Press Release                                                                                                                        
Date: January 9, 2025
Contact: lgarrett@tctc.edu

By Lisa Garrett

Surgical Technology Graduates Report Perfect Pass Rate on Certification Exam

PENDLETON --- For the third consecutive year, Tri-County Technical College’s (TCTC) Surgical Technology graduates achieved a 100% pass rate on the national certification exam.

All 13 of the December 2024 graduates received passing scores on the National Board Surgical Technology Certification Exam and now are designated as Certified Surgical Technologists (C.S.T.).

Their scores exceed both state and national exam rates, said Miranda Crawley-Fowler, Surgical Technology program director at TCTC.

The national C.S.T first-time pass rate for Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education accredited surgical technology programs is 77%.

The C.S.T is widely recognized in the healthcare community as the foremost credential for surgical technologists in the nation. The C.S.T is required for employment in South Carolina, as well as many other states. 

Graduates who obtain national certification as a C.S.T. demonstrate an understanding of the basic competencies for safe patient care in the operating room. TCTC’s Surgical Technology program prepares students to serve as members of the surgical team through classroom and clinical experiences. Graduates work in hospital operating rooms, in labor and delivery, endoscopy, ambulatory centers and doctor’s offices, said Crawley-Fowler.

“The perfect pass rate for the program is an outstanding achievement,” said Crawley-Fowler. “It’s a wonderful reflection of our program and the skills our students possess. The instructors and I are with these students every day and they become like family. I’m like a proud parent.  I know they are ready for their health care roles.”

To ensure preparedness for the certification exam, Crawley-Fowler wrote and complied a review manual titled “Study Now and Pass,” which is incorporated in the curriculum. She and instructors administer two different practice exams from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA), and classwork and lectures focus on areas where students need additional help. 

Crawley-Fowler added that Sandra Williams, clinical coordinator for the program, plays a vital role in the students being prepared for job placement. Williams also teaches the exam review class during the last semester before graduation. “Her job is very difficult by making sure each student meets the clinical requirements and surgical case criteria to be able to even sit for the certification exam. I couldn't do it without her,” she said. 

In 2021 TCTC’s Surgical Technology program transitioned from a diploma to an associate degree program. It is a four-semester program which consists of three semesters and one term, with graduation in December. Other requirements include clinical hours at surrounding facilities to earn a minimum of 120 surgical cases. Students attend the fall and spring semesters working only in lecture and lab classes before they attend clinicals in the summer and following fall semesters.

The surgical technologist is in high demand and graduates have a wide range of job opportunities.

“The surgical technologist falls under the supervision of the surgeon and has a vital role to the operating room team,” said Crawley-Fowler. “Most people think that the surgical technologist just passes instruments but, in fact, they are responsible for much more. The surgical technologist’s responsibilities include maintaining sterility, by ensuring the case is prepared in a distinct way to keep the field and items free of all microorganisms and germs. They also perform surgical counts, which is an essential part of preventing retained surgical items. Other duties include medication management, ensuring all necessary drugs are correctly prepared, labeled, and administer according to protocol."

Anticipating the surgeon's needs is another critical aspect, where the surgical technologist must have instruments and materials ready ahead of time, allowing the procedure to flow smoothly and efficiently, she said. The surgical technologist has a vast knowledge of surgical instrumentation, sutures, supplies, and techniques. A surgical technologist will be trained in surgeries over a span of specialties including general surgery, orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, obstetrics/GYN surgery, genitourinary surgery, trauma surgery, vascular surgery, ENT surgery, ophthalmic surgery, oral surgery, and cardiothoracic surgery, said Crawley-Fowler.

TCTC’s Surgical Technology program reports a 100% job placement rate.

During this year, the Surgical Technology program formed a new partnership with AnMed Health, who is now hiring student externs who are starting their clinicals and externship classes as employees. AnMed Health pays any unpaid portion of students’ education, offers a sign on bonus, and a full-time job upon graduation.

TCTC has similar partnerships with other hospitals. Bon Secours and Prisma Health hire student externs. USC’s School of Medicine in Greenville uses TCTC students as preceptors for upcoming surgery residents. “The students teach and work with the residents on scrubbing, gowning, and gloving for surgery. The students demonstrate how to perform these tasks correctly, practice with them, and then grade their performance,” said Crowley Fowler. Currently there are two TCTC students taking advantage of the partnership with AnMed Health and three students who have partnered with a Prisma Health facility as working students in externships.

The Surgical Technology department is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs through 2033.

About Tri-County Technical College

Tri-County Technical College, a public two-year community and technical college serving Anderson, Oconee and Pickens Counties in South Carolina, enrolls more than 9,000 students annually and offers more than 70 major fields of study, including computer technology, industrial electronics, mechatronics, nursing, and university transfer programs. Tri-County boasts the highest student success rate among two-year colleges in the state and ranks in the top one percent nationally for successful student transfers to four-year colleges and universities. To learn more, visit tctc.edu. 

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