Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) through the Accreditation Review Committee on Education in Surgical Technology (ARC-ST)

This surgical technology education program is the only ARC-ST approved Accelerated Alternate Delivery Program in the New York metropolitan area. It is designed to make available to the on-the-job trained surgical technologists, or graduates of a non-CAAHEP accredited surgical technology program, an accelerated route to become eligible to sit for the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) Certification Exam.

The criteria for entry into Long Island University's ACST Certificate Program meets the requirements of CAAHEP's approved programs. The potential student must provide two letters of recommendation from current or former supervisors attesting to competency in surgical technology. Documentation from a current employer verifying clinical experiences (within the past two years) for at least 140 surgical procedures in the first scrub role must be submitted.

Upon meeting the requirement above, the student must participate in two interviews. A positive rating from both interviews is required.

Certificate Requirements
To be eligible to receive the certificate, you must successfully complete:

SURG 524 Medical Terminology Overview
SURG 550 Anatomy and Physiology in Retrospect
SURG 581 Patient Care Practices in Surgery
SURG 582 Asepsis in the Operating Room
SURG 583 Surgical Procedures
SURG 610 Microbiology and the Surgical Technologist
SURG 620 Pharmacology During Surgery

with a grade of "C" or higher for each course.

There is a $30 certificate fee, payable upon registration of the first semester.

Accelerated Certification for Surgical Technologist (ACST) Courses

Medical Terminology Overview (SURG 524)
This is a comprehensive review of fundamental word structure, prefixes, word roots, suffixes, combining forms, abbreviations, symbols, acronyms and definitions commonly used in diagnostic testing and surgical procedures. This will enable the surgical technologist to interact more effectively in the medical workplace as a healthcare professional. (12 hours)

SURG 524
Section 1: Fridays, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Schedule to be announced
Instructor: Staff
* * * * *
Anatomy and Physiology in Retrospect (SURG 550)
Anatomy deals with the structures of body parts, and physiology considers the functions of these parts --- what they do and how. An explicit review of how anatomical structures make possible their functions is covered in this course, as well as how each part forms the human organism and how each plays a role in the function of the unit as a whole. (45 hours)
Prerequisite: SURG 620.

SURG 550
Section 1: Fridays, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Schedule to be announced
Instructor: Staff
* * * * *
Patient Care Practices in Surgery (SURG 581)
Perioperative care includes preoperative, intra-operative and postoperative periods of the patient's surgical experience. This course reinforces the principles and practices for the delivery of premium patient care, by applying concepts of teamwork, skills, knowledge and effective and respectful communication among team members. (45 hours)
Prerequisite: SURG 550.
* * * * *
Asepsis in the Operating Room (SURG 582)
The practices which restrict microorganisms in the environment, equipment and supplies from contaminating the surgical wound are termed aseptic technique. The goal of each aseptic technique is to optimize primary wound healing, prevent surgical infection, and minimize the length of recovery. This course offers an overview of such techniques in relation to the operating room. (45 hours)
Prerequisite: SURG 581.
* * * * *
Surgical Procedures (SURG 583)
This course provides the seasoned surgical technologist with an overview of pertinent anatomy and details of the steps of each surgical procedure that they have, or will be assisting with, in their profession. Subjects of discussion include, but are not limited to, the following: general surgery, gynecologic surgery, genitourinary surgery, plastic surgery, orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, cardiothoracic surgery, vascular surgery, otorhinolaryngologic surgery, ophthalmic surgery, laparoscopic surgery and robotics. (45 hours)
Prerequisite: SURG 582.
* * * * *
Microbiology and the Surgical Technologist (SURG 610)
It is essential that a surgical technologist understand the basic concepts of microbiology, because outcomes of surgical procedures and overall patient safety are directly affected by this knowledge and its proper application in the operating room environment. This course, through case studies, review questions and critical thinking covers concepts of microbiology in a surgical environment. (21 hours)
Prerequisite: SURG 524.
* * * * *
Pharmacology During Surgery (SURG 620)
A careful review of basic math skills, framework of pharmacologic principles, basic anesthesia concepts and commonly used medications with their category, description of actual surgical application, will be covered. This enables an experienced surgical technologist to function more effectively as a surgical team member. (21 hours)
Prerequisite: SURG 610.