FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 5, 2007
Contact Ben Chambers, (770) 537-5756
WCTC SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY CLASS COLLECTS HONORS
The West Central Technical College 2007 graduating class of surgical technologists has garnered two distinctions – including a rank of 13th in the nation.
The national ranking by the Association of Surgical Technologist was achieved by students taking the Program Assessment Exam given by AST. The PAE determines program viability and ensures that programs are adhering to standards set by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
More importantly for individual students, 10 of 11 students testing passed the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting exam, and were certified as surgical technologists.
“While certification is not required by the state of Georgia, the national certification is an important distinction in the job market,” Surgical Technology Program Director Richard Bailey said. “And if legislation is passed in the future requiring certification, these students will already be certified and won’t have to retest.”
The 10-member 2007 class is the first at West Central to sit as a group for the certification. They were joined by a graduate from last year who also desired certification.
“This class has taken a proactive stance,” Bailey said. “The state does not require this certification, but they recognized that it was important for them individually to be certified and for their class as a group to set an example for classes to come.”
The class of 2007 is the fifth to graduate from West Central’s one-year surgical technology diploma program. Twelve students are selected for admission each year through the competitive selection process used in the College’s health services programs.
“We are proud of our surgical technology program and for these students in particular for demonstrating one of our College’s core values, excellence,” President Dr. Skip Sullivan said. “Excellence in our programs means that we are providing skilled workers ready to make an impact in their professional lives and in the life of their community.”
Bailey said most graduates go right to work as surgical technologists. Some are hired first in central sterile processing and are moved to the operating room later.
“We greatly appreciate our clinical sites at Tanner Medical Center, Piedmont Newnan Hospital, and WellStar Douglas Hospital for cooperating with us to provide these students with the hands-on training our program requires,” Bailey said.
West Central Technical College, with campuses in Carroll, Coweta, Douglas and Haralson counties, offers over 90 associate degree, diploma and technical certificate programs of study. A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, West Central is the sixth fastest-growing of 33 technical colleges in the state and last year served over 10,000 students including credit enrollment, adult education, ESL classes, continuing education and corporate training.
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