Make a difference in the lives of surgical patients with a Surgical Technology associate
degree at OCC. In as little as two years, confidently work in healthcare alongside
doctors, nurses and anesthesiologists.
You’re calm under pressure, able to lift and move patients and have plenty of stamina
to stay focused, day in and day out. Work in operating rooms, surgical centers or
private office settings. This could be your calling—we’ll help you get started.
As a surgical technologist, you work under the supervision of a surgeon to assist in the safe and effective care during surgical procedures. Your job is important. You help ensure the:
You remain actively engaged with the surgical team throughout the surgery, from start to finish. The person at the surgeon’s elbow in Grey’s Anatomy—that could be you.
In 2027, the health sciences programs will move to the new state-of-the-art Health Sciences building on our Orchard Ridge Campus. Here, you will meet and work with expert caring faculty, staff, and students in all the healthcare disciplines – just as you’ll experience in the field.
Check out the New FacilitiesYour OCC instructors and mentors are experienced practitioners in the medical field. They are passionate about your success. Classes are small and focused.
Upon graduation, you’re ready to get to work. Hands-on labs and clinical training condition you for a wide range of patient care experiences.
The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment of surgical assistants and technologists will grow by 5% from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
To succeed as a surgical technologist, you need to have strong communication and interpersonal skills to interact with patients and healthcare teams. You should be self-motivated with good physical health. You also need:
To succeed in OCC’s surgical tech program, you need to meet our technical standards:
Join us for a health sciences open house on Wednesday, November 12, and learn how OCC can help you turn your passion for healthcare into a rewarding career.
Reserve Your Spot TodayRegister for a required upcoming information session. You will learn about:
All information sessions are approximately 2 hours long. You must reserve a spot to attend. Sessions that are offered via Zoom require that your camera is on for the entire session.
All information sessions are approximately 2 hours long. You must reserve a spot to attend....
All information sessions are approximately 2 hours long. You must reserve a spot to attend....
This program actively accepts new students. We admit approximately 25 students per cohort. Cohorts begin once per year, every July.
The goal of the Surgical Technology 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.
The instruction includes a robust academic curriculum for Surgical Technology education
that encompasses:
As a full-time student, you'll spend 16-32 hours in class, 3 days in clinicals, and 15-20 hours studying weekly.
Surgical tech classes meet in-person at the Southfield campus. Clinicals are held in medical centers across metro Detroit. In fall of 2027 our Health Sciences programs will be moving to the Orchard Ridge campus. Learn more about the new location.
Your coursework blends foundational courses in humanities and sciences with specialized training in surgical care.
Clinicals run from January through June. You go on site three days a week for eight hours per day. Think of this as a job while you continue to attend class.
We try to keep you at one site throughout the clinical experience, whenever possible. You should expect the following:
Your clinical assignment will be held at one of our affiliated hospital partners:
After successfully completing the program, you’ll be ready to take the national certification
examination offered by the National Board of Surgical Technologist and Surgical Assisting.
Passing this exam qualifies you to practice as a Certified Surgical Technologist in the United States.
Want to advance your career further? OCC partners with Eastern Michigan University, Oakland University, Wayne State University, and more to offer seamless transfer options for a bachelor's degree. OCC Surgical Technologist graduates have gone on to become:
Begin with a degree from the leading surgical technology program in the metro area for program completion and national certification pass rate.
It takes most students one to two years of prerequisites to prepare to enter the OCC Surgical Technology program and an additional year to get through the program. Before successful admission to the program, you must complete course prerequisites and meet all eligibility requirements.
Most students complete their prerequisites in one year. Each of your pre-requisite courses must be completed with a grade of B or better
All surgical tech students must maintain current health records, CPR certification, liability insurance, and TB clearance. For detailed program policies, contact the surgical tech program director.
Though not required for admission, you must provide proof of additional eligibility requirements before classes start:
Physical exams and immunizations, including Tuberculosis (TB) tests or chest X-rays, are required before starting clinical.
Required vaccines: Measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (chickenpox), Tdap, Hepatitis
B (or declination of immunity), and annual influenza.
If you are placed at a clinical site that requires a specific vaccine or if the requirements
of your site change at any time, you will be required to provide proof of prior vaccination
or you will be required to get the vaccine. Otherwise, you will be dismissed from
the program. You will not be moved to a different site.
Remember, you may be at multiple clinical sites during the program, so there is a
very good chance that you will be required to get the necessary vaccines at some point.
**NOTE: This is subject to change at any time!
The program prepares selected individuals through theory and clinical experiences to practice as a surgical technologist in a variety of healthcare settings. Graduates must pass the national credential exam offered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting to practice as a Certified Surgical Technologist, or CST.
The Surgical Technology program is accredited by The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting.
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
9355 113th Street North #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
(727) 210-2350 | caahep.org
Association of Surgical Technologist and Surgical Assistants (ARCSTSA)
19751 East Mainstreet Suite #339
Parker, CO 80138
(303) 694-9262 | arcstsa.org
Begin your studies with these steps:
By planning early and working with an OCC Counselor throughout your OCC experience you will be able to maximize your OCC applicable credits upon transfer. If you are pursuing an associate in applied science you may be able to satisfy the Michigan Transfer Agreement by taking as few as four additional courses, saving you time, money and aggravation! Regardless of your program of study, OCC has many Transfer Credit Agreements with colleges and universities to assist with navigating your way to a bachelor’s degree. Visit the College Transfer Success Guide webpage for additional information and resources.
Anita Caponi
Program Director for Surgical Technology
Phone: (248) 233-2938
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