This program follows a specific sequence of required surgical technology courses. Strict policy of attendance at all classes and clinical sessions is required. Surgical technology specific classes must be completed sequentially within 16 months of beginning the program; we do not accept advanced placement transfer of SGT core courses or experiential learning in our surgical technology program. Applicants to this program must:

• Be 18 years old at the time of program enrollment
• Be a current or new GCC student
  • New students — Submit a general GCC admission application and select Surgical Technology as your intended major; if accepted, you will be placed into Allied Health/SGT Intent (ALH)
  • Current students — Submit a change of major form to Allied Health/SGT Intent (ALH)
• Have a minimum GPA of 2.0 (current students)
• Attend a one-hour, in-person mandatory informational meeting; view gcc.mass.edu/events to find an available date
• Submit official high school transcript or HiSET^®/GED^® transcript with graduation date
• Submit official college transcripts from any previously attended schools
  • Transcript Deadline:
    May 20, 2027
• Demonstrate college-level English proficiency by either
  • Showing proof successful completion of an equivalent college-level course
  • Placing into ENG 101 on the ACCUPLACER test
• Complete the Surgical Technology Program Application

Acceptance letters will be sent to applicants by the end of June of each year. A waiting list of qualified applicants will be established in the event that selected students are not able to accept their place in the program. The waiting list will be valid only for the same year of application; applicants who are not selected for their desired year must reapply to be considered for a subsequent year.

All health occupations students must provide appropriate documentation of immunity as required by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Greenfield Community college and clinical practice sites. Requirements are subject to change at the discretion of clinical healthcare facilities. If requirements are updated during your time in the program, you are required to take the necessary steps to meet the new requirements and continue in the program. Forms for documentation can be found in your admission status portal upon acceptance and should be submitted only after you have been directed to do so by the Health Records Office. Health records can typically be obtained from your primary care provider's office. Most offices have a patient portal where you can print your immunization records and laboratory results. The print option produces the best version for a screenshot as the document must show your name and date of birth as well as a list of immunizations or blood test results with dates. Your immunization records may also be available from the Massachusetts Immunization Information System.

• All health records must include your name, date of birth (DOB), type of vaccine/test and date of vaccine/test and must be signed/labeled by a healthcare provider such as a pharmacy, clinic, healthcare provider's office, patient portal, school/college or state immunization system
• Laboratory test records must include the results
• COVID-19 and flu vaccination records must include the name of the site that administered each vaccine
• COVID-19 vaccination records must include the manufacturer (Pfizer, Moderna, etc.) of each dose
• Documents your receive prior to vaccination will NOT meet the criteria
• Payment receipts, consent forms and prescriptions will NOT be accepted as proof of vaccine administration

Required Documentation

Upload to your application status portal after acceptance to the program; refer to your status portal for forms and deadlines. Deadlines in your acceptance packet are strictly enforced; students who do not have these items completed by the posted dates will be replaced by students on the waiting list.

• Student Health Information Release Authorization for Health Occupations Students — This form allows the college to share your health records with clinical agencies if requested. Form must be signed and dated.
• Student Health History & Physical Exam Attestation — You must have a complete physical performed by your healthcare provider within a year of the deadline; form must include the date of the exam and be signed by the provider.
• CPR certification — American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) only
• Clinical Onboarding Information Form — Required by the clinical agencies for security onboarding purposes
• Respirator Medical Clearance Form — Must be completed and signed by your healthcare provider within a year of the deadline
• COVID-19 vaccination — At least an initial series OR one (1) dose received September 2022 or later is required. A dose of the most recent booster formula is strongly recommended, however the updated booster dose may be declined. If this requirement changes during your time in the program, you will be required to meet the updated requirement.
• Influenza (flu) — Seasonal vaccination required each fall.
• Meningococcal ACWY — Required only if you are 21 years old or younger; one Meningococcal C Conjugate vaccination on or after 16th birthday, OR a signed MDPH Meningococcal Information and Waiver form.
• Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) — One (1) vaccination within the past 10 years (must be the TDaP vaccine—the Td vaccine does NOT meet this requirement).
• Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) — Two (2) vaccinations at least 28 days apart OR positive IgG blood titers for measles, mumps and rubella.
• Varicella (chickenpox) — Two (2) vaccinations at least 28 days apart OR a positive IgG blood titer.
• Four-panel urine drug screen — Screening will occur between July 15 and August 15 of the year you begin the program.
• Annual tuberculosis (TB) screening — Choose one (1) of the following two methods. Students with a positive TB test result must submit a negative chest x-ray and a tuberculosis symptom questionnaire. Another TB test is required annually one year after initial test, and after any break from your clinical program where you went to a high-risk facility or traveled to an endemic area outside the United States.
  • One (1) negative IGRA blood test (T-SPOT or QuantiFERON Gold)
  • Two (2) negative skin tests (PPD/Mantoux) one-two weeks apart with documentation of the plant and read dates and induration reported in mm.
• Hepatitis B — Completion of a three-dose vaccination series OR a two-dose Heplisav-B series
• Positive hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) blood titer — See table; any titer result that is indeterminate or equivocal will be considered a negative result and you will need to be (re)vaccinated with a complete series of vaccinations per current standards for healthcare personnel. Titers are not recommended after two (2) vaccinations against MMR or varicella.

Hepatitis B Schedules

Vax Type	0 Month	1 Month	2 Months	3 Months	4 Months	5 Months	6 Months	7 Months
Original 3-dose infant schedule	1st dose	2nd dose					3rd dose
This original series is typically given between birth and the first birthday. No titers are drawn until required by a college, employer or medical necessity. Therefore, get a titer as soon as possible while you search for your records. If it is positive you may be all set or able to decline vaccination. If negative you will need to be vaccinated over the next 2–6 months with ONE of the following:
2-dose series due to negative titer HeplisavB, HepB-CpG	1st dose	2nd dose	Titer
Repeating a 3-dose series due to negative titer EngerixB, Recombivax HB, Twinrix, PreHevbrio	4th dose	Titer Positive: Stop here Negative: Complete the next 2 doses 5th dose			6th dose may be given 4 months after 4th IF it is also at least 2 months after the 5th		6th dose	Titer
If the titer is still negative after a second series of vaccinations you may be a non-responder. No further vaccinations are needed and you may continue in your program. Discuss the results with your healthcare provider to see if further testing is required and to be aware of your risk of exposure to hepatitis B and the precautions to follow in such an event.

Enrollment in a health occupations program is conditional upon completion of the following prior to the start of classes or to begin clinical courses. Specific deadlines will be available in an applicant's admission status portal upon acceptance to the program. In addition, students must maintain a minimum 2.0 (C) grade point average throughout the duration of enrollment.

CORI Check

Health occupations students are required to undergo and pass a CORI check as well as a national background screen in order to begin and remain in the program and be eligible for placement in a clinical facility. Students assigned to clinical education experiences at our contracted facilities may also be required to undergo and pass additional random screenings in order to remain at that clinical facility and in the program. Students who fail a screening, or refuse to submit to a screening within the designated time frame, will be ineligible for beginning or continuing in the program. Any appeal of a CORI screening will be reviewed and decided by the college’s CORI Officer.

Drug Screening

Health occupations students are expected to perform at their highest functional level during all educational and clinical experiences to support learning and ensure patient and student safety. Therefore, students must remain free of impairment from prescription or non-prescribed drugs, including alcohol and marijuana.

All health occupations students must undergo and pass a college-endorsed four-panel urine drug screen to remain in the program and qualify for clinical placement. Contracted clinical facilities may also require additional random or scheduled drug and/or alcohol screenings. Students who fail a screening or who do not complete one within the required timeframe will be ineligible for clinical placement and therefore unable to remain in the program.

Students with a positive drug test may appeal the results of the test within five (5) days of notification of the drug test results. This appeal must be in writing and delivered to the college’s Health Records Office. An appeal by a student who claims that they tested positive due to a prescription drug and was unable to clarify this matter with the CastleBranch medical review officer (MRO) shall include evidence from a health care provider of the type of prescription, dates of permissible use and dosage amounts. Students whose appeals are denied may re-apply for re-entry into the program after one year. Requests for re-admission will be considered on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with program criteria.

Students notified of a “negative-dilute” result must complete one additional drug screen by the deadline set by the college. A second “negative-dilute” result will be treated as a positive test and will result in withdrawal from the program. Additional random testing may be required.

Students who test positive for marijuana may not be allowed to continue in clinical placement, which will affect program standing. Although recreational marijuana is legal in Massachusetts, it remains a controlled substance under federal law and its use, possession, distribution or cultivation is prohibited at educational institutions.

Students are responsible for any additional testing fees related to an appeal. All students must sign a release form authorizing GCC to conduct the four-panel urine drug screen. Further information about the screening process will be provided by the Health Records Office before program enrollment or the start of clinical rotations.

Health Insurance

All health occupations students must provide proof of health insurance; insurance may be purchased through the college.

Occupational Risks

Surgical technologists face several occupational risks due to the nature of their work in the operating room. Key risks include:

• Exposure to bloodborne pathogens — Surgical Technologists are at risk of exposure to blood, bodily fluids, and other infectious materials which can lead to infections from viruses like  HIV, hepatitis B & C.
• Sharps injuries — Handling scalpels, needles and other sharp instruments increases the risk of cuts, punctures, and exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
• Radiation exposure — Surgical technologists may be exposed to radiation during procedures involving fluoroscopy or X-ray equipment.
• Musculoskeletal injuries — Long periods of standing, lifting equipment and assisting with patient positioning may result in strains or back injuries.
• Latex allergy — Frequent exposure to latex gloves and other products in the operating room can result in allergic reactions ranging from skin irritation to more serious responses like respiratory issues.
• Chemical exposure — Surgical Technologists may be exposed to hazardous chemicals including anesthetic gases, disinfectants, sterilization agents, chemotherapy agents, smoke plume and formalin. These may cause skin irritations, or respiratory risks.
• Psychological stress — The high-pressure environment of the operating room, dealing with life-or-death situations, and the need for constant focus can contribute to emotional and psychological stress over time

Throughout the program you will learn industry-standard safety protocols and best practices for minimizing occupational hazards. Training includes the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), infection prevention, safe patient handling and maintaining a safe surgical environment to help prepare you for clinical practice and professional employment.

Technical Standards

Requirements	Standards	Examples
Critical Thinking Skills	Use of judgement and problem-solving Ability to prioritize responses and interventions in emergency situations Application of ethical standards	Performing closing counts while prioritizing sterile team members’ requests
Mobility/Motor Skills	Ability to perform functions such as standing for prolonged periods of time (excess 4-6 hours) while navigating surgical field environment Ability to stand in one confined area for extensive periods of time (excess 4-6 hours) Ability to lift instrument trays up to 50 pounds Ability to push and manipulate large, heavy equipment (100+ pounds)	Lengthy procedures that often require abstinence from nourishment and restroom breaks while standing in a confined area Lifting heavy instrument caskets Moving Equipment Transferring patients from stretcher to operating room table and back
Tactile Skills	Fine and gross motor skills and the ability to perform multiple motor tasks simultaneously Manual dexterity to retrieve requests to supplies or instruments and pass them quickly and smoothly to the team members	Passing instruments to multiple sterile personnel while holding retractor(s) Passing instrumentation and supplies to sterile team members
Auditory Skills	Ability to hear and understand muffled communication without visualization of the communicator’s mouth/lips	N/A
Visual Skills	Visual ability to have peripheral and depth perception and the ability to distinguish shades of color Visual ability to see 20/20 or better with or without corrective lenses/glasses Visual ability to recognize hand signals	Visualizing hair-thin suture and micro needles (10-0) in order to maintain correct counts during procedures Visualizing hand signals during surgery
Communication Skills	Comprehensive understanding of spoken and written English language to include complex medical terminology, the ability to read medication/prescription labels, direction for dosage and use in an accurate and expedient manner Ability to verbally and in writing report client data to the healthcare team, requires reading and writing on charts	Reading and creating medication labels Communication with fellow team members
Interpersonal Skills	Ability to work with others in a variety of settings and situations Maintaining hygiene and dress or uniform requirements Ability to listen to others and determine their wants and needs quickly	N/A
Behavioral Skills	Ability to adapt to changing environments and work-related challenges while maintaining composure in stressful situations Ability to maintain utmost integrity and aseptic technique	Surgical conscience

Costs below are an estimate only based on the most recently available tuition and fee schedule; all costs are subject to change.

Includes the cost of surgical technology (SGT) courses only. NEBHE rates are only available to New England residents without a comparable program at a community college in their state.