Surgical Technology -program requirements
Sterile Processing - program admissions
SVSTI cannot stress enough the importance of the immunization's requirements needed before we can place you for Externships. The placement process begins AFTER your required immunization documents are received. The Clinical site placement process can take several weeks. Immunizations are required for SPD by week 2.
SVSTI requires every potential student to be at least 17 years of age and hold a minimum of a high school diploma, GED or equivalent. If you do not have a GED certificate, High School Diploma or Transcripts you may contact either of the following agencies to obtain a Certificate of Proficiency.
HISET to take a high school equivalency test. hiset.ets.org
OR
CHSPE (California High School Proficiency Examination): called “Certificate of Proficiency” is legally equivalent to a high school diploma. For information contact California Proficiency Testing at (866) 342-4773. www.chspe.net
LOA's/Repeat or Re-Entry Policies
Leaves Of Absence from the Sterile Processing Program are not permitted as the program is only 13 weeks long. If a student has a grievance, they may need to be rescheduled to the next course start date. If a student requires leave for personal reasons, they may do so by withdrawing and re-enrolling at a later date (additional fees may be required). Re-enrolling is subject to a Re-Entry Evaluation Form/Policy. All Students must be approved by their Instructor(s) and Program Director to re-apply or re-enter in any Program. Students leaving the program must complete a Change of Status Form within 72 hours of notification to ensure they do not receive a failing grade for the course. Students may only be eligible to change their Program start date one time.
If a Surgical Technology student requires a leave of absence (LOA) a leave may be granted if it is determined that the student can be successfully scheduled to return and complete their course of study. Acceptable reasons for requesting a leave of absence include medical situations, personal emergencies, administrative reasons, military obligations, or other circumstances beyond the student’s control. Leave of absences cannot exceed a cumulative 180 calendar days from the LDA (last day attended to the return date) in a 12-month period. There will be a fee of $4500 when the student returns to complete their program and will be subject to program seat availability. Surgical Technology Students must successfully test out to demonstrate their level of competency to determine the appropriate Term for re-entry. Competency will be measured using examinations and/or skills assessment. Re-enrolling is subject to a Re-Entry Evaluation Form/Policy. All Students must be approved by their Instructor(s) and Program Director to re-apply or re-enter in any Program. Students leaving the program must complete a Change of Status Form within 72 hours of notification to ensure they do not receive a failing grade for the course.
SVSTI Surgical Technology Program
Program Admissions- a copy of your high school diploma/equivalent or college transcripts/Degree for the Surgical Technology & Sterile Processing Program. If you graduated school in a foreign Country, you would need to have them verified and/or translated to English to meet the program requirements.
Immunizations requirements for Program admissions
SVSTI - EXTERNSHIP – Immunization /Medical Screening Requirements
YELLOW = BLOOD TEST(s)
The following requirements are based on the California State Department of Health Services recommendations and clinical facility requirements. You MUST complete the following immunizations and provide documentation to Admissions OR the Program Director NO LATER THAN the 2nd WEEK of your Program start date (SPD) or AT THE START OF TERM 2 (Surg-Tech). It is BEST to have completed for your start date (SPD) to ensure you are placed on time and do not have to repeat the Program.
A CLEAN Titer Test (BLOOD TEST) MUST be completed for (#3, #4, #5) and the test results report submitted to SVSTI BEFORE your program start date. If your TITER report indicates that you are no longer immune, you must receive a booster or the immunization series AND TAKE ANOTHER TITER TEST (30 days after last shot) to begin your Externship on time. Since you MUST have a TITER Test (blood test) for the items above, it is best to REQUEST a QuantiFERON TB Test (also a blood test) at same time.
Proof of CLEAN Titer results / report, proof of immunizations, and documents must be submitted BEFORE classes begin recommended and required by the beginning of week 2 (SPD) or by 2nd week of Term 2 (ST).
a. If positive, a chest x-ray must be taken (Do not have x-ray until 1 month before externship) - If negative, testing is complete.
3. Measles/Mumps/Rubella- TITER is required with numerical lab values.
● Titer results must be turned into Admissions or Program Director
● If there is no immunity, immunization is required.
4. Hepatitis B - TITER is required, with numerical lab values.
● Titer results must be turned into Admissions or Program Director
● If no immunity, immunization is required - Students must complete the required series (3 immunizations) and show proof of an additional Titer before start of externship – THIS CAN TAKE UP TO 6 MOS
5. Varicella (chicken pox) - TITER is required, with numerical lab values.
● Titer results must be turned into Admissions or Program Director
● If there is no immunity, immunization is required.
6. Physical Exam- or a note from your physician releasing you to be in good health
for Externship
7.BLS - Submit proof of current American Heart Association BLS (Basic Life Support) BEFORE (SPD only) classes begin. We
offer one time each cohort from an AHA instructor that comes to the campus. Please ask at enrollment.
8. Influenza – Proof of vaccination is required during flu season (Sept – April). Some sites require you to have it within that year even if not flu season.
9. COVID Card + Booster - Both the COVID vaccine(s) + Booster are required
Disclosure: Potential students are not eligible to participate in ANY Program with ANY active/contagious condition.
Program admissions require a copy of your CA Driver's License or a CA State ID (front & back)
A background check and/or drug test may be required for program admissions or before site placement. If you do not pass background and/or drug test you will not be placed at a clinical site and could be dropped from the Surgical Technology and Sterile Processing Program. In near future all students will be required to obtain a background and drug test prior to enrolling.
SVSTI offers blended programs for Sterile Processing & Surgical Technology where students will utilize an LMS platform for distance education assignments in conjunction with face-to-face synchronous instruction on campus. Campus-based instruction utilizes hands-on learning for core competencies, which includes applications, laboratories, and externships. Online courses require a commitment to substantial independent study along with the access and participation in the platform.
The online learning platforms (Canvas and Cengage) are accessible 24-hours per day, seven days per week. The course syllabus, instructional materials, assignments, participation post, resources and Instructor/Student communications will be through the Canvas LMS platform.
SVSTI offers blended programs and requires students to attend on campus instruction along with instructional hours off site through an online learning platform. Each student must have access to a computer with internet service to attend our blended program(s). Surgical Technology and Sterile Processing students will be granted access to the LMS platform(s) at a minimum a week prior to the Program start date. A portion of all distance education assignments, on Canvas (Sterile Processing & Surgical Technology) and Cengage (Surgical Technology only), will be graded automatically. This provides students with immediate feedback on their progress. All tests, evaluations, and assignments not automatically grades will be graded and posted within 72-hours of the due date.
All SVSTI students are required to be proficient in English for reading, writing, and speaking. All programs are taught in English only. If any candidate is less than professionally proficient, they must take an ESL class to ensure success in any of the programs.
Cengage 1 866-994-2427
Hours of Operation: 24/7 - 365 days per year
Canvas: 1 855 637-2253
Hours of Operation: 24/7 - 365 days per year
General Education Coordinator; Davina Wong dwhern24@gmail.com
Program Director; Julie Hamrick jhamrick@svsti.com
Both Cengage / MindTap and Canvas; the online learning management systems (LMS) are accessible 24 hours per day, seven days a week, 365 days per year. The course syllabus, material, assignments, participation post, and email will be through the LMS platforms. The Student Success/Library is available during regular business hours as well as tutoring hours are posted. The virtual library and other web-based resources will provide students with a comprehensive learning experience that enables them to master the course content outlined on the syllabus. The virtual library can be found at; Library Resources (svsti.com). Students are required to have sufficient technology and internet skills & access to complete online coursework successfully.
All SVSTI students sign a Technology Attestation to ensure that they have the minimum required access to a computer and the minimum recommended system requirements to successfully complete the distance educational program.
Canvas recommended requirements:
· Smart device, PC, laptop, iPad etc. that is 5 years old or newer with at least 1 GB of RAM.
· Web browser success
· Internet speed of 512 Kbps or faster
· Microsoft Office
Cengage (Surgical Technology only) recommended requirements:
· Download bandwidth 5 Mbps or faster
· 2 GB of RAM or more
· Sound
· Graphics 64 MB or higher
· CPU 1.8 GHz or more
All SVSTI Distance Education Programs are conducted at 1729 S. Main Street Milpitas, CA 95035 and are considered blended programs. Any student enrolled in SVSTI’s blended programs shall provide proof I.e., California Driver’s License or California State ID or proof of California residence at time of enrollment. If a SVSTI student’s physical address changes while enrolled in the program the student must notify SVSTI via Student Status Change Form found at; https://pdf.ac/CDag2. Students must notify SVSTI of ANY student relocation in or out of the City and State of enrollment within 72 hours.
Should SVSTI gain or lose California State BPPE approval, programmatic or institutional accreditation SVSTI will publish, in a public manner, whether the program does or does not meet such requirements, or whether the institution has not made such a determination. If the determination changes, currently enrolled students must be notified in writing within 14 calendar days if the program does not meet certification requirements for the state of California.
The only cost is for Cengage for Surgical Technology Students. This is disclosed during enrollment as well. There are no additional fees for participating in any distance education program.