Surgical Technologist

2025-26 Surgical Technologist (ST) Program Cost Estimate: Tuition for this program is currently based on the 2024-25 school year. See the Tuition and Fees webpage for more information.

• Costs are estimates and may be subject to change while in program.
• Tuition and fees (Technology Fee (college), Student Services Fee, and Security Enhancement Fees) listed below apply to the 2025-2026 academic year beginning Summer Quarter 2025 and may be changed without notice by the Washington State Legislature and/or Board of Trustees.
• All book costs listed are estimates.
• Uniform costs are estimated.

• Clinical placement* may require a drug screen prior to clinical dependent upon clinical agency and will require an additional fee.

  *Please note: payment of clinical fee does not guarantee clinical placement

Olympic College is currently seeking accreditation for our Surgical Technologist Program through CAAHEP.

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs (CAAHEP)
9355 - 113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
727-210-2350
CAAHEP Website

Olympic College has made a determination that the Surgical Technologist program curriculum meets educational requirements for licensure/certification in Washington State. The curriculum does not meet educational requirements for licensure/certification outside of Washington State. We encourage students who plan to work out-of-state to check relevant local licensure/certification requirements.

Olympic College Military & Veteran Programs (MVP) helps military-connected students achieve their educational goals. We strive to provide responsive academic, social, and administrative support to student Veterans, Active Duty, and dependents. If you are a prospective student eligible for VA benefits, please reach out to MVP to learn more about veteran benefits. 

Please review the Surgical Technologist Application Instructions below before completing the application.

Submit the Surgical Technologist Online Application Form

• Before you begin your online application, you must have an OC student ID#.
  • If you do not have an OC ID#, visit our Admissions page to apply to OC (note: application review and approval takes several days to complete).
  • If you have forgotten your OC ID# follow this link to retrieve your ID: Forgot My Password.

Surgical Technologist Program*
Associate of Applied Science

Application Instructions (Do not include with your application)

Revised July 10, 2025

*Olympic College is currently seeking accreditation for our Surgical Technologist Program through CAAHEP.

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs (CAAHEP)
9355 - 113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
P: 727-210-2350
CAAHEP Website

Olympic College provides equal educational and employment opportunities without regard to race or ethnicity, creed, color, sex, pregnancy or family status, national origin, age, marital status, religion, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, reliance on public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, or status as a disabled or Vietnam-era veteran in its educational programs, admissions, activities, and employment policies, in keeping with the letter and spirit of all equal opportunity and civil rights laws.

Application to the Surgical Technologist Program is a separate procedure in addition to the application to Olympic College. If you have not applied to Olympic College, you will find admission steps and instructions to apply online on the Admissions webpage before proceeding with this application. The Welcome Center's Virtual Office may be helpful in speeding the application process.

After admission to Olympic College, activate your student accounts (ctclink, email, and Canvas accounts) before proceeding with the OC Surgical Technologist Program Application. For this application, you will need to gather your OC student ctclink ID#, OC student email account, and password. For help, visit the Student Accounts webpage.

Complete the online application.

• To access the form, you must sign into your Olympic College Microsoft 365 account.
• Save the unique URL in your web browser when you access the form. You may return to this form at any time during the process by copying the unique URL in the address bar. Information on the page will only be saved when you click "next". To return to your application, paste the URL into your browser.

Healthcare Pathways Success Coach Contact Information:

• Phone: 360-475-7748, Ext.1 or 5
• Email: @email

A print application packet may be requested from the Healthcare Division Office:

1600 Chester Ave.
Bremerton, WA 98337
Bldg. 5, Rm. 341, Bremerton Campus

• Main office phone: 360-475-7748
• Main office email: @email

Print application must be submitted by email to SelectiveAdmissions@olympic.edu or in person at:

Olympic College
Office of Admissions, Bldg. 4, Rm. 105
Welcome Center
1600 Chester Ave.
Bremerton, WA 98337

Or submit by US mail to:

Olympic College
Attn: Office of Admissions, Bldg. 4, Rm. 105
1600 Chester Ave.
Bremerton, WA 98337

Student Disability Services

Olympic College is committed to providing access to higher education for students with disabilities. Any student with a permanent or temporary disability is encouraged to contact Student Disability Services at 360-475-7540 or email @email to discuss appropriate accommodations.

Admission Procedure

The program is open to all qualified candidates and is a full-time program. The program admits up to 20 students, Fall quarter only. Acceptance is based on a factoring system that includes academic and non-academic metrics.

Application to the Surgical Technologist Program is a separate process from the application to Olympic College. Enrollment in the Surgical Technologist Program is limited; therefore, admission to Olympic College does not guarantee admission to the Surgical Technologist Program. Formal application to the Surgical Technologist Program should be made when the applicant has completed or is registered for their last prerequisite course*. The Surgical Technologist Application must  be received no later than April 30 of the academic year the applicant anticipates entering the Surgical Technologist Program for priority consideration.

*Courses completed in Spring or Summer quarters with the minimum required GPA will be included in the student's file for Fall admission consideration, but will not receive factor points.

Admission Requirements

1. Fluency in the English language (reading comprehension and writing); a necessary requirement for profession of a Surgical Technologist. 
2. Achieve a score of 260 on the Accuplacer Next Generation Reading Assessment  Contact the Assessment and Testing Center to schedule. The Reading Comprehension Test is required for ALL applicants regardless of background or previous degrees. Please note, the Classic Accuplacer is no longer accepted.
3. Completion of the following prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of 2.0 in each course: MEDA 162, ENGL& 101, BIOL& 160, CHEM& 121, MATH& 107 or higher.
4. Completion of the following required support courses prior to applying will result in additional factor points: BIOL& 241* AND 242, and ONE of the following courses: CMST& 101, CMST& 210, CMST& 220, CMST& 240 or CMST 242.

*CHEM& 121 or CHEM& 141 and either BIOL& 160 or BIOL& 211 are required prerequisites for BIOL& 241 at Olympic College.

5. Courses completed in Spring or Summer quarter with the required grade or better will be included in the student’s file for fall admission consideration.

The application and supporting documents must be received no later than April 30th for priority consideration (i.e., late applications will only be considered based on Surgical Technologist Program discretion). Olympic College is not responsible for errors in submitting applications.

The applicant is responsible for verifying that all required documentation is received by the Office of Admissions. Applications and transcripts received after April 30th may not be considered for admission to the program for that year. Applications will be reviewed in the order in which they are received. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. All application materials become the property of Olympic College. 

Important Note About Retaking Classes

Students can take a prerequisite or support course up to three times. If an applicant has retaken a required course multiple times, the grade for the most recent attempt will be considered. If the grade for the final attempt for a required class is below the minimum GPA required, the student will be considered ineligible for application to the Olympic College Surgical Technologist program.

Students with Previous Surgical Technologist Education

Students who have completed some formal Surgical Technologist education at Olympic College or any higher education institution must complete prerequisite coursework, meet grade requirements, and are required to enter the applicant pool. If an accepted student started a Surgical Technologist program outside of Olympic College but did not complete the program for any reason, the student must start from the beginning of the program at Olympic College and complete all required coursework (in order). Students will not be awarded past credit from other Surgical Technologist Programs.

Past Disciplinary Action Petition Letter

Students with official disciplinary action or warning or deemed “not in good standing” at Olympic College or any previous higher education institution must include an admission petition letter as part of their application materials. The petition letter must address the disciplinary action, contributing factors, and a mitigation plan to promote future success. Surgical Technologist entry is NOT an option if the student was disciplined due to a critical safety element.

Background Inquiry

Students who have any previous legal charge or conviction must include a letter indicating the nature of the charge and final disposition with their application. For all students accepted to the Surgical Technologist program, a national background inquiry completed by a Certified Background check service is required to disclose any history of criminal record or abusive behavior (Child/Adult Abuse Information Act, RCW; 43.43.830 through 43.43.840). If the results of this information cause any clinical agency to deny you privileges to rotate through that agency, withdrawal from the Surgical Technologist Program will be required.

The WA State Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF) hopes to help individuals who have a founded finding of child abuse or neglect in their past that is preventing them from gaining employment. By applying for and gaining a Certificate of Parental Improvement (CPI) DSHS will no longer automatically disqualify you from working in a Long-Term Care facility and the facility must do a suitability review. More information can be found on the DCYF CPI webpage.

Re-entering Olympic College Surgical Technologist Students

Reentering Olympic College Surgical Technologist students must submit a Surgical Technologist Program Admissions Application and credential requirements to be eligible to re-enroll. The deadline is two weeks after the final re-entry petition decision.

Acceptance into the Surgical Technologist Program is based on a factoring system that includes academic and non-academic metrics. Once applications and supporting documents are received, an admission score is determined according to a factoring system and applicants are ranked according to the total number of factor points.  

Factor points are only awarded if courses/requirements are completed by the application deadline. If a student retakes a course, the most recent attempt is used for assigning factor points.  

ACADEMIC METRICS: PREREQUISITE & SUPPORT COURSES (weighted at 60%)

NON-ACADEMIC METRICS: APPLICATION MATERIALS (weighted at 30%)

CULTURAL WEALTH & BONUS POINTS (weighted at 10%)

Reflective Statement

The Reflective Statement should be no more than two pages, double-spaced, size 12 font (Arial or Times New Roman) with 1-inch margins. Reflective Statements will be reviewed and scored by Olympic College Surgical Technologist Program faculty and staff. Olympic College Surgical Technologist Program reserves the right to process submissions through a plagiarism checker.

Provide three or more samples of how your unique experiences and attributes (background, identity, culture, beliefs, values, or experiences) will contribute to your success in the Surgical Technologist Program and align with the Olympic College Surgical Technologist Program Mission:

• Olympic College Surgical Technologist Program Mission Statement: At Olympic College the mission of our Surgical Technologist program is to prepare students for a rewarding career as a member of the healthcare community. We provide didactic, skills lab, and clinical instruction that will enable individuals to perform as competent, entry-level Surgical Technologist ready to sit for certification. Our program strives to help satisfy the need for Surgical Technologist in local and regional communities.

Resume

The Resume should be no more than two pages, size 12 font (Arial or Times New Roman), with 1-inch margins. The resume should describe the specific activities and responsibilities of your professional, volunteer, and academic experiences. Include any activities, certifications, and skills relevant to healthcare. Please indicate any languages spoken and fluency on the resume if seeking cultural wealth points for being multilingual. Resumes will be reviewed and scored by Olympic College Surgical Technologist Program faculty and staff.

Tie Breakers

In the event of a tie, the following tie breakers will be used in order (1-4) to determine ranking for admission: 

1. Combined GPA of prerequisite courses (MEDA 162, ENGL& 101, BIOL& 160, CHEM& 121, & MATH& 107 or higher)
2. Support course (BIOL& 241 and BIOL& 242 and CMST course) completed by April 30th 
3. Combined GPA of the support courses
4. Overall cumulative GPA for all colleges attended
   
    

Office of Admissions Timelines

1. Surgical Technologist Program Admissions Application and all supporting documents must be submitted to the Office of Admissions by April 30.
   1. Surgical Technologist Program Admissions Applications received after April 30th may not be considered for the upcoming cohort.
   2. All students whose application materials (prerequisites and required documentation) are not complete may need to apply for the following year's cohort.
2. Applicant files will be reviewed by the Office of Admissions. A letter will be sent to applicants advising them of any missing documents. Incomplete applications turned in within the last three weeks of April are not guaranteed to receive notification from the Admissions Office prior to the application deadline. Therefore, applicants are strongly encouraged to submit application materials as soon as they are eligible to apply. Any required documents missing from the application packet will make your application ineligible for the current year and ineligible to receive a rollover point.
3. The Surgical Technologist Program Admissions Committee will meet after the deadline to determine admission to the fall cohort.
4. The admission letters for the Surgical Technologist Program will be sent via email (listed on the application) by the Admissions Department (not the Surgical Technologist Program). Students will receive notification of their status prior to July 16.
   1. Please do not contact Admissions or the Surgical Technologist Program prior to July 16 regarding the status of acceptance letters.
   2. After July 16, if you have not received notification of your status, you may contact Selective Admissions at 360-475-7206.

Admissions are granted for a specific cohort year, as noticed in the acceptance letter. Students who have been offered admissions but do not enter the program for the specific cohort year must submit a new application to be considered for a future cohort year in the Surgical Technologist Program by the April 30 deadline.

Eligible applicants who are not admitted may use the rollover point one-time on a subsequent application. It is not necessary to resubmit official transcripts unless additional classes have been taken at institutions outside of Olympic College.

Students who have been offered admission will be required to attend mandatory Surgical Technologist Program orientation sessions prior to the beginning of fall quarter.

The Olympic College Surgical Technologist Program includes clinical experiences in patient care at cooperating health care facilities. The clinical agencies require students to provide evidence of the following prior to beginning clinical experiences:

1. Current immunizations, uploaded to and confirmed by Surgical Technologist Program staff;
2. National Background Check, Washington State Patrol Background Check, and Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) background check within acceptable parameters of clinical agencies;
3. Annual criminal history disclosure;
4. Current Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers Certification (American Heart Association for the Healthcare Provider) that is valid through expected date of graduation;
5. Non-refundable liability and malpractice insurance (purchased through Olympic College fees);
6. Proof of personal health insurance; and
7. Learning modules and trainings as required by clinical facilities.

Please do not turn in documents pertaining to items 1 - 7 above with your application. Applicants accepted into the Surgical Technologist Program will be required to attend a mandatory Clinical Documentation Orientation. We recommend that all applicants wait to start the documentation process until after attending the Clinical Documentation Orientation.

The AAS degree combines technical courses for job preparation and transferable support courses. It transfers to a limited number of institutions with which OC has articulation agreements.

The Surgical Technologist AAS-T degree prepares graduates for a variety of positions under the supervision surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel.

• Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
• Endoscopy Technicians 
• Histotechnologists
• Medical Equipment Preparers 
• Surgical Assistants

Visit O*Net OnLine to view these and other career opportunities.