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Program Description

Surgical Technology is a three-term certificate program that presents the knowledge and skills necessary to work in a surgical environment and function as a vital member of the operating room team. The learning environment consists of the campus classroom and laboratory along with local hospitals, day surgery centers and physicians offices. Accreditation is from the Commission of Accreditation on Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Students will be administered the Surgical Technologist National Certifying Examination just prior to graduation. Surgical Technologists who take and pass this examination are certified and authorized to use the initials CST to designate their status as Certified Surgical Technologist. This program’s first term courses are offered in the summer term only. This may delay a student’s program start date. Please check with an academic advisor for more information. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.

Special Requirements

New minimum clinical case requirement for program completion as indicated in the new 6th Edition of the Core Curriculum of Surgical Technology

Required Program Courses: Must be completed before beginning the Surgical Technology core courses. Pre- and corequisites are listed in course descriptions and are subject to change with each new catalog. It is the student’s responsibility to meet the pre- and/or corequisites in effect for the term in which a course is taken, regardless of the catalog under which the student entered or will graduate. Students may be stopped from enrolling or may be disenrolled if pre- or corequisites are not met.

Program Orientation: Students are required to attend a program orientation. Students may be dropped from the program for failure to attend the mandatory meeting. It is the responsibility of the student to provide a current telephone and mailing address through myCNM to insure proper notification of this meeting.

Criminal Background: Most of the health programs in HWPS require students undergo the New Mexico Department of Health caregivers criminal history screening program. This involves state and federal felony criminal background checks with fingerprints. This must be completed prior to starting their program or prior to beginning their clinical experiences. Students with a disqualifying conviction can appeal some of those convictions to the School of HWPS. Depending on the program, students may or may not be allowed to remain in the program pending appeal. Students who do not successfully appeal a disqualifying conviction will not be allowed to start or remain in the program. A successful appeal does not guarantee eligibility for licensure after graduation in professions that require licensure.

Drug Screen: In many HWPS programs students are required to undergo a routine drug screening prior to starting their program.

Immunizations: All health programs require that students provide documentation of current immunizations completed before beginning clinical courses.

Physical Requirements: Students must be in good physical and psychological health. Students may be asked to provide documentation of a recent physical examination. Many health programs require the student to be able to safely lift and/or move a minimum of 50 pounds. Reasonable accommodations are made for students with disabilities. However, some disabilities may prohibit students from completing program specific competencies or gaining employment. Students with disabilities that may interfere with completing program competencies are advised to contact the School of Health, Wellness & Public Safety (HWPS)  Office for more information.

Program Fees: Program fees cover costs incurred on behalf of the student for student-issued equipment, background checks, drug screens, initial treatment/counseling in the event of a needle stick or exposure to bodily fluids, etc.

Transportation: Students are responsible for their own transportation to off-campus training sites (i.e. clinical courses at hospitals, internships, etc.).

Career and Educational Opportunities

Gainful Employment information is available from Job Connection Services.

Surgical Technologists perform may roles within and outside the operating room or surgical setting, but the primary role is to prepare and protect the sterile field, pass instruments, and assist the surgeon in an operative procedure. There is a demand for Surgical Technologists in Albuquerque and throughout the state of New Mexico.

Exit competencies (see Program Exit Competencies ) for this program of study are available at cnm.edu/exitcomp.

For the graduation policy refer to the Graduating From CNM  section, cnm.edu or the Students tab in my CNM.

Certificate and Degree Options

• Surgical Technology, Certificate of Completion