29 Best Accelerated (FAST-TRACK) Surgical Tech Programs – 2025
Written By: Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
As a surgical tech, you’ll be entering a field where your employment outlook is excellent, your salary prospects above average, and the skills you learn are easily transferable should you choose to train for another healthcare field at a later date. There are many surgical tech programs out there, and some of them are designed to let you earn a degree quickly. But what are the best accelerated surgical tech programs? Time to grab a pen and a piece of paper, jot down a list of what you’re looking for in an educational program and review the guide below to the 29 best (campus-based and online) accelerated fast-track surgical tech programs.
WHAT ARE THE BEST ACCELERATED (FAST-TRACK) SURGICAL TECH PROGRAMS IN THE NATION?
(Based on our Ranking Methodology, the following are the 29 best accelerated (FAST-TRACK) Surgical Tech programs for 2025. The following list includes both (Campus-Based and Online) accelerated (FAST-TRACK) Surgical Tech programs. You can complete these associate degree programs in 16 months or less.)1. Carrington College-San Jose - San Jose, CA
Program Length: 15 Months
But Carrington College is one of the accelerated surgical tech programs that also offers a certificate program for students interested in becoming surgical techs who aren’t interested in earning a degree. The certificate program comprises 59 credits, which includes the same number of laboratory and clinical rotation hours as the associate degree program but fewer lecture courses. The flexibility to choose between an associate degree or a certificate makes Carrington College’s surgical tech program one of the best accelerated surgical tech programs.
If you enroll in the associate degree program, you’ll spend 480 hours in Carrington’s state-of-the-art simulation lab learning hands-on skills and 640 clinical hours rotating through operating rooms in acute care facilities throughout the San Jose Metropolitan Area. By the program's end, most students can participate in at least 120 surgical cases.
How Fast Can You Complete Carrington College-San Jose Surgical Tech Program: It will take 15 months to earn an AAS in Surgical Technology from Carrington College-San Jose. However, the certificate program is shorter.
Carrington College-San Jose Surgical Tech Admission Requirements: You must be 18 or older and have a high school diploma or its equivalent for admission into this program. Additionally, you must provide two professional references and a personal goal statement, and attend a general information seminar given by the Surgical Technology program director.
2. San Joaquin Valley College - Temecula, CA
Program Length: 15 Months
San Joaquin Valley College’s core surgical tech coursework meets criteria established by the Association of Surgical Technologists. SJVC has made a significant investment in simulation technologies, and many of your core classes will be lab courses like “Surgical Case Management Lab” and “Basic Surgical Procedures Lab” that teach you hands-on skills like setting up an operating room and preparing patients for surgery. Upon completing this program, you’ll be qualified to sit for the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) national certification exam.
How Fast Can You Complete San Joaquin Valley College Surgical Tech Program: You should be able to graduate from SJVC’s Surgical Tech program in 15 months.
San Joaquin Valley College Surgical Tech Admission Requirements: Like all of the fastest surgical tech programs, SJVC’s program is only open to individuals aged 18 or older with a high school diploma or its equivalent. You must also score 20 or higher on the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam.
3. Renton Technical College - Renton, WA
Program Length: 16 Months
In addition to its associate degree program, Renton Technical College also offers a 73-quarter-credit surgical technologist certificate program that requires the same core surgical tech courses, skills labs, and practicums that the AAS program does but does not require any of the general education courses. Renton’s surgical technologist certificate program is significantly shorter than the college’s associate degree program, making it one of the best fast-track surgical tech programs if you want to become a surgical tech in the shortest time possible.
How Fast Can You Complete Renton Technical College Surgical Tech Program: Classes for both the associate degree and the surgical tech certificate start in either the summer or the fall. The AAS program is designed to be completed in six quarters (16 to 17 months), while the certificate program is designed to be completed in four quarters (12 months.)
If you can transfer general education credits from coursework you’ve completed at another college, you may even be able to complete the associate degree program in fewer than six quarters.
Renton Technical College Surgical Tech Admission Requirements: Only 18 students are admitted into the program throughout the entire year. To enroll in the associate degree program, you must be 18 by the time you begin the fifth quarter of classes. The program is only open to individuals with a high school diploma or GED equivalent. You must already have completed one prerequisite class with a grade of “C” or higher when you apply.
4. Itawamba Community College - Tupelo, MS
Program Length: 3 Semesters
Lecture classes are scheduled on Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. through 2:30 p.m. The surgical tech core curriculum includes courses like “Surgical Anatomy,” “Surgical Microbiology,” and “Specialized Surgical Procedures.” Clinical rotations occur Monday through Wednesday during the second and third semesters of the Surgical Tech program. You’ll be assigned to assist with surgeries at Baptist-Golden Triangle, Corinth Surgery Center, Gilmore Memorial, and other hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers throughout Lee, Corinth, and Monroe Counties. You’ll graduate with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Surgical Technology.
How Fast Can You Complete Itawamba Community College Surgical Tech Program: At three semesters, Itawamba Community College’s surgical technology track may look like one of the shortest surgical tech programs. Keep in mind, however, that you’ll have to complete a year of college-level schoolwork before being allowed to enroll in the program. You’ll have to attend school for five semesters (29 months) before you can attain your AAS from Itawamba Community College.
Itawamba Community College Surgical Tech Admission Requirements: This program is only open to high school graduates or individuals with the equivalent of a high school diploma. You must apply separately to the college and its Health Science division. You must score 16 or higher on the ACT exam.
5. Skyline College - San Bruno, CA
Program Length: 12 Months
Skyline College partners with healthcare facilities throughout San Francisco and San Mateo, such as California Pacific Medical Center and Mills-Peninsula Hospital, to provide students with challenging clinical rotations. Skyline also has a new high-tech simulation laboratory where you’ll get to practice your skills before you do your practicums.
You’ll graduate from this program with an Associate of Science in Surgical Technology. Skyline College’s associate degrees require 30 credits of general education classes, so you’ll need to make arrangements to complete the necessary coursework before the college will grant you a degree.
How Fast Can You Complete Skyline College Surgical Tech Program: While it will only take you a single year to complete Skyline College’s Surgical Technology program, somewhere along the way, you will need to complete an additional 30 credits of general education courses, and this is likely to take a year as well.
Skyline College Surgical Tech Admission Requirements: Skyline College only accepts 25 students into its Surgical Technology program every year. You must complete all prerequisites with a grade of “C” or better before you apply, and additionally, the college strongly recommends completing all 30 required credits of general education courses. Along with your application, you’ll need to submit transcripts from all previous college-level work, three letters of recommendation, and a personal statement that addresses your suitability for a surgical technology career.
6. College of Eastern Idaho - Idaho Falls, ID
Program Length: 10 Months
The professional component of CEI’s program comprises 34 credits. It includes courses like “Operating Room Techniques I & II” and “Pharmacology for Surgical Technologists,” as well as labs for assimilating hands-on clinical competencies and clinical practicums where you can perfect your clinical skills. You’ll complete more than 500 clinical hours during the course of your studies. Classes are typically taught Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and some of your coursework will be accessible online. You should plan on spending two or more hours each night on homework.
How Fast Can You Complete College of Eastern Idaho Surgical Tech Program: At just two semesters (10 months) long, the College of Eastern Idaho’s program is one of the shortest surgical tech programs. However, CEI won’t admit you into its Surgical Tech program unless you’re pursuing an AAS degree, and it will take you four semesters (20 months) to complete all the requirements for that degree.
College of Eastern Idaho Surgical Tech Admission Requirements: You must apply separately to the College of Eastern Idaho and its Surgical Technology program. CEI bases the number of students it accepts into this fast-track surgical tech program each year on the number of clinical rotation vacancies available at its clinical partners’ sites. The Surgical Technology application includes questions that require you to demonstrate your research skills and address your reasons for wanting to enroll in the program.
You must complete all prerequisite general education courses with a grade of “C+” or better before you apply to the program. Students who have passed a Central Sterile Processing program before applying will be given preference.
7. John Wood Community College - Quincy, IL
Program Length: 1 Year
The 29-credit Surgical Technology program itself consists of five classes, including “Professional Issues for the Surgical Technologist” and “Surgical Technology I & II.” You’ll practice what you learn in a simulated operating room located at Blessing Hospital in Quincy. You’ll also have the opportunity to attain experience in operating rooms under the supervision of surgery staff at Blessing Hospital and five other hospitals in Quincy and other communities throughout Adams County.
The Association of Surgical Technologists has cited this surgical tech program as one of the best shortest surgical tech programs due to the consistently high scores students achieve on the Association of Surgical Technologists' Program Assessment Exam, which all students must take at the completion of their studies.
How Fast Can You Complete John Wood Community College Surgical Tech Program: It will take three semesters (12 months) to complete the surgical technology curriculum. It will probably take you at least that long to meet the general education requirements you’ll need for your degree. John Wood Community College does accept transfer credits, and if you’re able to apply transfer credits toward your prerequisite general education requirements, you’ll spend less time completing this degree.
John Wood Community College Surgical Tech Admission Requirements: You must complete all general education prerequisites before being admitted into this program.
8. Baptist Health Sciences University - Memphis, TN
Program Length: 16 Months
The 42-credit surgical tech curriculum entails instructional courses, laboratories, and practicums and includes coursework like “Surgical Technology I & II,” “Pharmacology and Anesthesia,” and “U.S Health Care Systems.” You’ll be able to access some of your class materials online. BHSU has a sophisticated simulation lab where you’ll be taught hands-on skills.
Baptist Health Sciences University is affiliated with Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, so that’s where many of your clinical rotations will be scheduled. However, you may be assigned to clinical sites anywhere within a 90-mile radius of the college. To graduate, you must complete a minimum of 120 surgical cases: 30 in general surgery and 90 in various surgical specialties.
While Baptist Health Sciences University accepts students from many different religious backgrounds into its degree programs, the school is firmly committed to Christian values, and this is reflected in several of the general education classes you’ll be required to take to earn this degree.
How Fast Can You Complete Baptist Health Sciences University Surgical Tech Program: This short surgical tech program takes four trimesters (16 months) to complete. However, you must complete nine general education courses (two trimesters or 12 months) before you can submit an Intent to Apply to the Surgical Technology major.
Baptist Health Sciences University Surgical Tech Admission Requirements: You must apply separately to Baptist University and the Surgical Technology major. You must have a minimum GPA of 2.7 in all prerequisites to apply, but a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher increases your chances of acceptance.
9. West Virginia University at Parkersburg - Parkersburg, WV
Program Length: Two Years
Surgical tech coursework includes “Introduction to Surgical Technology,” “Pathophysiology of the Surgical Patient,” and “Pharmacology for the Surgical Technologist.” WVU boasts a cutting-edge simulation laboratory where you’ll learn the hands-on skills needed to succeed in the surgical technology field.
You’ll also enroll in a capstone course that entails 360 clinical hours at prestigious healthcare facilities throughout the Greater Parkersburg Metropolitan Region, like Camden Clark Medical Center and Marietta Memorial Health Systems, as well as a comprehensive review for the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) Certification Exam.
How Fast Can You Complete West Virginia University at Parkersburg Surgical Tech Program: As a full-time student taking approximately 15 credits a semester, you should be able to complete this fast surgical tech program in four semesters (two years.)
West Virginia University at Parkersburg Surgical Tech Admission Requirements: This program is only available to high school graduates or students who have completed a GED. You must pass the HESI A exam with a score of 65 or higher. You must have a GPA of “C” or higher in high school and college coursework.
10. Central Technology Center - Drumright, OK
Program Length: 10 Months
Central Tech’s curriculum consists of 14 classes, such as “Introduction to Surgical Technology,” “Basic Sciences for Surgical Technology I, II, & III,” and “Surgical Pharmacology.” Classes are typically scheduled between 8:25 am and 3:35 pm, Mondays through Fridays. Clinical rotations are typically scheduled Tuesdays through Fridays, starting at 6 a.m. and lasting seven hours. Central Tech partners with Stillwater Medical Center in a joint preceptorship program that enables students to learn the ropes from seasoned surgical tech professionals.
Before you complete this program, you’ll be required to take the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education (ODCTE) Competency Exam for Surgical Technologists, which will help you identify the areas you’ll need to study to pass the national certification exam.
How Fast Can You Complete Central Technology Center Surgical Tech Program: You should be able to complete this program in 10 months.
Central Technology Center Surgical Tech Admission Requirements: Applicants must be 18 or older by the first day of class and have either a high school diploma or a GED certificate. If you haven’t completed at least 12 college credits with a GPA of 2.5 or higher, you must score 19 or higher on the ACT exam or pass the TABE test with at least a 10th-grade equivalency in reading and a 9th-grade equivalency in math.
11. Chattahoochee Technical College - Acworth, GA
Program Length: 3 Semesters
Chattahoochee Technical College’s Associate of Applied Science degree in Surgical Technology entails 70 credits in total, but 15 of those are general education credits in liberal arts. Your occupational coursework will include prerequisite classes like “Anatomy and Physiology” and “Introductory Microbiology” as well as more focused courses like “Principles of Surgical Technology” and “Surgical Pharmacology.”
During your clinical rotations, you must complete a minimum of `120 surgical cases: 30 general surgery cases and 90 specialty cases. You’ll spend three days a week from 6:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. in a clinical setting at surgical healthcare facilities throughout the Greater Atlanta Metropolitan Area and two days a week taking classes at Chattahoochee Tech’s North Metro campus.
How Fast Can You Complete Chattahoochee Technical College Surgical Tech Program: Classes commence in the spring and fall. You can finish the occupational courses associated with this quick surgical tech program in three semesters. It will take you an additional semester to complete the liberal arts coursework you’ll need for general education credits. Chattahoochee Tech accepts transfer credits, so if you’ve previously taken college-level classes that the school deems equivalent to AAS requirements, the time you spend pursuing this degree may be shorter.
Chattahoochee Technical College Surgical Tech Admission Requirements: You must apply separately to Chattahoochee Tech and its Surgical Technology Program. Applications to the latter are distributed once you’ve attended a virtual Surgical Technology application session. You must complete general education prerequisites before you apply to the program with a grade of “C” or higher. You must score 65 or higher on the ATI TEAS exam.
12. Gwinnett Technical College - Lawrenceville, GA
Program Length: 3 Semesters
You’ll spend 40 hours a week in class throughout your first semester, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Your time will be equally divided between classroom lectures and skills intensives. You’ll start clinical rotations during your second semester, spending three or four days a week beginning at 6:45 a.m. in a surgical practice setting. All classes required for this major must be taken in a specific sequence. To graduate, you must complete 30 general surgery cases and 90 specialty surgery cases. Another mandatory graduation requirement involves sitting for the national certification exam.
The National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting has singled out Gwinnett Technical College’s Surgical Tech program as one of the best fast-track surgical tech programs on the basis of its consistently high pass rates on the national certification exam. Gwinnett Technical College is also one of the few fast-track surgical tech programs with an RN bridge program that admits operating room techs.
How Fast Can You Complete Gwinnett Technical College Surgical Tech Program: Classes begin in the fall and the spring. Gwinnett’s Surgical Technology program is three semesters (12 months) long. It will take you a year or longer to take all the prerequisites you’ll need to complete before you can apply.
Gwinnett Technical College Surgical Tech Admission Requirements: Gwinnett limits the size of each surgical tech cohort class to 20 students. You must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in all prerequisites to be considered for admission into this program.
13. Hinds Community College - Jackson, MS
Program Length: One-Year
You’ll partner with professional operating room techs during clinical rotations at healthcare facilities throughout Jackson and other communities in Hinds County. Like most accelerated surgical tech programs, Hinds Community College requires you to complete 120 surgical cases before you can earn an associate degree in surgical technology from the school.
How Fast Can You Complete Hinds Community College Surgical Tech Program: HCC admits new students into this career track each August. You must complete all prerequisites before you apply to the program, and as this requires sequential coursework—for example, “Anatomy and Physiology I & II”—this will probably take you 12 months. The Surgical Tech program itself will take you three semesters (a year) to complete.
Hinds Community College Surgical Tech Admission Requirements: Separate applications are required for Hinds Community College and the Surgical Technology program. This program is only available to applicants with a high school diploma or a GED certificate. You must achieve a composite score of 18 or higher on the ACT.
14. St. Cloud Technical & Community College - St. Cloud, MN
Program Length: 2.5 Semesters
SCTCC has a sophisticated simulation lab and partners with area healthcare facilities, like St. Cloud Hospital and Surgery Center and St. Cloud Surgical Center, for clinical rotations. Classes take place at SCTCC’s campus in St. Cloud Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. You’ll graduate from this short surgical tech program with a Surgical Technology Associate of Applied Science (AAS.)
How Fast Can You Complete St. Cloud Technical & Community College Surgical Tech Program: Classes begin in the fall semester. You can complete the Surgical Tech program in 2.5 semesters (fall and spring semesters plus the summer term), but it may take another year to complete your prerequisites.
St. Cloud Technical & Community College Surgical Tech Admission Requirements: This accelerated surgical tech program admits 24 students annually. You must apply separately to St. Cloud Technical College and its Surgical Technology program. All prerequisites must be complete by the time you begin classes with a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or above.
15. San Jacinto College - Pasadena, TX
Program Length: 3 Terms
SJC’s curriculum differs from the surgical tech curriculum at several other of the fastest surgical tech programs in that clinical rotations begin during the first semester. The program also culminates with a capstone experience during which you’ll be directly supervised by a clinical professional while you participate in a number of specialty surgeries.
San Jacinto College also offers a 36-credit Surgical Technology Certificate of Technology, which takes much less time to complete, so if qualifying to write the National Certification Examination in as short a time as possible is your most important criterion for selecting a surgical tech program, this may be one of the best accelerated surgical tech programs.
How Fast Can You Complete San Jacinto College Surgical Tech Program: SJC admits students into this program in the spring and fall semesters. SJC’s AAS degree in Surgical Technology takes four terms (16 months) to complete. You can take the 14 credits of general education prerequisites you’ll need either before or after you’ve completed your professional coursework. SJC’s certificate in Surgical Technology takes three terms (12 months) to complete and requires no general education courses.
San Jacinto College Surgical Tech Admission Requirements: You must apply separately to San Jacinto College and the Department of Surgical Technology. Though you’re not required to take prerequisites before you apply, applicants who’ve completed prerequisites with a grade of “C” or above are given preference for entry.
16. Meridian Community College - Meridian, MS
Program Length: 3 Semesters
You must maintain a “C” average to remain in the program. You’ll spend the first semester of your surgical tech studies in the classroom before moving on to assimilating clinical skills and participating in preceptorships in the second and third semesters. This accelerated surgical tech program’s curriculum was specifically designed to help you pass the Certified Surgical Technologist Exam administered by the National Board for Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting.
How Fast Can You Complete Meridian Community College Surgical Tech Program: Surgical tech classes begin in the fall. The occupational part of the program spans the fall and spring semesters and the 10-week summer term. It will take you approximately one additional year, however, to complete the necessary AAS general education prerequisites.
Meridian Community College Surgical Tech Admission Requirements: This program is only available to applicants with a high school diploma or a GED certificate. You must attain a composite score of 16 or higher on the ACT and score 251 or higher on the reading and arithmetic portions of the ACCUPLACER NG test. You must complete all general education credits with a grade of “C” or above before you apply.
17. Baptist Health College-Little Rock - Little Rock, AR
Program Length: 2 Semesters
You can expect to be in class four days a week. Lecture classes meet between 7:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. at Baptist Health College’s campus in Little Rock. Clinical rotations take place between 6:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. at Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock and other healthcare facilities throughout the Greater Little Rock Metropolitan Area. By the end of this fast-track surgical tech program, students must log 120 surgical cases, 80 in the first scrub role and 40 in the second scrub role.
The 37-credit occupational curriculum includes courses like “Fundamentals of Surgical Technology,” “Advanced Medical Terminology,” and “Spiritual Perspectives in Health Care.” Baptist Health College is a Christian institution, and while it admits students from other faith backgrounds, Christian principles underlie many of its academic offerings.
How Fast Can You Complete Baptist Health College-Little Rock Surgical Tech Program: If your main requirement for a surgical tech track is brevity, then Baptist Health College’s offering may be one of the best fastest surgical tech programs: As noted above, this accelerated surgical tech program will only take you two semesters (eight months) to complete if you take all general education prerequisites before you apply. Classes begin in the fall and spring semesters.
Baptist Health College-Little Rock Surgical Tech Admission Requirements: This program is only open to high school applicants or applicants who’ve earned a GED.
18. Southwestern College - Chula Vista, CA
Program Length: 3 Semesters
Your first semester will be entirely devoted to lecture classes and labs. You’ll meet Tuesdays through Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. to 3:50 p.m. You’ll learn hands-on techniques by participating in surgery scenarios in Southwestern’s simulated operating room.
You’ll begin practicums during your second semester. Clinical rotations typically begin at 6:00 a.m., last until 3:00 p.m., and occur at surgical centers in Chula Vista and other healthcare facilities throughout San Diego County.
How Fast Can You Complete Southwestern College Surgical Tech Program: The occupational portion of this accelerated surgical tech program is three semesters long. Classes begin in the fall semester and conclude at the end of the summer term. It will take an additional semester or two to fulfill Southwestern College’s general education requirement.
Southwestern College Surgical Tech Admission Requirements: Southwestern accepts 20 students into this program every year. You must be a high school graduate or have a GED certificate. General education requirements must be completed before you can apply to this program.
19. Flathead Valley Community College - Kalispell, MT
Program Length: 3 Semesters
When you begin the technical part of your training, you’ll enroll in classes like “Microbiology for Health Sciences,” “Surgical Procedures,” and “Surgical Techniques.” You’ll learn clinical techniques in FVCC’s state-of-the-art labs and pursue clinical rotations at the Logan Health Medical Center and other healthcare facilities throughout Flathead County.
How Fast Can You Complete Flathead Valley Community College Surgical Tech Program: Classes start in the spring semester. Once you complete 27 credits of required prerequisites, you can complete FVCC’s surgical technology program in three semesters (14 months.)
Flathead Valley Community College Surgical Tech Admission Requirements: All prerequisites must be completed with a minimum grade of “C” before you can apply to this program. You must submit two professional references, an essay that reviews the surgical technology profession, and a cover letter that speaks to your interest in the field of surgical technology with your application. You must apply separately to Flathead Valley Community College and its Surgical Technology program.
20. Salt Lake Community College - West Jordan, UT
Program Length: 12 Months
Your clinical coursework will begin in the second semester of the Surgical Technology portion of your studies. Clinical rotations are scheduled several days a week on Mondays through Fridays from 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Clinical placements are made at the discretion of Salt Lake Community College faculty, and you’ll rotate through a different healthcare facility each semester. You’ll need to scrub in on at least 120 surgical cases to graduate from this program.
How Fast Can You Complete Salt Lake Community College Surgical Tech Program: Classes begin in the summer semester. You can complete this accelerated surgical tech program in three semesters (12 months), but you’ll need to complete 22 credits worth of general education and prerequisite classes first.
Salt Lake Community College Surgical Tech Admission Requirements: Salt Lake Community College admits 18 students into this specialty annually. Applicants must be 18 or older. Either you must have a passing score on Salt Lake Community College’s proprietary placement exams, or you must submit current ACT or SAT scores. You must complete all prerequisites with a grade of “C” or higher before you apply to the program.
21. San Juan College - Farmington, NM
Program Length: Less Than One Year
San Juan College maintains a cutting-edge operating room lab with operating tables, a scrub room, and a huge selection of instruments where you’ll learn the skills you need to become a successful professional. Like many other accelerated surgical tech programs, San Juan College requires you to scrub in on 120 surgical cases during your clinical rotations in order to graduate. Clinical rotations are scheduled at San Juan Regional Medical Center, Four Corners Ambulatory Surgery Center, Northern Navajo Medical Center, Mercy Regional Medical Center, and other healthcare facilities throughout Farmington and other communities throughout San Juan County.
How Fast Can You Complete San Juan College Surgical Tech Program: SJC’s Surgical tech program begins in the spring and fall semesters; it takes full-time students approximately 11 months to complete. However, completing all necessary general education courses and program prerequisites may take you as long as two and a half years.
San Juan College Surgical Tech Admission Requirements: You must have a high school diploma or its equivalent to apply to this program. You must apply separately to San Juan College and the Surgical Technology program. All prerequisite coursework must be completed or in progress when you submit your application to the surgical tech program.
22. North Shore Community College - Danvers, MA
Program Length: 15 Months
You’ll participate in exercises designed to build your clinical competencies at the Bertolon Center simulation lab at the Danvers campus. You’ll perfect your laboratory skills during clinical rotations at Massachusetts General Hospital, Salem Hospital, Beverly Hospital, and other healthcare facilities throughout Danvers and other communities in Essex County. NSCC recommends enrolling in at least 15 credits each semester and taking courses in a specific sequence if you want to attain your 60-credit Associate in Applied Science in Surgical Technology degree quickly.
NSCC also offers a bridge program—unique among fast-track surgical tech programs—that allows NBSTSA-certified operating room techs with only a Surg Tech certificate to earn an AAS in Surgical Technology. You’ll receive 43 advanced standing credits upon admission, so you’ll only have to complete 27 credits to earn your AAS degree.
How Fast Can You Complete North Shore Community College Surgical Tech Program: You can complete the core coursework associated with this accelerated surgical tech program in 15 months.
North Shore Community College Surgical Tech Admission Requirements: As is the case with many of the fastest surgical tech programs, you must apply separately to the college and the surgical technology program. You must take the ATI TEAS Version 7 exam at the North Shore Community College campus and score 50 percent or higher on the science section. (No minimum score is required for the reading, math, and English sections.) You must demonstrate math proficiency either through SAT scores or Accuplacer testing. Your application to the surgical technology program must be accompanied by an essay addressing your reasons for pursuing this career.
23. Montgomery County Community College - Blue Bell, PA
Program Length: 16 Months
Core classes like “Surgical Technology I, II, III & IV” will help you acquire the knowledge base and practical skills needed to succeed in this challenging field. Students must take courses in a specified sequence because each class builds on materials offered in its prerequisite. You must maintain a grade point average of “C” or higher to remain in the program.
You’ll learn and practice essential surgical tech competencies in MCCC’s state-of-the-industry simulation labs. This short surgical tech program partners with healthcare facilities throughout the Greater Philadelphia Metropolitan Area to provide its students with high-quality practicum experiences. As is the case with all of the fastest surgical tech programs that adhere to guidelines set forth by the Accreditation Review Committee in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting, you’ll be required to scrub in on a minimum of 120 surgical cases in order to graduate—30 in general surgery and 90 in various surgical specialties.
How Fast Can You Complete Montgomery County Community College Surgical Tech Program: Students begin courses in the fall semester. Full-time students should be able to complete the surgical technology core curriculum in three semesters (16 months.)
Montgomery County Community College Surgical Tech Admission Requirements: Montgomery County Community College admits 12 applicants into its accelerated surgical tech program every year. Applicants must have a high school diploma or a GED certificate and be 18 years or older when they apply. They must complete MCCC’s placement tests in English, mathematics, and reading and place above the developmental level, and take all college-level math, English, and oral communications prerequisites. Additionally, all applicants must attend an orientation session led by the Surgical Tech program’s coordinator.
24. Prairie State College - Chicago Heights, IL
Program Length: One Year
Between classes and clinical laboratories, you’ll be putting in a 40-hour week while you’re enrolled in this short surgical tech program. Clinical assignments will be scheduled at hospitals within a 45-mile radius of Prairie State College’s campus in Chicago Heights.
How Fast Can You Complete Prairie State College Surgical Tech Program: Core courses begin in the fall semester and will take approximately 12 months to complete. However, it may take you an additional year to complete the general education and prerequisite classes you’ll need to complete before you can apply to the Surgical Tech program.
Prairie State College Surgical Tech Admission Requirements: Prairie State College admits 15 students into its accelerated surgical tech program every year. You must be 18 or older to apply and possess a high school diploma or a GED certificate. You’re encouraged to complete as many general education and prerequisite courses as you can before you apply to the surgical tech program.
25. Southern Union State Community College - Opelika, AL
Program Length: 3 Semesters
Core coursework focuses on learning hands-on competencies in SUSCC’s cutting-edge simulation laboratory, which replicates the operating room setting where you’ll practice once you enter the surgical technology profession. This fast-track surgical tech program offers classes like “Introduction to Surgical Equipment, Instrumentation, & Supplies,” “Pharmacology for the Surgical Technologist,” and “Surgical. Anatomy & Pathology.”
Southern Union State Community College is one of the accelerated surgical tech programs that require students to complete 120 surgical cases before they are allowed to graduate. You’ll scrub in on these cases while participating in clinical rotations at surgical centers and healthcare facilities in Opelika and other communities throughout Lee County.
How Fast Can You Complete Southern Union State Community College Surgical Tech Program: Classes commence in the summer semester. You can complete Southern Union State Community College’s Surgical Tech program in three semesters (12 months) and its entire AAS degree program in five semesters (18 months.)
Southern Union State Community College Surgical Tech Admission Requirements: SUSCC bases the number of students it admits into its surgical technology program each year on the number of practicum spots clinical affiliates make available. You must complete all prerequisite coursework with a GPA of 2.5. or higher before you can apply to the surgical tech program. You must apply separately to Southern Union State Community College and its Surgical Technology program.
26. Delgado Community College - New Orleans, LA
Program Length: 16 Months
Though the surgical tech curriculum consists of 35 credits, you must complete 60 credits to earn your Surgical Technology, Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree at Delgado. Count on being busy! While you’re taking surgical tech coursework, you’ll be in class Monday through Friday from as early as 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day.
Graduates of Delgado Community College’s Surgical Technology program have consistently high pass rates on the Certification Exam administered by the National Board for Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting, so this program is considered one of the best shortest surgical tech programs.
How Fast Can You Complete Delgado Community College Surgical Tech Program: Classes begin in the spring and summer semesters. You’ll be able to complete the Surgical Technology program in four consecutive semesters (16 months); it will take another 12 months to complete all prerequisites. Delgado Community College accepts general education transfer credits, so if you can successfully apply transfer credits toward your AAS, you may be able to graduate in less than two years.
Delgado Community College Surgical Tech Admission Requirements: DCC admits a maximum of 25 students into its program each year. All applicants must possess a high school diploma or its equivalent. You must score sufficiently well on the ACT, SAT, or Delgado College Placement exam to convince administrators that you will perform well in this major. You must complete prerequisites with a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
27. Del Mar College - Corpus Christi, TX
Program Length: 1 Year
Like most accelerated surgical tech programs, this program’s curriculum is designed to ensure you master the hands-on skills that will help you become a successful professional once you enter the workforce. Most required classes involve skills intensives and practicums in conjunction with clinical affiliates like Christus Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi, Doctor's Regional, and other healthcare facilities throughout the Greater Corpus Christi Metropolitan Area.
The Surgical Tech program’s curriculum culminates with a capstone experience focusing on surgical pathology and its relationship to surgical procedures. You’ll graduate with a Surgical Technology Associate of Applied Science degree. While this associate degree is the highest degree graduates of accelerated surgical tech programs can aspire to, its course credits can be easily transferred should you decide to pursue a bachelor’s degree in nursing or some other healthcare-related field at a later date.
How Fast Can You Complete Del Mar College Surgical Tech Program: You can finish the occupational components of Del Mar College’s AAS in Surgical Technology in three semesters (12 months.) It will take another year to complete prerequisites and required general education coursework.
Del Mar College Surgical Tech Admission Requirements: This program is only open to applicants with a high school diploma or a GED. Del Mar College and its Surgical Technology program require separate applications. Before applying to the Surgical Tech program, you must complete all prerequisites and be CPR-certified.
28. Wayne County Community College District - Detroit, MI
Program Length: 3 Semesters
In addition to its Surgical Technology degree, Wayne County Community College offers a 36-credit Surgical First Assistant program. While surgical techs are primarily responsible for preparing the OR, managing sterile fields, and dealing with surgical instruments and equipment, surgical first assistants aid surgeons during operations. To apply to Wayne County Community College’s Surgical First Assistant program, you must be a certified surgical tech.
How Fast Can You Complete Wayne County Community College District Surgical Tech Program: Coursework begins in the fall semester. You can complete WCCC’s Surgical Technology curriculum in three semesters (12 months), but it will take you an additional 12 months to complete the prerequisites and general education classes necessary to earn your AAS degree.
Wayne County Community College District Surgical Tech Admission Requirements: You must apply separately to Wayne State Community College and its Health Science Programs division. You must complete at least 15 credits of prerequisites before you apply and take the COMPASS test to determine whether you may need to take reading, writing, or math classes before admission into the Surgical Technology program. Preference is given to applicants who’ve completed a Central Service Technician program.
29. Austin Community College District - Austin, TX
Program Length: 3 Semesters
In your first semester of this accelerated surgical tech program, you won’t be participating in clinical practicums because you’ll be learning basic operating techniques in courses like “Introduction to Surgical Technology” and “Fundamentals of Perioperative Concepts and Techniques.” You’ll perfect these skills in ACCD’s state-of-the-art simulation center.
Once you can demonstrate mastery by passing skills exams, you’ll begin clinical rotations. This program entails 748 clinical hours, during which you’ll be required to scrub in on a minimum of 120 surgeries. Clinical affiliates include surgical centers and other healthcare facilities throughout metro Austin.
How Fast Can You Complete Austin Community College District Surgical Tech Program: You can start Surgical Technology coursework in the fall or spring semesters. The surgical tech curriculum is three semesters long (12 months), and it will take you an additional two semesters (eight months) to complete your prerequisites.
Austin Community College District Surgical Tech Admission Requirements: ACCD admits 40 students into this major every year: 20 at Eastview and 20 at Round Rock. Applicants must apply separately to Austin Community College and the Health Sciences division. All prerequisites must be completed before you apply to the program with a grade of “C” or higher. You must attend a mandatory online orientation session.
Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
Pattie Trumble is a nurse who worked in both California and New York for many years as an emergency room nurse. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and an Associate Degree in Nursing from the Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing. After 10 years of providing direct care, she went back to school and earned concurrent Master’s degrees in both public policy and public health from the University of California, Berkeley. Thereafter, she worked for various public health agencies in California at both the community and state levels providing economic and legislative analysis.