At MedCerts, we are always working to ensure our programs are the best they can be for our students and their future careers and we’re not afraid to make changes when we see something isn’t working the way it should.
After much consideration and listening to feedback from our students and partners, we have decided to make some changes to the enrollment requirements for our Surgical Technologist and Surgical/Sterile Processing Technician training programs so they are more successful for our students.
Starting April 8, 2024, MedCerts now requires all new students who enroll in our ST-3000 Surgical Technologist and ST-9000 Surgical/Sterile Processing Technician programs to have a secured clinical site to fulfill “surgical case” requirements for the Tech in Surgery (TS-C) certification in order to be eligible to enroll. We believe these changes will help us create more impactful training and better career opportunities for all our students. If you have more questions about how this affects new students, current students and partners? Read on to get those answers or contact us below.
What is changing?
We are changing the enrollment requirements for our Surgical Technologist program. Starting April 8, 2024, we are now requiring all new students interested in our Surgical Technologist and Surgical/Sterile Processing Technician programs to secure an Employer or Clinical Site before they are eligible to enroll.
Why is it changing?
To ensure our Surgical Technologist students are successful in completing their clinical requirements before taking the TS-C certification exam.
How does this change improve the program?
This change will ultimately improve the program by ensuring students can secure their clinical sites with employers, which is necessary for them to become certified and to get employed.
What are the clinical requirements for TS-C certification?
Full certification consists of case documentation which requires completion of a minimum of 125 surgical cases – including a minimum of 30 scrubs in general surgery (with a maximum of 50) and a minimum of 75 scrubs in at least 3 (three) of the following areas [Gynecology; Obstetrics; Otorhinolaryngology 5; Genitourinary; Thoracic; Plastic/Reconstructive; Cardiovascular; Ophthalmology; Other; Neurosurgery; Peripheral Vascular]. At least 90 of the 125 cases must be 1st scrub cases.
How does this affect students interested in enrolling in our Surgical Technologist program?
All applicants interested in enrolling in either the ST-3000: Surgical Technologist or ST-9000: Surgical/Sterile Processing Technician programs must have secured an Employer or Clinical Site to fulfill “surgical case” requirements for the Tech in Surgery (TS-C) certification before enrollment. With this sponsorship, you must be guaranteed to perform a minimum of required surgical cases during the term of enrollment or immediately upon completion of their Medcerts program.
If you already have an employer or clinical sponsor, you must submit the MedCerts Student Clinical Site Information Form to MedCerts’ Clinical Team for approval to be eligible for enrollment.
If you are interested in the program but do not already have an employer or clinical sponsor, we have resources to assist you in finding one! We’ve developed a Pre-Enrollment Toolkit to provide you with some guidelines and resources in your search. Interested in enrolling? Submit the form on our Surgical Tech program page and someone will reach out.
*These requirements also apply to current students attempting to transfer into a surgical tech program.
How does this affect currently enrolled students?
This change does not affect students enrolled before April 8, 2024 and students will still be able to complete their program without a pre-enrollment sponsor. Per your signed Clinical Acknowledgment form, you are responsible for securing your own site for clinical sponsorship and completing that clinical requirement before being eligible for full certification, but our Clinical Support and Career Services teams are still available to provide resources and support your search.
How does this affect MedCerts partners?
This will not affect MedCerts employer partners but could affect enrollments into the Surgical Tech programs offered by Academic reseller partners.
Employer Partners
Since partners are already providing a clinical site to any students who enroll in our program under their supervision, that employer will serve as the clinical site.
Academic Partner Resellers
A disclaimer will be added to all surgical technologist forms on academic partner microsites and landing pages that resell our surgical technologist program. This could affect conversions to enrollments because it is an extra requirement. The disclaimer will read:
- This program requires students to secure their Employer or Clinical Site prior to being able to enroll. Applicants MUST provide verification that the Site has agreed to accept the applicant in an effort to fulfill the “surgical case” requirements required for Tech in Surgery (TS-C) certification.
If you are an academic partner and have additional questions, please reach out to your Account Manager.
Who can I speak to further about the changes?
Current students should contact their Student Success Advisor. Current partners should reach out to their Account Manager. Individuals interested in learning more about the program or with questions about enrollment can fill out the form at the top of this page, email [email protected] or call 800-734-1175.
