Western Nebraska Community College (WNCC) is pleased to report that its Surgical Technology program has gained full programmatic accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). CAAHEP is a postsecondary accrediting agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation that currently accredits more than 2,100 entry-level education programs in 30 health science professions.
"Accreditation of this excellent program is just another example of our commitment to develop and certify programs that can train students efficiently in a short period of time and launch them into satisfying careers that offer an economic benefit," said WNCC President Dr. Todd Holcomb.
Programmatic accreditation provides students with assurance that a school is a sound institution that has met certain minimum standards in terms of administration, resources, faculty, and facilities, in order to promote quality surgical patient care through quality education.
"This wonderful news paves the path for all graduates of the Surgical Technology program at WNCC to sit for the national certifying exam to become certified surgical technologists," noted Surgical Technology Program Director Marcene Elwell.
Surgical technologists, also called operating room technicians, assist in surgical operations. They prepare operating rooms, arrange equipment, and help doctors during surgeries. Approximately 70 percent of surgical techs work in hospitals alongside registered nurses, physicians, surgeons, and other healthcare personnel, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS reports that the surgical technology occupation is projected to grow by 15 percent through 2024, with a current median annual wage of $43,350.
The WNCC Surgical Technology program offers an associate degree in applied science. The curriculum includes science courses, basic courses in the theoretical aspects of surgical technology, skills labs, and clinical and online instruction. Throughout the program, students are provided with hands-on experience in a lab setting and in cooperation with various hospitals.
Interested students can register for the fall term today; classes begin August 21, 2017. For more information, please visit www.wncc.edu or call Elwell at 308-630-6541.