleton, CO 80120; 303-694-9262; www.arcstsa.org.

While delivering a standardized core curriculum published by the Association of Surgical Technologist (AST), the program offers an Associate of Applied Science (60-SH) pathway. The program-core includes six courses specific to surgical technology (course prefix SRGT) which require prior program application/admission. Specific foundation courses are also required and completion/grade-point average (GPA) considerations from completed courses will contribute to the prospective student’s admission application score. There are two opportunities for program admission annually (spring and summer). Enrollment is limited, and applications should be submitted during the preceding semester (spring/fall). Program enrollment will include two semesters of hospital-based clinical training, with required clinical-site attendance.

Core courses begin during either the Summer I or Spring semester, and are completed consecutively. Applications are accepted in the semester prior to desired core-entry (those wishing to start in the spring semester would apply during the fall semester or during the spring semester for a summer start).

For more information about PJC's Surgical Technology Program, contact Norm Gilbert, Surgical Technology Program Coordinator, at 903.782.0738 or ngilbert@parisjc.edu.

Applications and application guidelines, “How it Works”, are available upon request (phone, e-mail, or in-person at the Bobby R. Walters Workforce Training on the Paris campus).

Please note the following Program Effectiveness, Student/Graduate Achievement Data.

Outcomes Assessment Examination (OAE) Pass Rate

All program graduates are expected to participate in Web-Based Testing (WBT) of the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) Examination administered by The National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA). Outcomes are reported annually to the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA). The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) benchmarks for participation and pass-rate are 100% and 70% respectfully. The most recently-reported Paris Junior College (PJC) outcomes and corresponding national-average pass-rates are provided below:

Annual Reporting Year (August 1 - July 31)
Dual Cohorts since Spring 2018 (Dec./May Graduates)
PJC CST Examination Pass Rate (%); WBT (first attempt) Annual National Pass Rate (%), CST Exam; WBT*
2021 10/13, 76.9% (Currently Unavailable)
2020 9/11, 81.8% 73.5%
2019 7/9, 77.8% 64.4%
2018 2/2, 100% 76.0%
2017 8/9, 88.9% 77.9%
2016 4/6, 66.7% 77.6%
2015 5/6, 83.3% 76.1%
2014 8/10, 80.0% 74.4%
2013 9/10, 90.0% 75.5%
PJC Annual Pass-Rate Average: 82.8%
National Annual Pass-Rate Average: 74.4%

* Web Based Testing (WBT) National CST Exam pass-rates provided by NBSTSA: https://www.nbstsa.org/certification-statistics.

Placement Rate

Graduate placement rates are a required reported-outcome, and are provided annually to the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA). The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) benchmark for placement is 80%, and placement-rate within one year of graduation, is reported and defined as: employed in the surgical environment or directly related field, active-duty military placement, or continuation of education. The most recently-reported Paris Junior College (PJC) placement outcomes are provided below:

Annual Reporting Year
(August 1 - July 31)
Placement Rate (%)
2021 (pending)
2020 100%
2019 100%
2018 93%
2017 83%
2016 100%
2015 90%
2014 85%
PJC Annual Graduate-Placement Average (STP): 93%