Surgical Technology Program Earns National Merit Award

Program's 100-percent graduate participation, pass rate far exceeds national rate

Parkland College Surgical Technology students have achieved perfect scores on the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting exam, far surpassing national averages and achieving the college's seventh consecutive NBSTSA Merit Award.

Parkland's Surgical Technology program earned the award for achieving a 100-percent graduate participation and pass rate on the national certification exam for surgical technologists during the 2017-2018 academic year. The national pass rate for the exam is around 78 percent, according to the NBSTSA.

Janice Grewatz, program director, said graduates receive the real-world experiences and expert training that lead to high-demand, marketable skills and career success.

"Parkland's program has achieved an overall pass rate of 95 percent since testing has been required," she said. "All of our graduates who sought employment so far this year are employed in full-time surgical technology positions in area hospitals and beyond."

Graduates passing the exam to become a certified surgical technologist (CST) demonstrate an understanding of the basic competencies for safe patient care in the operating room. 

The CST exam is the only fully accredited examination by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies for surgical technologists in the nation. Certification as a surgical technologist exhibits professional pride, the desire to be recognized for mastery of surgical competencies, and most importantly, an ongoing commitment to quality patient care.