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Surgical Technology
Develop the technical skills and clinical knowledge needed to support surgical teams through a comprehensive certificate program in Surgical Technology.
Program Overview
Learn about what this program offers and what you'll achieve.
What is Surgical Technology?
Surgical technology is a vital healthcare profession focused on supporting safe, efficient surgical care. Surgical technologists are integral members of the operating room team, working alongside surgeons, nurses, and anesthesiologist to ensure every procedure is performed in a sterile, well-organized environment.
What does a professional do?
Surgical technologists play a critical role on surgical team by preparing operating rooms, maintaining sterile environments and ensuring all instruments and equipment are ready for use. They assist surgeons during procedures, prepare and monitor patients, support multiple surgical specialties and reset operating rooms to ensure readiness for subsequent cases.
Professional Characteristics
- Deliver care with empathy, respect, and genuine concern for each patient’s well‑being.
- Apply analytical reasoning and sound judgment to make informed decisions in fast‑paced clinical environments.
- Maintain accuracy and precision in all tasks to ensure high‑quality outcomes and patient safety.
- Convey information clearly and professionally with patients, families, and healthcare team members.
- Work seamlessly with colleagues and interdisciplinary teams to provide the best possible patient care.
Program Highlights
- CAHE's curriculum is reverse-engineered from national board standards to ensure you don't just pass-you excel. CAHE's registry preparatory course and credentialing exam pass rates are the bridge between being a student and becoming a registered professional in a competitive market.
- Graduate with clinical maturity. By rotating through major hospital systems and leading ambulatory centers you move beyond the classroom to master high-pressure patient care. You won't just learn the theory; you will build the "muscle memory" required to be a clinician from your first day on the job.
- Receive expert mentorship. Our instructors are active clinicians in their fields who teach you the nuances of the "hidden curriculum" - the soft skills, technical shortcuts, and patient-interaction techniques that separate a new graduate from a seasoned employee.
- CAHE's program is designed for efficiency and intensity, allowing you to enter a high-demand field in as short as one year. We value your time by focusing only on the skills that lead directly to employment and patient outcomes.
- Students deserve a path to a new career that respects your current commitments. CAHE offers schedules so you can maintain your personal and financial stability while you work toward your professional transformation.
Program Structure
Format: Blended/Hybrid
Clinical rotations: Begin in the Second Term (506 clinical hours)
Graduation Requirements
✓ Met all academic requirements.
✓ Met all clinical requirements and attained all required competencies.
✓ Successfully completed Career Development Workshop series.
✓ Met all financial obligations.
✓ Completed an exit interview.
✓ Returned their CAHE swipe card, Clinical Affiliate ID card, etc.
GPA Requirement: C average (GPA of 2.0)
Completion Window: Students who have not fulfilled their graduation requirements have 20 weeks from their originally scheduled graduation date to complete all missing requirements.
Certification & Licensure
Professional credentials and licensing requirements.
Certification Exam
NBSTSA (National Board of Surgical Technologist and Surgical Assistant)
Micro-Credentials
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will also receive:
Mission & Goals
What we aim to achieve and how we measure success.
Mission Statement
Center for Allied Health Education has made a firm commitment to the education of students in the field of Surgical Technology. Our mission is the training of Surgical Technologists who are skilled individuals, qualified by technical education, to provide surgical services.
Goals
- • Center for Allied Health Education offers a program of Surgical Technology education at the certificate level.
- • To graduate, students must have: Completed all didactic objectives including: passing all courses by achieving a minimum passing grade. Completed all clinical objectives including: clinical performance and competency, problem solving skills, critical thinking skills, communication skills, professional development and growth.
- • The program identifies benchmarks to provide a standard by which the effectiveness of the program in achieving its goals can be evaluated. An assessment/effectiveness plan is in place and can be obtained from the program director.
- • Upon graduation, students will receive a certificate of completion.
Objectives
Applying knowledge of safety
Applying knowledge of safety for patients, self, and others
Applying knowledge of anatomy and surgical techniques
Applying knowledge of anatomy and surgical techniques to accurately demonstrate anatomical structures
Applying knowledge of surgical equipment and procedures
Applying knowledge of surgical equipment and procedures to accurately assist during a procedure
Exercising discretion and judgment
Exercising discretion and judgment in the performance of surgical procedures
Working collaboratively
Working collaboratively as a team member
Recognizing emergency patient conditions
Recognizing emergency patient conditions and initiating lifesaving treatment within their scope of practice
Course Schedule
Class and clinical scheduling information.
The Program is a full-time program. The program is 12-month, divided into four 10-week quarters. The schedule varies by quarter. Students are provided with their schedule approximately 30 days prior to the start of each term.
Location
The program is offered in a Blended/Hybrid format. Courses take place on campus as well as online through synchronous and asynchronous methods of delivery.
Schedule Details
Courses may be scheduled Sunday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., subject to change. Students may be scheduled for up to 5 days a week. Clinical rotation schedules are generally Monday through Friday between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. and are subject to change based on shift availability. Make-up sessions/activities may be conducted on Sundays.
Upcoming Cohorts
CST 26-09
BrooklynStarts: September 8, 2026
Ends: October 2027
Schedule: Day
Oreintation will be scheduled prior to the start of the program.
Program Curriculum
Courses, hours, and what you'll learn.
- Medical Terminology
- Anatomy and Physiology I
- Care of the Surgical Patient
- Principles and Practice of Surgical Technology I
- Surgical Technology Lab I
- Biomedicine
- Introduction to Sterile Processing
- Anatomy and Physiology II
- Principles and Practices of Surgical Technology II
- Surgical Technology Lab II
- Fundamentals of Operative Procedures I
- Clinical Internship I
- Pharmacology and Anesthesia
- Surgical Technology Lab III
- Fundamentals of Operative Procedures II
- Microbiology
- Clinical Internship II
- Fundamentals of Operative Procedures III
- Career Development
- Clinical Internship III
- CST Review
Program Outcomes
Outcomes may be reported to an accrediting or regulatory agency. If multiple reporting periods are available, they are shown below.
Reported to: ABHES
Reporting period: 7/1/2024 – 6/30/2025
Admissions Requirements
Prerequisites and eligibility requirements.
Application Fee
$50.00
Admission Process
Step-by-step admissions instructions.
- 1
Application & Documents
Applicants should complete the general program application (www.cahe.edu/apply) along with a $50.00 (non-refundable) application fee. All required supplemental documents may be found on the "Application Checklist" and should be mailed/submitted in-person. Documents may either be submitted individually or together. All documents should be in prior to the scheduled interview date.
- 2
Entrance Exam
Applicants who are exempt from the entrance examination requirement or successfully pass the required portions of the entrance examination will be scheduled to begin the interview process. Applicants who are required to take one or both portions of the entrance examination will be scheduled to do so.
- •Applicants scheduled to take the exam will be provided a link as to how to best prepare/study.
- •Individuals who take and do not successfully pass the entrance exam will have the ability to re-take it one time.
- •Those who successfully pass the exam will move forward to the final step of the Admissions Process (interview with Program Staff).
- •Those who do not move forward will have to wait one year to reapply to any program offered by The Center.
Exemption Criteria
General Exemption:
- •Applicants, who possess an Associate's Degree or greater from an institution in the United States at the time of applying, are automatically exempt from taking the math and reading portions of the entrance exam.
- •Students who have completed the equivalent of an Associate's degree abroad are automatically exempt from the math portion of the exam, but may be subject to taking the reading portion.
Exemption from Reading:
- •A minimum SAT score of 470 in Critical Reading or ACT score of 19 in English.
- •A minimum grade of a "C" on a college-level, credit bearing English Literature course from a regionally accredited institution.
Exemption from Math:
- •A minimum SAT score of 490 in Math or ACT score of 20 in Math.
- •A minimum grade of a "C" on a college-level, credit bearing Math course from a regionally accredited institution.
- 3
Interview
A formal interview is required of all applicants as the last step in the admissions process. Applicants are encouraged to dress professionally and to familiarize themselves with the field, program structure, as well as accreditation.
Tuition & Fees
Tuition, fees, and payment-related details.
Academic Year: 2025-2026
Fees
| Category | Due | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Registration Fee | Upon Registration | $100 |
| Clinical Fee Used to cover the cost of students' coverage under the Center's Malpractice/Liability insurance policy, to operate and maintain the student lab and to provide students with a variety of educational affiliated clinical internship sites. | Prior to First Quarter | $500 |
| Technology Fee Used to provide students with online learning resources, the learning management system, the student portal and the computerized library. | Prior to First Quarter | $750 |
| Clinical Fee Used to cover the cost of students' coverage under the Center's Malpractice/Liability insurance policy, to operate and maintain the student lab and to provide students with a variety of educational affiliated clinical internship sites. | Prior to Third Quarter | $500 |
| Technology Fee Used to provide students with online learning resources, the learning management system, the student portal and the computerized library. | Prior to Third Quarter | $750 |
| NBSTSA Exam Fee covers the student's first attempt. Additional attempts, if applicable, will be an additional out-of-pocket fee at student's expense. | Prior to Third Quarter | $290 |
Additional Costs
Clinical Clearance
Students are required to have a physical examination and be medically cleared by a private physician as well as have a criminal background check performed. The background check is done through a third-party company called Certified Background.
$295
Textbooks
Students are required to purchase all textbooks on their own. Textbook costs are estimated (with 1 year of Cengage Unlimited).
$415
iPad and Accessories
Students are required to use the school issued iPad when participating in virtual lectures, completing assignments, accessing CANVAS and participating in exams. The cost of the iPad is due prior to Orientation and is non-refundable once the student has received the iPad.
$365
Refund Policy
Cancellation and refund details.
Enrollment Agreement Cancellation Policy
Students may cancel their enrollment agreement within seven (7) business days of signing the enrollment agreement, and will receive a refund of their registration fee and any tuition paid to date. Thereafter, a student will be liable for the non-refundable registration fee and any tuition liability as of the student's last date of physical attendance, pursuant to the Refund Policy as published in the Catalog.
After the first day of instruction, the student will be liable for the registration fee and any tuition liability as of their last day of physical attendance, defined as the last day in which the student participated in academically-related activity, including projects, clinical experience or examinations. The non-refundable application and registration fees, as well as items of extra expense to a student, (e.g. uniform, clinical and technology fees) will not be considered in tuition refund computations. Total tuition liability is limited to the quarter/semester during which the student withdraws or is terminated, as well as any previous quarters/semesters completed. The following is the refund policy:
Refunds are calculated based on the total semester's/quarter's tuition due, not the total tuition paid by the student up to that point. The Center will retain the percentage of tuition it is entitled to keep prior to issuing a refund. In the event that a student has not paid their tuition in full by the date the refund is calculated and/or a refund is required based on the Return to Title IV regulations (see Financial Aid policy as published in the Institutional Catalog) any money due to the Center based on the Center's refund policy will be deducted from the refund amount. After the above calculations, should a student still have a financial obligation, they must pay their financial obligation in order to remove the financial hold placed on their account. In addition, the Center for Allied Health Education will not release any transcripts or academic records until any outstanding financial obligation is met.
Accreditation
Programmatic and institutional accreditation.
-
ABHES
Accreditation is granted after a programmatic review and site visit. Recognition by ABHES qualifies the program's graduates for eligibility to apply for and take the certification exam administered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) to become a Certified Surgical Technologist.
-
NBSTSA
Career Direction
Where graduates work and what certifications open the door.
$45,000 - $65,000
Good
NBSTSA
Credentialing exam
NBSTSA (National Board of Surgical Technologist and Surgical Assistant)
Additional certifications you may earn
- Basic Life Support (CPR)
- Blood Borne Pathogen (Infection Control)
- HIPAA
Clinical Geography
Where students train across the New York metro area.
Clinical education connects classroom learning to affiliated healthcare sites across Brooklyn, Staten Island, and other nearby parts of the New York metro. Placements depend on program requirements, site availability, and affiliation arrangements\u2014not every student is assigned to the same site.
Campus locations for this program
- Brooklyn
Site names, neighborhoods, and program coverage on the Clinical Education Sites hub reflect representative partner affiliations. Specific student placements vary by cohort, schedule, and clinical capacity.