VALPARAISO SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY
PASS RATES
In compliance with the CAAHEP_ARC/STSA standards, Ivy Tech Community College Valparaiso Surgical
Technology Program is required to publish the Outcomes Assessment Exam pass rates on the website.
The Outcomes Assessment Exam for the surgical technology program is called the Certified Surgical
Technologist Exam.
The pass rates reported for the Valparaiso surgical technology program was as follows:
• 2020 Graduates- 100%
• 2021 Graduates- 95.23%
• 2022 graduates- 84.6%
• 2023 Graduates- 95%
The Surgical Technology program in Valparaiso is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of
Allied Health Education Programs upon the recommendation of the accreditation review council on
Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC-STSA).
Inquires may be made at:
ARC/STSA
Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting
19751 East Mainstreet Suite #339
Parker CO 80138
303-694-9262
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
9355 113
th
st. N, #7709
Seminole FL 33775
727-210-2350
Certification of the surgical technology students are granted upon successful completion of the
Certification exam by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting.
NBSTSA (National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting)
3 WEST Dry Creek Circle
Littleton CO 80120
800-707-0057
www.nbstsa.org
Clinical Case Requirements for graduation
Upon successful completion of the surgical technology program, the student will have fulfilled the
clinical case requirements as established by the 7
th
edition of the Core Curriculum for surgical
technology published by the Association of Surgical technologists. The student must have a total of 30
total surgical cases (20 first scrubs and 10 second scrubs). In specialty surgery, a total of 90 total surgical
cases (60 first scrubs and 30 second scrubs) is required. Specialties include surgical procedures in
orthopedics, otorhinolaryngology, genitourinary, obstetrics, gynecology, ophthalmic, oral/maxillofacial,
plastic and reconstructive, cardiothoracic, peripheral vascular, pediatrics, and neurosurgical. The total
amount of procedures cases scrubbed for the duration of the entire Surgical Technology Program must
exceed 120 with 80 of the cases being first scrubs and 40 cases being second scrubs.
A minimum of ten cases in four different specialties must be completed in the FS role (40 cases total).
The additional 20 cases in the FS role may be distributed amongst any one surgical specialty or
multiple surgical specialties.
SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM OUTCOME STATEMENTS
ARC/STSA thresholds
Reaffirmation of ARC/STSA Outcomes Thresholds- The ARC/STSA – approved outcomes threshold for
CAAHEP accredited programs in surgical technology, effective 03/2019
1. Retention: 60% for Surgical Technology
Retention percentages are determined by dividing the number of graduates by the total number
of original students enrolled in the program plus students added to the cohort (reenter/transfer-
in due to repeating courses, return from LOA, etc.), then multiplying that number by 100. A
student enrollment is defined by the ARC/STSA as the entry date into the Surgical Technology or
Surgical Assisting program. Students who have delayed completion timeframes, based on the
on-time completion/graduation date determined in the original enrollment agreement, due to
course repetition, leaves of absence [LOA], etc. are calculated into their original on-time
completion cohort for retention as attrition.
2. Outcomes Assessment Examination (OAE):
70% Pass Rate and 100% Participation Rate for Surgical Technology Programs should report the
total number of students graduating and the number who passed the CST® certification
examination on the first attempt.
3. Graduate Placement: 80% Positive Placement [Employment]
• Placed in the field of surgical technology/surgical assisting or a related field* or on
Active Military Duty
• Continued Education
• Placed in field of surgical technology or a related field AND continued education
4. Employer Satisfaction:
• 50% Survey Return Rate and 70% Satisfaction Rate for Surgical Technology and Surgical
Assisting Programs
• Employer satisfaction results should be solicited for all graduates in the cohort reported
to be placed in the field or a related field.
• Programs should use the standardized ARC/STSA Employer Survey Form for data
collection and reporting employer satisfaction on the program’s Annual Report.
• Programs may utilize the ARC/STSA Employer Survey Form as a template to develop an
online survey tool that mirrors the ARC/STSA standardized form exactly. Employer
Surveys may be administered immediately upon hire of the graduate.
• An Employer Satisfaction Survey should have 7 out of the 10 questions rated 3 or
greater on the 5- point Likert scale to be considered a “satisfactory” survey.
5. Graduate Satisfaction:
• 50% Survey Return Rate and 70% Satisfaction Rate for Surgical Technology and Surgical
Assisting Programs
• Graduate satisfaction results should be solicited for all graduates in the cohort.
Programs should use the standardized ARC/STSA Employer Survey Form for data
collection and reporting employer satisfaction on the program’s Annual Report.
• Programs may utilize the ARC/STSA Employer Survey Form as a template to develop an
online survey tool that mirrors the ARC/STSA standardized form exactly. Graduate
Surveys may be administered immediately upon completion of the program.
• A Graduate Satisfaction Survey should have 7 out of the 10 questions rated 3 or greater
on the 5- point Likert scale to be considered a “satisfactory” survey.
• To calculate the graduate satisfaction rating, divide number of satisfactory surveys by
the total number of surveys returned, then multiplying that number by 100.
6. Current Outcomes for the 2023 Annual report are as follow:
• Retention
i. 2021-61%
ii. 2022-50%
iii. 2023- 64.5%
• NBSTSA Certified Surgical Technologist Exam (CST)
i. 100% participation in 2021, 95% Pass Rate
ii. 100% participation in 2022, 84.6% Pass Rate
iii. 100% participation in 2023, 95% Pass Rate
• Graduate Placement
i. 2021-100%
ii. 2022-84%
iii. 2023-90%
• Employer Surveys
i. 73% Employer survey return rate in 2021, 100% satisfaction
ii. 72.73 return rate in 2022, 100% satisfaction
• Graduate Surveys
i. Graduate Survey return rate in 2021- 90% with 100% Satisfaction
ii. Graduate Survey return rate in 2022- 100% with 100% Satisfaction
iii. Graduate Survey return rate in 2023- 100% with 95% Satisfaction
