The RCTC Surgical Technology Associate of Applied Science Degree Program is 18 months in length. The first academic year will be spent completing your general education requirements, nursing assistant, medical terminology, and employment strategies. The second year is the surgical technology course sequence that includes instruction using a combination of methods, including lecture, practice in a well equipped laboratory, and actual clinical experience in the operating room. The majority of clinical experience will be at the Mayo Medical Center Hospitals in Rochester, Minnesota.
Students also gain clinical experience at other hospitals in southeastern Minnesota.
The student will receive excellent clinical experience in various surgical specialties including general, gynecology, ear, nose, throat, eye, plastics, urology, orthopedics, neurosurgery, cardiovascular, peripheral vascular, and thoracic surgery. Upon successful completion of the surgical technology program, students receive an Associate of Applied Science Degree from Rochester Community and Technical College. Many hospitals require their employees to be certified. Following are links to the specific Surgical Tech Degree requirements needed for completing the program and also detailed descriptions of the core Surgical Tech courses.