Surgical Technology, A.A.A.S. | Grand Rapids Community College

Before applying for this program

The surgical tech program is an employer sponsored program, admittance to the program is based on the healthcare employer. Candidates for this program must interview with a participating health care employer and be hired as an apprentice to be able to participate in this program. This associate degree is designed as an apprenticeship program with hospital-based clinical education delivered in partnership with a participating health care employer.

Please contact Summer Madrid at summermadrid@grcc.edu, (616) 234-3154 for a list of participating employers and start dates for the next cohort.

Program information

The EPiC Consortium Surgical Technology Program hosted by Muskegon Community College on behalf of the partner colleges, is an Associate Degree in Applied Arts and Sciences program and has applied for new program initial accreditation. This program includes courses that lead to a Sterile Processing Certificate. The curriculum includes science courses selected to provide a basis for the clinical and theory application of principles used in Surgical Technology. Basic courses in the theoretical aspects of Surgical Technology include lecture, clinical, and on-line instruction. All Surgical Technology courses must be passed with a minimum grade of C (75%). The goal of the program is to prepare entry-level surgical technologists who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession.

Throughout the program, students are provided with hands-on experience in cooperation with various hospitals under the direction of the Program Director/Instructor.

How the Surgical Technology Collaborative Program Model Works

The Collaborative Surgical Technology Consortium program model allows for students to attain an Associate of Applied Science degree in Surgical Technology and take the National board exam. Lab and Clinical education will be dependent on student location. Consortium students will take their general education courses through their degree-granting college. Core courses will be taken through the EPiC Consortium learning management system. The Consortium model allows seamless transfer of courses between the provider college (MCC) and the degree-granting college. Each partner college will provide preceptors and clinical education sites within their service area for students accepted into the program.

Lab and clinical education will be dependent on student location.

For more information on the program and to read the student handbook visit the Michigan Workforce Training and Education Collaborative website.

Surgical Tech handout

See this program in the catalog (external link)

Apply today!

Clinical Education Access Requirements

The Surgical Technology Program requires students to have the following vaccinations, CPR, and health insurance once admitted into the program.

TB test results, or Chest X-ray date and report*
Hepatitis B series
Tdap
Date of Chicken pox or Varicella immunization
Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
Flu vaccine*
COVID - 19 Vaccine*
CPR - American Red Cross: BLS/CPR for Health Insurance or American Heart Association: BLS provider only must also be completed. No other types of providers will be accepted
Health Insurance - proof of documented and maintained through the duration of the program.

*A flu immunization and TB test or screening must be completed yearly. The TB must not lapse, and the flu vaccine must be acquired no later than November 1.

*GRCC medical exemptions will be addressed once in the program. However, the program cannot guarantee GRCC awarded exemptions will be accepted at every clinical site.

Contact Summer Madrid at summermadrid@grcc.edu for specific vaccination requirements.

Written Arrangements Disclosures for the Surgical Technology at GRCC

The Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), as amended by the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA), requires colleges participating in federal student aid programs to make certain disclosures. In compliance with these federal laws, Grand Rapids Community College is providing information for specific programs offered at GRCC, which incur additional costs of attendance due to a portion of the program being completed at an off-campus location. The Surgical Technology Program requires off-site instruction, which accounts for approximately 15% of the program courses and includes 672 externship hours at major hospitals in West Michigan. The off-site locations are located within a 13 mile radius of the GRCC’s main Grand Rapids campus. Students are responsible for transportation to the off site locations and any other costs associated with attending the off-campus location. Costs range from $1.00 to $26.00 per trip and may include mileage, parking, and other costs related to the off-site placement (e.g., uniform).

The following list includes possible sites where a student could be assigned to complete their off-campus requirements for the program. The following information is accurate as of March 2024.

Name of the Institution/Entity	Address
University of Michigan Health - West	5900 Byron Center Ave SW, Wyoming, MI 49519
Trinity Health - Grand Rapids	200 Jefferson Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Corewell Health - West	100 Michigan St NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Written Arrangements Disclosures for the Sterile Processing at GRCC

The Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), as amended by the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA), requires colleges participating in federal student aid programs to make certain disclosures. In compliance with these federal laws, Grand Rapids Community College is providing information for specific programs offered at GRCC, which incur additional costs of attendance due to a portion of the program being completed at an off-campus location. The Sterile Processing Certificate requires off-site instruction, which accounts for approximately 50% of the program courses and includes 256 externship hours at major hospitals in West Michigan. The off-site locations are located within a 13 mile radius of the GRCC’s main Grand Rapids campus. Students are responsible for transportation to the off site locations and any other costs associated with attending the off-campus location. Costs range from $1.00 to $26.00 per trip and may include mileage, parking, and other costs related to the off-site placement (e.g., uniform).

The following list includes possible sites where a student could be assigned to complete their off-campus requirements for the program. The following information is accurate as of March 2024.

Name of the Institution/Entity	Address
University of Michigan Health - West	5900 Byron Center Ave SW, Wyoming, MI 49519
Trinity Health - Grand Rapids	200 Jefferson Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Corewell Health - West	100 Michigan St NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503