Surgical Technology Certificate

Code: CERT.SURG

The Surgical Technology program at Bergen Community College is the only community college program in the state of New Jersey and the first program to be nationally accredited. Major hospitals throughout New Jersey and the entire Eastern seaboard seek graduates of the Surgical Technology Program, often months before graduation. New facilities include an integrated three room suite incorporating a state-of-the-art classroom, fully equipped “mock” operating room reflective of a real hospital OR, and a sterilization/prep room. Students learning in this type of environment are better prepared to enter their clinical externship because of the hands-on practice and real life situations taught here.

The Surgical Technology program  is accredited by the Accreditation Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting, a Committee of the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

Program Learning Outcomes

  • Deliver professional and compassionate care for all patients.
  • Communicate professionally.
  • Use learned critical skills for problem solving.
  • Perform as a Level 1 surgical technologist.
  • Practice using the legal and ethical framework of the profession.
  • Seek continued activities for the pursuit of professional development.
  • Meet the needs of the diverse community.

Program Length: 12 months.

GPA for admissions eligibility: 2.00.

High School prerequisite courses: High school graduate or GED.

College substitutions: None.

Application Deadline: February 1 of the current year.

Program Admits: Fall semester.

Career Pathways

Surgical Technologist: Hospital or Surgicenter 

Recommended Semester Sequence

First Semester

BIO-109Anatomy and Physiology I

4

SUR-101Surgical Technology I [Fall Only]

6

SUR-102Surgical Technology Externship I [Fall Only]

2

SUR-103Surgical Terminology [Fall Only]

1

SUR-104Microbiological Applications in Surgery [Fall Only]

2

WRT-101English Composition I

3

Total Credit Hours:18

SUR-102: (16 hrs/wk x 15 weeks)

Second Semester

  General Education Elective* 3
BIO-209Anatomy and Physiology II

4

SUR-201Surgical Technology II [Spring Only]

5

SUR-202Surgical Technology Externship II [Spring Only]

2

Total Credit Hours:14

SUR-202: (16 hrs/wk x 15 weeks)

Third Semester

SUR-203Surgical Technology Externship III [Summer]

1

Total Credit Hours:1

SUR-202: (40 hrs/wk x 4 weeks)

General Education Requirements

  General Education Elective*  3
WRT-101English Composition I

3

Total Credit Hours:6

Restricted Program Requirements

BIO-109Anatomy and Physiology I

4

BIO-209Anatomy and Physiology II

4

SUR-101Surgical Technology I [Fall Only]

6

SUR-102Surgical Technology Externship I [Fall Only]

2

SUR-103Surgical Terminology [Fall Only]

1

SUR-104Microbiological Applications in Surgery [Fall Only]

2

SUR-201Surgical Technology II [Spring Only]

5

SUR-202Surgical Technology Externship II [Spring Only]

2

SUR-203Surgical Technology Externship III [Summer]

1

Total Credit Hours:27

Total Credit Hours: 33

Specific Program Notes

Students are encouraged to take their courses in semester sequence order.

Please note that required courses may have prerequisites. Click on each course to view details.

*General Education Course List.

Students enrolled in this program ARE NOT REQUIRED to successfully complete a course in basic algebra if indicated by Placement Testing.