Mohawk Valley Community College Surgical Technician Certificate Program How to Apply for Surgical Technician Admission Process Admission to the Surgical Technician Certificate Program at MVCC is a competitive, time-sensitive, and sequential educational process. The following are the requirements to apply for the Surgical Technician program. Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the Surgical Technician Essential Functions (see section 6) prior to applying. SECTION 1 Prerequisites Minimum qualifications: High school average of 75 OR a current overall college grade point average (GPA) of 2.0. Math: An SAT math score of 500 or higher OR an ACT math score of 21 or higher OR an appropriate math placement test score OR a grade of C or better in a MVCC MA090, MA091, MA110, MA108, MA115, or comparable mathematics course taken within 5 years. Chemistry: High school chemistry with a lab and a final grade of 70 or higher taken within 7 years OR a grade of C or better in CH111 & CH 112 or CH 131 or equivalent taken within 7 years. Recommended Biology: High school biology with a lab and is not mandatory but recommended. Prerequisites can be taken at other colleges. Consult the Admissions Office at MVCC to find out if those classes meet the minimum criteria. IMPORTANT NOTE: Applicants may have no more than one repeat (F, D or W) in any of the above prerequisite college courses within five years of applying to the Surgical Technician Program.. Any student who has been unsuccessful at another college surgical technician program will not be eligible for admission to the Surgical Technician Program. ALL PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS MUST COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING STEPS TO OFFICIALLY APPLY FOR ADDMISSION TO THE SURGICAL TECHNICIAN PROGRAM: STUDENTS NEW TO MVCC: (Current Students go to steps 3 and 4) Step 1: New MVCC students need to submit a completed MVCC college admission application to the college Admission Office by March 1, including all official college or high school transcripts. OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES: Request a professional education credential evaluation report from an evaluation service [such as World Final- Approved by Healthcare Program Committee Page 1 of 5
Education Services (www.wes.org)]. Please request that an official copy of the report be sent to: Mohawk Valley Community College, Office of Admissions, 1101 Sherman Drive, Utica, NY 13501. Step 2: New MVCC students: Complete the MVCC placement test prior to March 1. In order to be considered for admission into the Surgical Technician program, candidates must complete the MVCC Placement Test and receive an appropriate score on the math portion. Students may be exempt from taking certain portions of the placement test based on the college s Placement Testing Exemption Policy which can be found at: www.mvcc.edu/placementtesting-exemption-policy New students will then follow steps 3 and 4 for current MVCC students. CURRENT MVCC STUDENTS: Step 3: Contact the Advisement Center at (315) 731-5710 to schedule an appointment with an appropriate advisor to continue the Surgical Technician Program application process. This appointment will determine if all prerequisites have been met. Also bring any other information that you feel may be pertinent to the application process.. Step 4: A qualified applicant who has met the minimum qualifications information will be forwarded to the Program Coordinator. The applicant may be contacted for a personal interview to complete the admission process. Personal Interview: Candidates may be invited for a personal interview after the Surgical Technician Selection Committee has completed a preliminary review of the applicant s credentials. Invitations for a personal interview are issued only to those applicants whose records and other stated qualifications appear sufficiently strong to justify such a detailed study. Those applicants not issued an invitation will receive a letter of refused acceptance so that the individual will be able to act accordingly on their future plans without delay. Only those applicants whose files are complete (completed application, all official transcripts/academic record high school and college) will be considered for an interview. Note to international candidates: See the webpage link http://www.mvcc.edu/international-admissions/admissionsrequirements for information. If you require disability accommodations during any part of the application process, please contact the disability office at 315-792-5644 or email tmariotti@mvcc.edu to discuss your needs. ADMISSIONS DECISION-MAKING PROCESS The Admissions decision-making process is conducted by the Surgical Technician Selection Committee. Applicants who have met all application requirements will be considered for admission. *As this program is competitive, meeting initial eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission into the Surgical Technician Program. Admission to MVCC will require a completed college application for admission to be submitted to the Admissions Office no later than March 1. The Surgical Technician Program Application deadline for applicants is March 1. Applications must be submitted to the Advisement Center by appointment no later than March 1. Applications received after March 1 may be considered on a space-available basis. Academic transcripts; a completed Surgical Technician Program Application and a Personal Interview will determine the applicant s standing for admissions into the Surgical Technician Program. Final- Approved by Healthcare Program Committee Page 2 of 5
The MVCC Surgical Technician Selection Committee will review all applications after March 1 to decide what candidates will be called in for an interview. Decisions will be made after all interviews are completed. All decisions of the Surgical Technician Selection Committee are final. Notifications of acceptance or refusal for the Surgical Technician Program will be sent to candidates no later than April 15. Those applicants who have been accepted into the Surgical Technician Program will also be sent further instructions on program requirement and registration. Applicants who have not been accepted may re-apply to the Surgical Technician Program one time only. Those individuals are encouraged to contact either our Admissions Office at 315-792-5354 or our Advisement Center at 315-731-5710 to schedule an appointed to discuss alternate educational opportunities. LENGTH OF PROGRAM The length of the Surgical Technician Program at MVCC consists of three sequential consecutive semesters. SECTION 2 TRANSFER APPLICANTS Transfer application deadline is March 1 for fall term surgical technology courses and October 1 for spring term surgical technology courses. Transfer Applicants are applicants with transfer credit for Surgical Technology Course(s) from another college and must apply, meeting all program and prerequisite criteria, and will be considered on spot availability and an individual basis. SECTION 3 READMISSION APPLICANTS Readmission Application Deadlines-March 1 st for fall term surgical technology courses and October 1 st for spring term surgical technology courses Readmission applicants are applicants that have previously attempted any MVCC surgical technology course. Readmission applicants must have successfully completed all prerequisite course work. Applicants may have no more than one repeat (F, W or D) of only one surgical technology course one time. A second unsuccessful surgical technology course will result in academic dismissal from the program. Dismissed students are ineligible to return to the Surgical Technician Program. Readmission into the Surgical Technician Program and/or Surgical Technology Course(s) requires approval of the Program Coordinator, and is on a space-available basis. SECTION 4 READMISSION APPLICANTS WITHIN ONE YEAR Application requirements for applicants seeking readmission into a surgical technology course within one year of: unsuccessful surgical technology course (F, D, or W), or a break in sequence. 1. Notify Program Coordinator in writing requesting readmission indicating course and semester for which readmission is sought. Send letters to: Mark Williams CST, Surgical Technician Program Coordinator, MVCC RA 212, 1101 Floyd Avenue, Rome, NY 13440-4699 2. Surgical Technology students, who were unsuccessful (F, D, OR W or a break in sequence) in any surgical technology course, must re-apply using the Surgical Technology Program Application. SECTION 5 READMISSION APPLICANTS AFTER MORE THAN ONE YEAR Final- Approved by Healthcare Program Committee Page 3 of 5
Application requirements for students seeking readmission after more than one year of an unsuccessful surgical technology course (F, D, or W), or a break in sequence of surgical technology course(s): The break in sequence may not be more than 2 years. 1. Notify Program Coordinator in writing requesting readmission. Indicate course and semester for which readmission is sought. Send letters to: Mark Williams CST, Surgical Technician Program Coordinator, MVCC RA 212, 1101 Floyd Avenue, Rome, NY 13440-4699 2. Surgical Technology students who were unsuccessful (F, D, or W) in any surgical technology course must re-apply using the Surgical Technician Program Application. 3. Science credits earned more than ten years prior to the start of the students first Surgical Technology semester will not satisfy program or prerequisite course requirements. SECTION 6 SURGICAL TECHNNICIAN ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS The essential skills and relevant activities are listed for your review so that potential students can decide whether or not they may be able to complete the requirements for the Surgical Technician Program. Applicants must sign their application to indicate their review of section 6 of the Surgical Technician Program Admission Application. MVCC complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The college will endeavor to make reasonable accommodations for an applicant with a disability, who is otherwise qualified. Applicants who are unsure if they can meet these essential skills or know they will need help in meeting them should contact the College s Disability Services Office (315) 792-5644 to discuss accommodations and/or auxiliary aids. A student in the certificate Surgical Technician Program must have the abilities and skills necessary for use of the surgical technician process. The following is a representative list of the essential skills, with or without accommodation, expected of students enrolled in the surgical technician program. 1. Demonstrate the ability to perform essential functions for a maximum of a 10 hour shift. 2. Demonstrate the ability to protect a patient when the patient is standing and ambulating on all surfaces with or without the use of assistive devices, including canes, crutches and walkers. 3. Demonstrate the ability to safely move a patient over 100 pounds from one surface to another using the appropriate level of help. 4. Demonstrate safe body mechanics in the process of all patient transportation, including lifting and carrying small equipment (under 50 pounds) and moving large equipment (over 50 pounds). 5. Demonstrate the ability to manipulate dials on equipment. 6. Demonstrate the ability to coordinate simultaneous motions. 7. Demonstrate the ability to perform occasional overhead extension. 8. Demonstrate the ability to perform interventions such as sterile procedures. 9. Display adaptability to change, 10. Establish effective relationships with others. 11. Communicate effectively, safely and efficiently in English (both written and spoken) by: Explaining procedures Receiving information from others Receiving information from written documents Exhibiting appropriate interpersonal skill Final- Approved by Healthcare Program Committee Page 4 of 5
12. Detect an unsafe environment and carry out appropriate emergency procedures including: Detecting subtle environment changes and odors including, but not limited to, the smell of burning electrical equipment, smoke, and spills. Detect high and low frequency sounds, including but not limited to, alarms, bells, and emergency signals. IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL APPLICANTS: If a student has legal charges pending or have been convicted of a felony and/or misdemeanor, certification may be delayed or denied by the national certifying agency Students may be subject to criminal background checks and/or blood screening tests at their own cost. Students unable to meet these standards may be prohibited from practicing in the field. After acceptance into the Surgical Technician Program you will be required to sign a Surgical Technician Certificate Program Acknowledgement Form. Please review the information that will be on that form below. Clinicals: Surgical Technician Certificate students are required to participate in Clinical Practice in the Spring and Summer semesters as part of their program. Clinical Practice allows students to gain inside knowledge and professional experience in preparation for entering the Surgical Technician field. Students will have 26 weeks of over 500 hours of uncompensated Clinical Practice. This will involve 2 days a week for the Spring semester and 3 days a week for the Summer semester. There are no weekend or evening hours allowed at clinical sites. Substantial travel outside the Utica/Rome area may be a requirement to complete the clinical experience. In addition to the above mentioned, students may be required to complete a background check including fingerprinting. CPR and Medical Requirements: American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR certification, Completed Health Physical form with vaccination documentation including; MMR Titer, Mantoux (TB Test) and lab results dated within three months of their Clinical Practice start date. A flu shot will be required during flu season (September March) I have read and understand the requirements for the Surgical Technician Certificate Program admission. Additionally, I understand that I will be required to obtain the above mentioned documents for future gainful employment, and if unable to successfully obtain the proper documented immunizations, background clearance and have a felony conviction I may be prohibited from practicing in the Surgical Technician field. Final- Approved by Healthcare Program Committee Page 5 of 5