Surgical Technology Program

Become a Surgical Technician

Surgical technologists are allied health professionals who are an integral part of a team of medical practitioners, providing surgical care to patients.

Harper College will prepare you for success in this growing field. At Harper, you get hands-on experience in a protected environment when you practice in the Surgical Technology Suite. And working with expert, experienced faculty, you gain real-life experience through clinical assignments.

Our two-year degree program includes a balance of both classroom and clinical instruction. Onsite learning labs provide you with a state-of-the-art learning environment that prepares you for a variety of clinical settings.

The Accreditation Information

The Harper College Surgical Technology Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). The program received initial accreditation in 2019. Harper College is regionally accredited through the Higher Learning Commission.

Contact information for the CAAHEP:

The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)

9355 113th St. N, #7709

Seminole, FL 33775

Prepare for a health profession

The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree is designed to prepare you for immediate entry into this profession. Coursework in the AAS may also prepare you to transfer to a four-year college or university. This is a limited-enrollment program.

Associate in Applied Science—Surgical Technology

Earn a workforce credential

Jumpstart your career by learning new skills through a certificate program. Many of Harper's certificates are stackable to a degree program through additional coursework.

Sterile Processing and Distribution Certificate

Explore Surgical Technology Careers

Learn more about career outcomes for Harper's Surgical Technology degree/certificate programs. Each career profile offers a complete picture on the local job market, including salaries, open positions, top local employers and more. To learn more, visit our Surgical Technology Careers page.

Surgical Technologists

* Data sampled April 2025. Visit the Surgical Technologists career profile for most current data.

$60,756
Median Salary

3.1%
Projected Job Growth (2025-2032)

274
Job Postings

Description:

Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. May help set up operating room, prepare and transport patients for surgery, adjust lights and equipment, pass instruments and other supplies to surgeons and surgeons' assistants, hold retractors, cut sutures, and help count sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments.

Core tasks:

Maintain a proper sterile field during surgical procedures.
Count sponges, needles, and instruments before and after operation.
Scrub arms and hands and assist the surgical team to scrub and put on gloves, masks, and surgical clothing.
Prepare patients for surgery, including positioning patients on the operating table and covering them with sterile surgical drapes to prevent exposure.

Quick facts:

Resources

**Cost of Attendance Information

For more information about starting your allied health career at Harper, please contact Admissions Outreach at 847.925.6700 or fill out our request information form.