Surgical Technology

This program at Houston City College use a selective admissions process and requires an additional application beyond applying. Enrollment is limited, and not all qualified applicants may be offered placement. Please review the admission dates below carefully to ensure you complete all required steps by the required deadlines.

On average, approximately 50 students apply for admission each application period. Of these, approximately 20 applicants are typically accepted.

When the number of eligible applications exceeds program seat availability, selective criteria are used to determine which applicants are offered admission. Selective criteria are awarded based on the following:

• 45% awarded based on the SRGT General Education Courses GPA
• 30% HESI 
• 25% awarded based on the interview process. 
• All application requirements must be satisfied by the closing of the application window.

Learn more about the program by attending an information session.

Register to attend an in-person information session

Prerequisite Courses

Cumulative GPA:  2.3 or above

HPRS 1201 Introduction to Health Professions with a minimum grade of ‘B’ or better and the following prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of “C” upon application submission. 

Academic courses

Academic courses are HIGHLY ENCOURAGED to be taken in advance, but are not required for the application. These courses will go towards the completion of the program/degree plan and will give you additional points on your application score. 

HESI Pre-entrance Exam

The HESI A2- Admissions Assessment entrance exam is required to apply for the Surgical Technology program at HCC Coleman College. 

Schedule HESI-A2 test: Please contact HCC Coleman College Testing Center via email: coleman.testing@hccs.edu. The cost of the HESI is $75.00 per attempt. Payment must be made by either credit or debit card.  

Required HESI-A2 sections: Applicants must score 70% or higher on each of the following subject areas listed below.  There is no minimum score required for the Critical Thinking section, but the section must be completed.  Application rubric points are awarded based on the range of scores for each section. 

• Anatomy & Physiology
• Grammar
• Vocabulary
• Math
• Reading
• Critical Thinking section 

Scores are valid between June 1, 2023 and June 1, 2026. 

HESI-A2 exam results for all required sections must be downloaded in .pdf format from the Elsevier/ Evolve account and submitted with a completed program application by the application deadline. (Regardless of whether taken at HCC or outside of HCC). 

Students are allowed to submit up to two HESI-A2 transcripts to Houston City College for the purpose of scoring for the Surgical Technology program. It is recommended to wait at least 30 days before retesting. 

Please note: HESI Remediation through Elsevier is FREE.

Additional HESI Resources:

• How to access your HESI exam scores, including critical thinking scores
• Resources for HESI study materials

If You Are Offered Admission

If you are offered admission, you will need to complete the following pre-enrollment requirements by a specific due date to maintain eligible status. Please note that the Program Director will be in contact with you once your Letter of Intent has been received to provide you with the information on the process of getting a background check, drug screen, personal health insurance, and deadlines for immunizations. Please check your email regularly for updates and information. 

• Complete the Letter of Intent form by the deadline stated in the Admission Acceptance Offer email.
• The CPR American Heart Association BLS is required.
•  Proof of personal health insurance; if you need to purchase health insurance, please visit the Student Health Insurance page for a list of health care insurance providers that HCC has compiled as a courtesy to students who wish to contact a potential provider to meet their personal health insurance needs. Students are advised to contact more than one company and compare offerings. Completed by August 1
• Cleared Background Check, Passing Drug Screen & Physical Examination must be completed by August 1
• Immunization record showing: (Monitored By Complio: houstoncccompliance.com/)Completion of Hepatitis B immunization series with a quantitative positive titer (may take up to 6 months), MMR – 2 shots or titer within last year, Tdap – every 10 years, TB – every year, Varicella – 2 shots or titer, Meningitis (required for students 22 years or younger) and Influenza – completed by August 1
• Complete the mandatory Program Orientation on the date provided in your admission email. (Please clear your calendar so you are available to attend the mandatory orientations if you are offered admission as follows: Fall Term – plan to attend Orientation in July.)
• Clinical site requirements for additional testing or additional vaccinations.

HCC Coleman College Grading Scale

To best prepare students for success in their chosen fields, Health Sciences Programs have high standards for progression. Unlike other HCC programs, the Surgical Technology program requires a C (75%) or better to progress to the next course or semester in the program. For specific questions about grades, grading, and progression within Health Science programs, please contact Coleman College at co.surgicaltechnology@hccs.edu.

Surgical Technology Program Grading Scale

• A = 100 – 90%
• B = 89 – 80%
• C = 79 – 75%*
• D = 74 – 60%
• F = 59 – 0%

*A grade of C (75%) or better must be achieved to progress to the next course or semester. 

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)

The surgical technology program at HCC Coleman College for Health Sciences is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs or CAAHEP.

CAAHEP is a programmatic postsecondary accrediting agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and carries out its accrediting activities in cooperation with 23 review Committees on Accreditation. CAAHEP currently accredits more than 2100 entry level education programs in 30 health science professions. The Committee on Accreditation for surgical technology is the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA).

CAAHEP Contact Information:

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
9355 - 113th St. N, #7709, Seminole, FL 33775
Phone: (727) 210-2350
Fax: (727) 210-2354
caahep.org

Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA)

Accreditation for the surgical technology program at HCC Coleman College for Health Sciences is achieved upon the recommendations by the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting or ARC/STSA.
The mission of the ARC/STSA is to provide accreditation services to our communities of interest that validate excellence of education programs in order to advance the professions and ensure quality patient care.

The ARC/STSA® is the only CAAHEP-recognized Committee on Accreditation for education programs in surgical technology and surgical assisting.

The ARC/STSA is a private 501(c)(3) non-profit accreditation services agency providing national recognition for higher education programs in surgical technology and surgical assisting, in collaboration with the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), in order to promote quality surgical patient care through quality credible education.

ARC/STSA Contact Information:

Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology & Surgical Assisting6 W. Dry Creek Circle, Suite #110
Littleton, CO 80120
Phone: 303-694-9262
Fax: 303-741-3655
arcstsa.org

By the end of the program, the student will be able to:

• Demonstrate clinical competencies in surgical technology
• Apply documented skills in surgical technology
• Exhibit safe, ethical, and legal behavior as it relates to the patient
• Demonstrate appropriate aseptic techniques in a clinical setting

The Surgical Technology/Technologist program graduates licensures/certifications are issued by the nationally recognized National Board of Surgical Technologists and Surgical Assistants /Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting.

Third-Party Licensure/Certification Exam Results  

Occupational licensure and/or certification pass rates reported by academic calendar year (Sept. 1–Aug. 31). Results for the 2021–2023 and 2022–2024 academic years are provided for comparison.  

In 2021, following National accreditation mandates, the Surgical Program discontinued the Certificate for Surgical Technology and offered only the AAS in Surgical Technology program.

Surgical Technology AAS for 2023-2025 has a 100% passage rate.  

Clinical Requirements for Program Progression & Completion

To provide students with the most robust clinical educational experience and to ensure that students’ progress and graduate as scheduled, applicants are strongly encouraged to weigh all options before accepting a conditional acceptance into their desired health science program. To facilitate this decision-making, students should understand all the requirements of their program, including clinical education.

To be placed in a clinical educational experience, students must comply with the guidelines and requirements of HCC clinical sites, including health and wellness directives. Most clinical sites require background checks, health testing, drug screens, and immunizations.

Students are required to provide proof to HCC that they meet all immunization, testing, and other health requirements necessary for clinical placement. These requirements are determined by the healthcare facilities with which HCC partners for clinical education.

Many healthcare facilities require specific immunizations as a condition of employment, volunteering, or student clinical placement. If a student chooses not to receive or provide proof of required immunizations, HCC may be unable to place the student in clinical rotations. HCC will make reasonable efforts to place such students in a clinical site that does not require immunization(s), provided an appropriate site is available, and HCC has an active affiliation agreement that meets the necessary conditions to support the student’s learning outcomes. Though HCC cannot guarantee that such sites will be available at the time clinical placement is needed.

If a student cannot be placed in a qualifying clinical site due to unmet immunization requirements, the student’s progression in the program and ability to graduate may be delayed or prevented. Our affiliate partners’ expectations for student trainees reflect the same standards applied to individuals employed in their respective professional settings.

Students with questions about clinical requirements or placement should contact the program director of their program of interest.

HB 1508 requires the following information be given to students:

This program may lead to an occupational license for which a prior criminal history may make a student ineligible. For more information please visit:  HB 1508 Licensing Requirements.