The Surgical Technology programs at two south Georgia technical colleges were recently ranked among the nation’s best by a national review committee that establishes, maintains and promotes appropriate standards of quality for educational programs in the Surgical Technology field.

Of the 451 accredited college Surgical Technology programs in the United States, Moultrie Technical College’s (MTC) program ranked fifth and Albany Technical College’s (ATC) ranked 13th on the 2007-2008 Program Assessment Exam (PAE) as administered through the Accreditation Review Committee on Education in Surgical Technology (ARC-ST). 

This ranking ushers MTC and ATC into the prestigious PAE Elite Twenty program, which recognizes the top 20 surgical technology programs in the United States based on outstanding student achievement.

MTC opened the doors to its Surgical Technology program during the summer quarter of 2004 on the college’s Tifton campus.  In just over four years, MTC’s “Surg Tech” has developed from a fledgling program to one of the top offerings in the country as evidenced by its students’ recent high scores the national examination.   

MTC Surgical Technology Program Director Sherry King, RN, CST, said, “We are very proud of our students’ performance on this exam designed to assess the quality of our program.  Our program mission is to provide exceptional educational training to produce competent surgical technologists who can contribute to providing quality health care in our communities.  This national recognition signifies that we are successfully accomplishing our mission.”

ATC Surgical Technology program also has some of the best and brightest instructors and students in the nation and has been ranked in the top 20 for the past two years. 

“If a student passes the PAE, it’s an indicator that they are prepared for their national boards,” said Lori Day, Albany Tech’s Surgical Technology Chairperson. “Many employers require certification for employment, therefore, a student’s performance and knowledge of the material is extremely important. We are proud of our students’ hard-work and success.”

Students who graduate from the MTC and ATC Surgical Technology programs enjoy knowing that their talents are in such high demand that many have jobs waiting for them as soon as they leave with a diploma in hand.

Surgical technicians perform a variety of duties in an operating room before, during and after surgery to ensure that doctors and patients have a sterile and safe surgical environment.  The strong demand placed on healthcare systems by the aging Baby Boomer generation is one reason why the surgical technology field is part of the nation’s fastest-growing occupational segment. 

According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, employment of surgical technicians is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations as the volume of surgery increases. Technological advances, such as fiber optics and laser technology, will also permit new surgical procedures, and surgical technicians are certain to lend a hand.

Hospitals continue to be the primary employer of surgical technologists, although much faster employment growth is expected in offices and clinics of physicians, including ambulatory surgical centers.

The Technical College System of Georgia offers the Surgical Technology diploma program at 21 other colleges besides Moultrie’s Tech and Albany Tech.  The program typically begins each fall quarter and takes approximately six quarters, or one and a half years, to complete.  Candidates for admission to the program are involved in a competitive selection process for a limited number of available positions.  Once in the program, students combine classrooms training with hands-on clinical training at a local medical center.

Prospective students interested in enrolling in a Surgical Technology program or any of the TCSG’s other exciting healthcare programs should contact the technical college nearest them or look at Georgia’s entire technical college offerings at www.tcsg.edu.