Surgical Technologist School - Inside the Operating Room
As a surgical technologist, you'll join highly skilled surgical teams to help facilitate safe surgeries.
You will work side-by-side with surgeons to ensure that the operating room environment is safe, equipment functions properly and that the operative procedure is conducted under conditions that maximize patient safety.
As a Lakeland student, you will gain the knowledge and skills needed to perform safe and effective patient care in the surgical environment. As a result, our students excel in this high-demand field and enter the job market with a competitive edge.
Lakeland's Surgical Technology program is specialized to prepare entry-level surgical technologists who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills) and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession.
The knowledge you gain in the surgical technology program will ensure quality patient care during the operative procedure by constantly being alert to maintain the sterile field.
As a graduate of the surgical technology program, you'll become an expert in the theory and application of the principles of asepsis and sterile technique. Your expert skills will be combined with the knowledge of human anatomy, surgical procedures and implementation of instruments, tools and technologies to assist the surgeon during those procedures.
Lakeland's graduates have historically achieved exceptional job placements with world-class surgical teams!
Does the following describe you? If so, you may make a great surgical technologist!
- A team player
- Honest, responsible and accountable
- Detail oriented and organized
- Like to work with your hands and able to multitask
- Interested in anatomy
Graduates of Lakeland's Surgical Technology program will learn all the critical skills and knowledge needed to effectively assist surgeons in an operating room. You'll become an expert in:
- Surgical instrumentation and equipment.
- Establishing and maintaining a sterile field for safe surgical procedures.
- Studying safe, perioperative patient care.
- Learning surgical procedures in over 14 surgical specialties.
- Anticipating the needs of the surgeon.
- Safely managing surgical instruments and devices
- Developing a strong surgical conscience.
- Correct sterilization methods of surgical items.
At Lakeland, our graduates will earn their Associate of Science degree in Surgical Technology, and be prepared to take the certification exam required to become a certified surgical technologist in Ohio. Where you start depends on where you are on your educational journey.
Here are the different program entry options:
- Option 1 – you're a new high school grad or recently graduated within the last two years.
- Option 2 – you're a current college student at Lakeland or elsewhere, or have graduated high school more than two years ago.
- Option 3 – you already have a degree (in any field).
If you haven't already, apply now to Lakeland and begin the process to register for classes. If you have already been admitted to Lakeland as a student and have sent your transcripts to the college, make an appointment with an academic counselor to see how you can get started in the program.
To enter Lakeland's Surgical Technology program, you must be formally accepted by our program director after meeting certain requirements.
View our admission requirements checklist for a list of required actions and pre-requisite classes that must be taken before being considered for entry into the surgical technology program.
Once completed, you may apply to Lakeland's Surgical Technology program to request a spot in the next cohort. Some students may have high school or college credit that may fulfill these requirements. Some students (enrolling under Option 1) may be eligible for conditional acceptance before pre-requisites are completed.
To see if you have prior credits that may be counted, make an appointment with an academic counselor to map out your degree plan.
Contact our program director for more information and to see if you qualify.
Upon graduation, our students are prepared to take the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting examination to become a Certified Surgical Technologist (CST). Our certification exam pass rates are high year after year, and our job placement rate for those who become a CST historically have a 100% job placement rate!
For up-to-date information on national salary averages, visit the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website.
Lakeland's Surgical Technology program is a two-year program, where graduates will earn their Associate of Applied Science Degree in Surgical Technology. The program courses consist of 65 credit hours.
- World-class, modern learning facility complete with simulated operating room, scrub room and sterile processing area. Area health systems value Lakeland students because they know students are prepared with high-quality, industry-grade equipment.
- Laboratory practice with access to the mock OR and lab to hone your skills outside of class time.
- Clinical partners including Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center (Affiliated with Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine) and Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
- Community service opportunities provide volunteer and team building exercise as a way to give back to the community.
- Teachers with field experience lead our surgical technology program. Certified surgical technologists who have extensive field experience are dedicated to teach and mentor you to become our community's future health care professionals.
- Professional certification exam pass rates are high in our program. Upon graduation, students are prepared to take the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting examination to become a Certified Surgical Technologist (CST).
- Financially smart way to enter the field. Becoming a surgical technologist at Lakeland is accessible and affordable compared with similar programs in the area. Most students graduate with little to no debt by earning their degrees at Lakeland. Although surgical technology is considered one of the best jobs without a bachelor's degree, all students are encouraged to further their education. Starting at Lakeland and then transferring to a bachelor's program can save you thousands of dollars!
- 100% job placement is achieved by our students! Lakeland graduates are in very high demand by area health care organizations! Additionally, opportunities to become a travelling surgical technologist is an option for those who would like to work in different areas of the country.
| Year | CST Pass Rate | Job Placement Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 86% | 100% |
| 2021 | 100% | 100% |
| 2022 | 80% | 100% |
| 2023 | 40% | 100% |
| 2024 | 100% | 100% |
After completing the surgical technology program, motivated students can pursue a bachelor's degree in Allied Health through Lakeland's Holden University Center partners. Explore your options from state colleges and universities right here in Lake County.
