Application for fall admission is due by May 31 of each year.

Only students who are accepted will be notified by mail.

Additional ranking points can be obtained for either (1) ACT/ACT Residual score of greater than 19, or (2) A defined score on an assessment exam. All tests scores must be less than 5 years old.

The assessment exam currently being used is the HESI-A2. This test consists of three sections including math, reading, and vocabulary. To receive the additional ranking points, the candidate must achieve 80% or better in each of the three sections.

For information regarding exam scheduling and cost, please visit the Counseling & Testing Website or call 423-585-6800

Students intending to apply to the Walters State Community College Surgical Technology program may begin working on the general education courses at any time. All prerequisite program courses must be completed prior to application. The program professional courses must be taken in sequence and are offered only at the Walters State Sevier County Campus except for the clinical courses.

Walters State Community College is supported by state funding and therefore must consider in-state residents before out-of-state residents for acceptance into the Surgical Technology program. Please contact the Office of Admissions for assistance in determining Tennessee residency.

The Surgical Technology program adheres to the core performace standards adopted by the Tennessee Board of Regents. Admission to and progression in the Surgical Technology program is not based on these standards but should be used to assist the student in determining whether accomodations or modifications are necessary. The standards are:

1. Critical thinking ability sufficient for clinical judgment;
2. Interpersonal abilities sufficient to effectively interact with individuals, families, and
   groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds;
3. Communication abilities sufficient for interaction with others in verbal and written
   form;
4. Physical abilities sufficient to move from room to room and maneuver in small
   spaces;
5. Gross and fine motor abilities sufficient to provide safe and effective surgical care;
6. Auditory abilities sufficient to monitor and assess surgical needs;
7. Visual ability sufficient for observation and assessment necessary in surgical care;
8. Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment.

If a student believes that one of more of the standards cannot be met without accomodation or modification, the Surgical Technology program will determine whether or not accomodations or modification can be reasonably made. A student should contact the Director of Surgical Technology for assistance.

Walters State Tuition and Fees
All tuition and fees are subject to change by the Tennessee Board of Regents.

*A Specialized Allied Health Science Fee of $25 per credit hour will be applied to all Allied Health Science courses. See Tuition and Fees link above.

** Program courses taken in an online format are subject to a distance education fee.

Upon program completion, the graduate will be able to:

• Correlate the knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, and microbiology to their role as a Surgical Technologist.
• Demonstrate a safe and professional level of practice and knowledge in their role as a Surgical Technologist.
• Acquire an understanding of the ethical, legal, moral, and medical values related to the patient and the surgical team during the perioperative experience.
• Correlate the elements, action, and use of medications and anesthetic agents used during the perioperative experience.
• Implement safe practice techniques in regards to perioperative routines, patient transportation, positioning, and emergency procedures.
• Integrate principles of surgical asepsis as part of the perioperative experience.
• Accurately apply knowledge and skills of a professional Surgical Technologist to address the biopsychosocial needs of the surgical patient.
• Perform proficiently and competently as an entry-level surgical technologist in the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective learning domains.
• Value the professional attributes of the Surgical Technologist.

Tennessee Code Annotated 68-57-101 states persons employed as a surgical technologist in the state of Tennessee shall:
• Have completed a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP);or
• Successfully completed the surgical technologist exam offered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA).

Walters State Community College Surgical Technology program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA). Graduates from an accredited program will be eligible to take the national certification examination administered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA).

Commission of Accreditation Commission on Accreditation on Allied Health Education (CAAHEP)
25400 U.S. Highway 19 North
Suite 158
Clearwater, Florida 33763
Phone: 727-210-2350
Fax: 727-210-2354
caahep.org/

Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA)
Telephone: 303-694-9262
Fax: 303-741-3655
arcstsa.org/