Baker College surgical technology program receives extended certification

Baker College of Jackson reports that 100 percent of 2015 graduates of the surgical technology program have passed the national certification examination on the first try and that the program’s accreditation has been extended for another 10 years through May 2025.

The program was granted continuing accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs following a thorough review of the program.

The 2015 graduates’ 100 percent pass rate for the rigorous national Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) examination on the first attempt is well above the national average of 74.4 percent for 2014, the most recent data available.

“We congratulate the students whose hard work has definitely paid off,” said Steve Simpson, Ed.D., Baker College of Jackson president. “Their achievement and the program’s extended accreditation are strong evidence of the quality of our curriculum and our faculty and staff who are determined to provide the training necessary for student success.”

This is the third year that all surgical technology graduates at the Jackson campus have passed the CST examination, with the average first-attempt pass rate being 98 percent.

Certification as a surgical technologist allows the use of the CST credential and demonstrates that the individual meets the national standard for knowledge that underlies the practice of surgical technology. It is increasingly required by employers, a means to achieve upward mobility, a route to higher pay, and a source of professional recognition.

Surgical technologists, sometimes referred to as scrubs, are an integral part of surgical operations. Working under the supervision of a surgeon, they help ensure the operating room is safe, that equipment functions properly, and that the operative procedure is conducted under conditions that maximize patient safety.

“The surgical technology profession is demanding, yet rewarding,” said Julie Jackson, Baker College of Jackson surgical technology director. “For example, students are required to identify more than 1,000 surgical instruments and know how to assist hundreds of surgical procedures in every surgical specialty. And, their knowledge will continue to expand as technology and procedures advance in the operating room.”

The CST exam is the only accredited examination recognized by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies for Surgical Technologists.
In 2014, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated the average annual salary for a surgical technologist was $45,010, with the lower 10 percent earning $30,780 and the top 10 percent earning $62,170. The job outlook is strong, with employment of surgical technologists projected to grow 30 percent between 2012 and 2022. Advances in medical technology have made surgery safer, and more operations are performed to treat a variety of illnesses and injuries.

For more information about the surgical technology program at Baker College of Jackson, contact Kevin Pnacek in the admissions office at 517.788.7800 or kevin.pnacek@baker.edu.

The largest private college in Michigan, Baker College is a not-for-profit higher education institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. It serves more than 28,000 students on multiple campuses and online. Baker grants certificates and associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in more than 150 programs across diverse academic fields, including business, health sciences, engineering, information technology, education and human services. An impressive 97 percent of available graduates are employed. Every Baker graduate receives Lifetime Employment Assistance—free and forever. Baker is a pioneer in online education and offers students the option of completing a degree 100 percent online, without ever visiting a campus. For information, visit www.baker.edu or follow Baker College on Twitter, @bakercollege, or on Facebook, www.facebook.com/bakercollege.
###
Photo caption:
The 2015 Baker College of Jackson graduates of the surgical technology program have earned a 100 percent pass rate for the rigorous national Certified Surgical Technologist examination. They include, from left, Jamie Burgess, St. Johns; Kelsey Moulton, Grand Blanc; Marissa Rochefort, Albion; Elizabeth Doucette, Hudson; Shannon Wingle, Portage; Jacinda Runyon, Angola; Brittany Seiler, Lansing; Carrie Edwards, Jackson; Jennifer Johnson, Milan; and Alecia Harmon, Jackson.