Surgical Technology

• Surgical Technology

* Course has a prerequisite, corequisite, limitation, or recommended preparation; see course description.

** Human Anatomy/Physiology must have been completed within the last 7 years.

Required Total Units:  27.0 

Semester/Term I

Semester/Term II

Semester/Term III

Complete a minimum of 60 units including the total number of units described above and the General Education requirements with an overall GPA of 2.0 to qualify for the Associate of Science degree. A minimum of 12 units must be completed at Saddleback College. General Education Requirements for Associate Degrees Refer to the Graduation Requirements or to the Cal-GETC pattern in this catalog for specific courses which meet general education requirements. Refer to ASSIST.org and to the transfer institution’s catalog for transfer requirements.

Application Information for Spring 2026 Start

Our next application period will open from September 1, 2025, at 12:00 a.m. to October 15, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Students who have completed or are currently enrolled in the following three prerequisites—HS 104, BIO 13, and COMM 5—may email scst@saddleback.edu to request permission to apply for Spring 2026 admission. A link to apply will become available once the application period begins and cannot be accessed before this date. Applications will not be accepted via email or in person.

• Accepted Students: Students are admitted twice a year: Spring and Fall. 
• Duration: Once admitted to the program, the Surgical Technology Program is 3 Semesters Long. 
• Work Recommendations: The program is rigorous and requires substantial work outside the classroom, especially during the 2nd and 3rd semesters. We recommend working 20 hours per week or less.

First and Second Semester/Term Details                        

The first and second semester ST courses include lecture and lab work on campus.

Third Semester/Term Details

The third semester includes a clinical practicum during which students must complete a minimum of 120 surgical cases at one of our partner clinical sites. While many of these sites are located in Orange County, some may be in neighboring counties. Student preferences will be considered when assigning clinical sites, but placement at a preferred location is not guaranteed.

Selection for the Surgical Technology Program is based on the points system outlined below. If the number of applicants exceeds the number of available seats, priority will be given to those with the highest point totals. Students may apply while completing prerequisite courses; however, admission is conditional upon successful completion of those courses.

SurgTech Program Pre-Reqs + Points System for Admission Prioritization

NOTE: The point cut-off may vary with each application cycle (Spring/Fall). Be sure to include all required documentation when submitting your application in Submittable to receive full points. Official Transcripts must be submitted to the Admissions & Records office. Unofficial transcripts may be uploaded with your application in Submittable (online software platform), while official transcripts must be submitted directly to the Admissions & Records office.

If you would like assistance with any of the following:

• Completing your Surgical Technology Application.
• Submitting or confirming Course Substitutions for surgical technology prerequisites and supplemental courses (Please complete with a counselor prior to application opening to ensure petition completion prior to application deadline.)
• Confirming equivalent courses for surgical technology prerequisites and supplemental courses.
• Confirming the number of points you currently are eligible for.

Set Up an Appointment to Speak with a Counselor

Applicant Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for admission, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Age Requirement
  •  Must be at least 18 years of age at the time of admission.
• Social Security or ITIN
  • Must possess a valid Social Security card or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to allow for a background check and eligibility for NCLEX licensure upon program completion.
• Completion of Prerequisite Courses
  • All science prerequisites must be completed with a grade of C or better 
  • NOTE: Online courses taken between 2020-2022 due to the pandemic are acceptable. Otherwise, science courses must be completed in person, though hybrid courses (with an in-person lab component) are permissible.

All eligibility requirements must be met and documented before submission of your application. It is strongly recommended that applicants meet with a counselor before applying to confirm they meet all eligibility criteria.

Please call (949) 582-4572 or visit the Make a Counseling Appointment page.

When completing the application in Submittable, please include all applicable sections below for consideration for admission into the Surgical Technology Program:

1. Completion of Relevant Surgical Technology Coursework

Points will not be awarded for courses in progress. A grade must be reflected on your transcript at the time of application.

What to Include in Submittable:

A copy of your unofficial transcript showing relevant surgical technology coursework (the below courses are eligible for points based on letter grade):

• Medical Terminology
• Communication-Interpersonal
• Anatomy and Physiology
• Introduction to Statistics
• English C1000 or C1000H – Principles of Composition
• Biology of Human Disease

2. Work Experience (within the past 5 years)

NOTE: Not required but eligible for 5 points towards admissions.

Submit proof of 1 year of work experience in the medical field. No other work experience will be accepted.

300 hours minimum required.

What to Include in Submittable:

o    A letter from your employer verifying employment dates

3. GPA of Science Prerequisite (Anatomy or A & P)

NOTE: Must achieve a grade of C or better.

What to Include in Submittable:

• Your unofficial transcripts showing the grades for the science prerequisites. If you have retaken a course, we will accept your highest grade.

We encourage applicants to meet with a counselor prior to applying to ensure they meet the requirements.

4. Military Service

NOTE: Not required but students that can demonstrate they have U.S military service will be awarded 5 points towards admissions.

What to Include in Submittable:

• Submit proof of 1 year of work experience in the medical field.

Maximum Points: 5

Step 1: Submit an Application for Admission to Saddleback College

You must first submit an application for admission to Saddleback College and receive a student ID number. When completing the application, ensure you select the current semester.

Apply for admission to Saddleback College

Step 2: Submit Official Transcripts

All relevant transcripts must be submitted to the Admissions & Records office prior to submitting your program application.

• Send official (unopened) transcripts from any colleges or universities other than Saddleback/IVC to Admissions & Records. This includes any high school AP scores used for course credit.
• If you have completed all relevant coursework at Saddleback College or IVC, you do not need to submit official transcripts, as we have access to these records.
• Previously submitted transcripts are kept on file and do not need to be resubmitted unless additional nursing coursework has been completed.
• International transcripts must be evaluated by an accredited third-party organization. For a list of accepted evaluators, visit NACES.

Step 3: Submit High School Transcripts (if applicable)

• If you are using high school transcripts to meet prerequisite requirements, official transcripts must be submitted to the Admissions & Records office and be on file.

Step 4: Schedule a Counseling Appointment

Call (949) 582-4572 to schedule an appointment with a counselor.

This meeting will help you:

• Ensure you meet the requirements to apply to the ST program
• Discuss any additional courses you may need to take before applying
• Complete your surgical technology application during the application period
• Submit or confirm course substitutions for surgical technology prerequisites
• Confirm course equivalencies for surgical technology prerequisites and supplemental courses
• Determine your current eligibility for points based on completed coursework

NOTE: You do NOT need a student ID to make a 15 minute appointment with a counselor.

Step 5: Submit Course Petitions (if applicable)

• If you have completed coursework outside of Saddleback/IVC and need to request credit for it, you may need to submit a course petition to have the course reviewed and approved as equivalent to the program’s prerequisite or relevant surgical technology coursework.
• Important: Course petitions must be submitted before applying to the Surgical Technology program. Waiting until the application period may result in missing out on points for that course or being notified of deficiencies in prerequisites

If you have questions about course equivalencies or need assistance with a course petition, please consult a Saddleback College counselor.

Step 6: Gather Required Documents for Your Application

Start collecting the following documents to submit with your application:

• Unofficial transcripts showing where you completed prerequisites and any relevant coursework. Official transcripts must also be on file with Admissions & Records for any coursework taken outside of Saddleback/IVC.
• Employment verification: If you have relevant work experience within the last 5 years, please have your employer complete the employment verification form.
• Military Service verification: If you have a military service record, please include proof of service

Important Reminder

Be sure to complete all necessary steps before submitting your application to avoid delays or issues with your application.

Admission Requirements and Health Compliance for the Surgical Technology Program

Once accepted into the ST program, students must accept or decline the offer within the timeframe specified in their acceptance letter. If a student declines the invitation, they must re-apply in a future application period. Students are allowed only one declination of admission.

If invited as an alternate, students must also accept or decline the offer within the designated response time and fulfill the same requirements as directly accepted students to remain as an alternate.

Clinical Rotation Health Requirements

Students are assigned to clinical rotations during the third semester of the program. Prior to participation, all health requirements mandated by affiliated clinical facilities must be met. Because students may rotate through multiple clinical sites, they are required to comply with the standards of the facility with the most stringent health requirements.

Students entering the program without having completed these requirements will be required to sign an acknowledgment stating that both clinical placement and program completion are contingent upon meeting all health standards. Students who fail to meet these requirements will not be permitted to attend clinical rotations. Inability to complete the required clinical hours will result in failure to complete the course.

It is the student’s responsibility to ensure all health requirements are fulfilled by the deadlines provided. For any questions or concerns regarding the program or these requirements, students should contact scst@saddleback.edu.

The following health requirements must be completed and maintained throughout the clinical rotation:

• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
• Varicella
• TDAP
• Hepatitis B
• Annual TB Skin Test
• COVID-19 Annual Booster
  • Many California facilities still maintain independent COVID‑19 vaccine requirements for their employees and students.
• Annual Physical Exam
• Annual Seasonal Flu Shot

All required health documentation is outlined in the Mandatory Health Assessment Packet.

Titers are lab tests that confirm immunity to specific diseases. Clinical sites require positive titers for Hepatitis B, MMR, and Varicella (proof of vaccination alone is not sufficient). The process involves:

1. Blood tests to check for immunity.
2. If the titer is negative or equivocal, a booster vaccine must be administered.
3. After receiving the booster, you must wait at least 4 weeks before retesting. Testing before this waiting period will yield invalid results.

It's important to note that many individuals may not be immune, even if they have received the required childhood vaccinations. This process can take several months, so it is crucial to begin as soon as possible. Titers do not expire.

Additional Requirements

Before starting the Surgical Technology program, students must also complete the following requirements:

• Background check and drug test (CastleBranch)

The following requirements may be obtained after admission but is required before Clinical Rotations begin:

• Annual liability insurance (NSO)
• Current health insurance (any provider is acceptable)
• Current BLS CPR certification (American Heart Association only)

Mandatory Sessions

Accepted students will be required to attend:

• A mandatory paperwork session via Zoom, where all health requirements, paperwork, and deadlines will be reviewed.
• An in-person orientation, which is also mandatory.

Students who do not meet the health requirements established by the clinical facilities shall not be permitted to attend clinical rotations. Failure to complete the required clinical hours shall result in an inability to successfully complete the course. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure all health requirements are met by the deadlines provided.

For any questions or concerns regarding these requirements, students should contact scst@saddleback.edu as soon as possible.