Announcements
The 2025 ARC/STSA Schedule of Fees is now available on the ARC/STSA website (https://arcstsa.org/fees/). Fees for 2025 will become effective January 1, 2025. Please note that 2025 program fees have been adjusted due to significant increases in operating costs.
Please contact the ARC/STSA at info@arcstsa.org with any questions or for additional information.
The Board of Directors has approved two new policies and the 2024 ARC/STSA Schedule of Fees to be implemented on January 1, 2024.
ARC/STSA Distance Education Policy
- Revised to align with CAAHEP’s Policy 209 – Instructional Modalities.
- Outlines the criteria acceptable to the ARC/STSA for Standards compliance when utilizing distance education methodology.
- Delineates when programs utilizing distance education methodology must apply for a distance education approval.
ARC/STSA Separate Instructional Site Policy
- New policy defining the use of an off-campus facility in which a portion of program instruction is delivered on-ground to students of a CAAHEP-accredited surgical technology or surgical assisting program.
2024 Schedule of Fees
- No Increased Fees From 2023
- Removal of Accreditation Packet Fee
Policies are posted as of November 1, 2023, on the ARC/STSA’s website – Policy Page, and the 2024 Schedule of Fees is posted on the Fees Page.
Watch for upcoming announcements for ARC/STSA office hours and webinars on these new policies.
Join us in welcoming Kristy Pierce, BS, CST, to the ARC/STSA team. Kristy joined the ARC/STSA staff on May 1, 2023, as the accreditation manager. She will oversee and coordinate all site visit activities of the ARC/STSA to help fulfill our mission to provide accreditation services that validate excellence of educational programs and ensure quality patient care.
Kristy brings a forward-thinking and solutions-focused approach to her work and a passion for the field of surgical technology. She comes to the ARC/STSA from Pittsburgh Technical College where she served as the surgical technology program director and academic chair of the School of Healthcare. Prior to transitioning into higher education in 2010, Kristy worked as a CST for 8 years while working towards her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix.
“I’m excited to focus on strategizing new and innovative ways to improve and enhance the site visit process. I have been working with accreditation for many years as a program director and consider myself a self-proclaimed ‘accreditation nerd.’ Quality education for surgical technologists and surgical assistants is vital, so ensuring there is a proper review process is key. I look forward to working with the site evaluators, developing training and a more streamlined process for everyone involved.”
Kristy enjoys camping and spending quality time with her friends and family. She and her husband, Chris, enjoy spending their time at the theater and baseball fields supporting their two children, Kendall and Carter.
We are pleased to announce that the 2023 Annual Report will open Monday, May 1 and will close Monday, July 31. Thank you for your continuing patience as we have worked to resolve technical difficulties related to launch of the 2023 Annual Report. Please visit the Maintaining Accreditation page for Annual Report instructions and login information.
The ARC/STSA is proud to be a leading sponsor of the International Museum of Surgical Science’s newest exhibit “The Operating Room: Surgical Technology Then and Now” opening on May 25, 2023, in Chicago, Illinois, with AST. This exhibit, which is the first exhibition dedicated to the profession of surgical technology, and the first of its kind, was championed by ARC/STSA President Janice Grewatz, BS, CSFA, CSPDT, CST, FAST, after taking her students to visit and seeing that there was not an exhibit on the role of the surgical technologist.
The exhibition will feature how the role of the surgical technologist was created and evolved into the present day’s integral part of the surgical team, and will highlight the future of one of the fastest-growing professions in the country and the importance of the educational preparation of surgical technologists.
The International Museum of Surgical Science (IMSS) is a division of the International College of Surgeons in Chicago and maintains 10,000 square feet of public galleries committed to the history of surgery and a renowned permanent collection of art and artifacts from the history of medicine.
Read the complete news release here for more information regarding the exhibition and its sponsors, or visit the IMSS website by clicking here.
Thank you for your patience as we continue to work on technical difficulties related to launch of the 2023 Annual Report. Please be assured that programs will be given the standard timeframe of sixty days for Annual Report data entry, once the 2023 AR is available.
We will send official notification on the new date for launch of the 2023 Annual Report and subsequent changes to the submission due date.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Please review the Annual Report resources on the Maintaining Accreditation page, and email ARQuestions@arcstsa.org with questions.
Click here to access the full announcement.
Click here to access the full announcement.
Click here to access the full announcement.
Click here for the Accreditation Manager position description, and see the announcement below for instructions on how to apply.
The August 1, 2022, effective date of the new and updated ARC/STSA policies is quickly approaching. Join us for an informational session on Tuesday, August 9, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. MT, to review and discuss the new and updated policies below.
Policies effective August 1, 2022, for all surgical technology and surgical assisting programs include:
- Accreditation Fundamentals for Educators (AFE) Workshop Attendance Policy
- Outcomes Threshold, Reporting and Assessment Policy
- Program Advisory Committee (PAC) Member and Meeting Policy
Policies effective August 1, 2022, for all surgical technology programs include:
- Associate Degree Implementation Policy for Surgical Technology Educational Programs
- Clinical Evaluation, Case Log and Clinical Expectations Policy for Surgical Technology Educational Programs
- Laboratory Sufficiency Policy for Surgical Technology Educational Programs
This session is open to all surgical technology and surgical assisting program faculty and administrators, and is free of charge. Please review the policies linked here prior to the informational session and register at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cZMRvGy7RH22ICp5vgh45w.
Due to technical challenges with the launch of the new 2022 ARC/STSA Annual Report platform, the report submission due date has been extended from May 31 to August 1, 2022.
Thank you for your patience as we worked to resolve the technical difficulties as quickly as possible. We will host a live webinar training in early May to walk through the new reporting format. Watch for the training notification, which will be sent to all programs via email, and posted on the ARC/STSA’s website and social media outlets in the next week.
Until then, please download the updated version of the Annual Report Instructions, watch the Annual Report Tutorial video, and check out our answers to some frequently asked Annual Report questions in our eNewsletter released today.
If you have immediate questions, please email us at info@arcstsa.org for a detailed response; and, if there’s a question we can’t diagnose or that needs further discussion, we’ll email you a link to select a time on our calendar for a 30-minute Zoom call.
The Board of Directors has approved five new policies (3 for SA & ST programs, and 2 for ST programs only), which will become effective August 1, 2022, including:
- Accreditation Fundamentals for Educators (AFE) Workshop Attendance Policy
- Clinical Evaluation, Case Log and Clinical Expectations Policy for Surgical Technology Programs
- Laboratory Sufficiency Policy for Surgical Technology Programs
- Outcomes Threshold, Reporting and Assessment Policy
- Program Advisory Committee (PAC) Member and Meeting Policy
These policies were distributed to all program directors and deans today and are posted on the ARC/STSA’s website – policy page for further review and reference.
A Best Practice Guide for Surgical Technology Education, which replaces the former Standards Interpretive Guide (SIG) for Surgical Technology programs, is now available as well, and is posted on the ARC/STSA website – Standards & Curricula Page.
Watch for webinars and live Q & A sessions coming soon!
To access the complete announcement regarding important updates and reminders, please click here.
The ARC/STSA will mail complimentary hard copies of the CCST, seventh edition, to each program director of CAAHEP-accredited and initial applicant surgical technology programs (1 per program) in early 2022. In the meantime, please see Standards & Curricula page under the Accreditation tab of the ARC/STSA website to access a digital copy of the corrected version of the CCST, 7e.
The ARC/STSA has established January 1, 2024, as the date for full implementation of the CCST-7e. ST programs must be utilizing the CCST-7e, in its entirety after this date. Curriculum can be assessed for compliance with the Standards utilizing the Core Curriculum for Surgical Technology, sixth edition or seventh edition, up to December 31, 2023.
At their meeting on November 19, 2021, the Board of Directors of the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) voted to approve proposed language to the Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Educational Programs in Surgical Technology. (See Approved ST Standards)
To provide programs additional time to review and implement the newly approved CAAHEP Surgical Technology Standards and Guidelines, the ARC/STSA Board of Directors has unanimously approved August 1, 2022, as the effective date for these Standards.
The ARC/STSA will present a series of webinars on the Surgical Technology Standards and Guidelines to assist programs with their implementation over the coming months. All training webinars will be posted at https://arcstsa.org/webinars/ and announcements will be sent to each surgical technology program beginning in 2022.
For initial guidance regarding Standard I.A., the Sponsoring Institution and the Associate Degree implementation, please see below:
Guidance related to the implementation of Standard I.A.
- For CAAHEP accredited surgical technology programs currently offering an Associate Degree only. No changes related to Standard I.A. implementation, the program has already established compliance with Standard I.A.
- For CAAHEP accredited surgical technology programs currently offering both an Associate Degree and certificate/diploma track. The program may continue to enroll into the certificate/ diploma track up to July 31, 2022.
- For CAAHEP accredited surgical technology programs that are certificate/diploma only (no Associate Degree award). The program may continue to enroll into the certificate/diploma track up to July 31, 2022. The ARC/STSA will require a progress report on the sponsoring institution’s progress towards compliance with Standard I.A. no later than July 1, 2022. This category of programs may apply for a two-year implementation extension beyond the August 1, 2022, date (for Associate Degree implementation only) between July 1 – July 31, 2022. The two-year extension would then begin on August 1, 2022.
ARC/STSA will provide additional details on the implementation of the Surgical Technology Standards and Guidelines over the coming months. Please contact the ARC/STSA at info@arcstsa.org for guidance related to your specific implementation questions.
As part of the national accreditation CAAHEP Standards development process, the ARC/STSA invites public comment on the proposed CAAHEP Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Educational Programs in Surgical Technology.
To provide comments, please download the linked annotated Standards and use the downloaded version as a reference to complete the linked survey to submit your feedback. After the closing of the comment period, an Open Hearing for each set of Standards will be conducted. If you would like to attend the Open Hearing, please register here.
The following updates to previous extensions and postponements were approved at the March 2021 meeting of the ARC/STSA Board of Directors in consideration of the health and safety of surgical patients, students, educators, and volunteers during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
- On-ground Accreditation Fundamentals for Educator (AFE) workshops have been discontinued through December 31, 2021. Virtual AFE workshops continue to be offered throughout 2021. To register or for more information, click here.
- On-ground evaluations have been discontinued through December 31, 2021.
- Virtual Site Visits for initial and continuing accreditation will be scheduled through December 31, 2021, for those programs that qualify. Programs that were due for continuing accreditation visits in 2020 and 2021 will be contacted with more details. On-ground site visits will be reinitiated once the ARC/STSA has determined that it is safe to conduct visits on campuses following the emergency period. See VSV policies for initial and continuing accreditation.
- Submission of complete 2020 and 2021 Annual Report data has been postponed until the 2022 Annual Report submission.
- Outcomes data must continue to be maintained on campus and will be required in combination with the 2022 Annual Report. A brief program status report confirming program contact information will be required this spring. Substantive changes must still be reported to the ARC/STSA within 30 days of the change; documentation supporting non-substantive changes should be maintained on campus for the 2022 Annual Report. More details coming soon on https://www.arcstsa.org/maintaining-accreditation/.
- Application process waived for emergency distance education delivery through December 31, 2021. No documentation is required at this time; however, distance education delivery continuing past December 31, 2021, may require submission of a distance education application and approval after this date. Track and maintain curriculum changes on your campus using the COVID-19 Plan of Action form.
- Guidance provided in our April 23 COVID – 19 guidance document and FAQ sheet, regarding programs that graduate students with fewer clinical cases than required during the pandemic, has been extended until December 31, 2021. Please review the provided guidance in detail as the ARC/STSA has determined to uphold the required clinical case minimums as stated in the core curricula; and, simulation may not be substituted for clinical cases, as it cannot accurately replicate a surgical experience. It is important for sponsoring institutions to understand that this determination should only be considered by the program in the most extenuating of circumstances when the program has exhausted all other options to maintain compliance with currently established clinical case criteria. If, upon review of program documentation, the ARC/STSA establishes the program did not exercise due diligence in implementing this course of action, the program will be cited for non-compliance under Standard III.C. – Curriculum.
Thank you for your continued commitment to Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting education and for your dedication to your students, especially during these challenging times. Stay safe!
Surgical Technology Educator Positions Open July 2021
The Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA) is seeking nominations for two positions on its Board of Directors. Nominations are open immediately for two surgical technology educators (one ARC/STSA appointment and one AST appointment). The three-year term will begin July 1, 2021. The ARC/STSA Board meets four times a year, twice in person (March/September) and twice via digital conferencing (July/December). Please see the attached description of board roles and responsibilities.
To nominate an interested, qualified candidate or self-apply, please send a cover letter that includes a description of qualifications along with a résumé /curriculum vitae by Friday, February 26, 2021, to Executive Director Ronald Kruzel at info@arcstsa.org. Please contact Mr. Kruzel at info@arcstsa.org with any questions.
The following updates to previous extensions and postponements were approved at the December 2020 meeting of the ARC/STSA Board of Directors in consideration of the health and safety of surgical patients, students, educators, and volunteers during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
- On-ground Accreditation Fundamentals for Educator (AFE) workshops have been discontinued through June 30, 2021.
- Registration is now open for a virtual AFE workshop February 4 – 5, 2021, from 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. MT. Additional virtual AFE workshops will be presented in late March and late May. To register or for more information, click here.
- On-ground evaluations have been discontinued through June 30, 2021.
- Virtual Site Visits for initial and continuing accreditation will be scheduled through June 30, 2021, for those programs that qualify. Programs due for continuing accreditation visits in 2020 and 2021 will be contacted with more details. On-ground site visits will be reinitiated once the ARC/STSA has determined that it is safe to conduct visits on campuses following the emergency period. See VSV policies for initial and continuing accreditation.
- Submission of complete 2020 and 2021 Annual Report data has been postponed until the 2022 Annual Report submission.
- Outcomes data must continue to be maintained on campus and will be required in combination with the 2022 Annual Report. A brief program status report confirming program contact information will be required this spring. Substantive changes must still be reported to the ARC/STSA within 30 days of the change; documentation supporting non-substantive changes should be maintained on campus for the 2022 Annual Report. More details coming soon on https://www.arcstsa.org/maintaining-accreditation/.
- Application process waived for emergency distance education delivery through June 30, 2021. No documentation is required at this time; however, distance education delivery continuing past June 30, 2021, may require submission of a distance education application and approval after this date. Track and maintain curriculum changes on your campus using the COVID-19 Plan of Action form.
- Guidance provided in our April 23 COVID – 19 guidance document and FAQ sheet, regarding programs that graduate students with fewer clinical cases than the required during the pandemic, has been extended until June 30, 2021. Please review the provided guidance in detail as the ARC/STSA has determined to uphold the required clinical case minimums as stated in the core curricula; and, simulation may not be substituted for clinical cases, as it cannot accurately replicate a surgical experience. It is important for sponsoring institutions to understand that this determination should only be considered by the program in the most extenuating of circumstances, when the program has exhausted all other options to maintain compliance with currently established clinical case criteria. If, upon review of program documentation, the ARC/STSA establishes the program did not exercise due diligence in implementing this course of action, the program will be cited for non-compliance under Standard III.C. – Curriculum.
Thank you for your continued commitment to Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting education and for your dedication to your students, especially during these challenging times. Stay safe!
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The ARC/STSA recognizes and commends administrators, program directors, and faculty for their steadfast commitment to the education and preparation of competent entry-level surgical technologists and surgical assistants, especially during these unprecedented times.
The ARC/STSA Board of Directors and staff are working to support our educators as you continue to fulfill your mission to serve your students. As such, we have made adjustments to the annual reporting process and have developed additional resources to support you.
2020 Annual Reporting
The launch of the 2020 Annual Report for both surgical technology and surgical assisting programs has been extended until January of 2021 due to the extreme challenges that our programs are facing. We understand and appreciate the extraordinary amount of time you have devoted and continue to devote to safely provide a quality education to your students in the midst of daily uncertainty. Therefore, programs will be responsible for completing and submitting a 2020 Annual Report, but not until early 2021.
Reporting Temporary Changes Due to COVID-19
The ARC/STSA recognizes that programs have had to make difficult decisions to delay or interrupt studies, offer limited or redesigned coursework, and/or initiate different approaches and strategies influenced by individual institutional policies/procedures, and governmental regulations throughout this pandemic. We understand that these plans are fluid as the public health environment shifts across the country.
As such, programs are no longer being asked to submit notifications of these temporary, nonsubstantive changes due to the pandemic to info@arcstsa.net as requested in March. Instead, programs are asked to record these changes on a newly created, COVID-19 Plan of Action form, and maintain this form in your files to track the temporary changes your program initiates that are directly related to the impact of the COVID-19 crisis. The COVID-19 Plan of Action form does not need to be submitted at this time, this information will be submitted as part of the annual reporting process. In the meantime, the ARC/STSA will distribute brief surveys to gather information regarding our programs’ status through December 2020. Click the box below to link to the form, which is posted on the ARC/STSA website under the COVID-19 page and the Forms & Facts page.
COVID-19 FAQs
The ARC/STSA has compiled a list of responses to frequently asked questions as guidance for programs working to address the specific needs of their students, graduates and communities of interest in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Please click the link below to download the FAQ sheet, which is posted on the ARC/STSA website under the COVID-19 page.
Webinar Recording and Resources: Maintaining Safety & Quality When Reopening Labs
Many thanks to everyone who attended our inaugural webinar on July 10 sponsored by the ARC/STSA, EdAccred and AST. The recording of the webinar is posted on the ARC/STSA website along with resources from EdAccred and our panelists. The materials are available to all; so if you were not able to join and hear the insights shared by three of our experienced program directors, be sure to access the presentation slides, recording and additional resources linked below.
Setting the Gold Standard for Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting Since 1972
Questions? We’re happy to help.
Contact the ARC/STSA at info@arcstsa.net for more information.
The ARC/STSA commends administrators, program directors, and faculty for their commitment to the education and preparation of competent entry‐level surgical technologists and surgical assistants, especially during these challenging times. We recognize that during the pandemic, programs have had to make difficult decisions to delay or interrupt studies, offer limited or redesigned coursework, and/or initiate different approaches and strategies influenced by individual institutional policies/procedures, and local, state and federal regulations.
The ARC/STSA is committed to supporting each of our programs as they work through these challenges to ensure that students receive the required education per the surgical technology and surgical assisting core curricula and CAAHEP Standards.
We have compiled a list of responses to frequently asked questions as guidance for programs working to address the specific needs of their students, graduates, and communities of interest. (Click FAQ box below to read or download.)
Please note that the guidance and allowances provided are effective during the public health crisis and will conclude on December 31, 2020, unless otherwise specified by the ARC/STSA. A COVID‐19 Plan of Action form has been developed to track a program’s temporary changes throughout the pandemic. This information and supporting documentation should be maintained by the program and will be submitted with its Annual Report in early 2021.
This form will serve as a record of plans and actions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Detail all temporary program changes due to the pandemic and associated action plans below. The form and copies of relevant correspondence and back-up documentation should be maintained in your program files and updated as necessary. Do not submit this form to ARC/STSA at this time. Information contained on this Plan of Action form will be requested in 2021. Should temporary changes become permanent in 2021, notify info@arcstsa.net to determine if additional submissions or approvals are required.
Click on the graphic below to access a list of online learning resources to support Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting instructors.
The unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 public health crisis has impacted every aspect of our society. The evolving nature of the crisis has challenged all of us in the education and accreditation communities to maintain a sense of normalcy and maintain Standards that have long been accepted as the minimum criteria to establish competency of program graduates. Like our programs and sponsoring institutions, the ARC/STSA continues to assess our community needs, weighing this extraordinary event as it has an evolving and ongoing impact on our programs, students, and graduates.
The ARC/STSA remains committed to being as responsive as possible to our community, while balancing what is so important to all of us, the preparation and education of competent entry-level surgical technologists and surgical assistants. In response to an increasing number of inquiries related to upcoming graduations, compliance with clinical case requirements and possible reduction of Standards criteria, the ARC/STSA has developed the following guidance for programs working to address the specific needs of their students, graduates and communities of interest.
ARC/STSA has determined to uphold the required 120 clinical case minimum as stated in the Surgical Technology Core Curriculum (6e) and 140 clinical case minimum as stated in the Surgical Assisting Core Curriculum (3e). We recognize that each accredited program may need to initiate different approaches and strategies that may be influenced by institutional policies and procedures, community needs, as well as local, state, and federal regulations. ARC/STSA provides the following guidance for CAAHEP-accredited programs.
Guidance:
Programs that graduate students with fewer cases than the required minimum as stated in the core curricula will be required to provide documentation to address non-compliance with Standard III.C. – Curriculum including documentation that demonstrates how the program determined the need for graduation prior to clinical completion. Items 1–4 below describe documentation and submission requirements:
1. Programs must make available to the ARC/STSA documentation regarding how the need for early graduation was determined, including the program’s assessment of community need; how the program determined graduate competency; and, how the program incorporated the administrative team, program advisory committee, employers and community partners into the decision-making process.
2. The program must also provide documentation that consideration was given to student enrollment agreements; institutional policy and procedure; institutional accreditation requirements, in particular requirements for program length; Fair Practices as defined by Standard V of the CAAHEP Standards for Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting; and, the program’s responsibilities to students, graduates, employers and surgical patients to assure that graduates are competent to practice as surgical technologists and surgical assistants.
3. The ARC/STSA strongly encourages the program to work with the subsequent employer of any graduates who did not meet the clinical case minimum to provide evidence of surgical procedures scrubbed until such time the graduate completes the required clinical case thresholds.
4. The ARC/STSA anticipates evaluation of all documentation submitted under the above guidelines at the time of the 2021 Annual Report submission.
5. The above process is available to programs between now and June 30, 2020. Note: this deadline may be extended at the discretion of ARC/STSA based upon the duration of the public health crisis.
The ARC/STSA understands the extraordinary nature of the COVID-19 crisis and will take into account the challenges facing our program community when assessing submitted documentation related to clinical case non-compliance with the Standards.
The ARC/STSA will continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on our institutions, programs, instructional staff, and students. Additional informational and support materials are under development and will be available to assist our community in addressing immediate concerns, as well as the inevitable transition back to normalcy in our community. The ARC/STSA is committed to working with each of our programs individually on their unique challenges as we share the common goal of the graduation of competent surgical technologists and surgical assistants.
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- World Health Organization (WHO)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- US Department of Education
- Federal Student Aid
- Local public health authority for your county and state
- Your local and state regulatory institutions
- Career Education Colleges and Universities (Compiled links to information from Federal and State Regulators, Accreditors, Veterans Administration, and distance education resources.)
- Online Learning Consortium
The ARC/STSA has been closely monitoring the impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus) on our surgical technology and surgical assisting programs. We understand the unprecedented challenges that our programs and institutions are facing and appreciate the measures that each is taking to keep students, faculty, staff and their communities safe.
As institutions are extending breaks, suspending on-ground classes, and moving to alternative delivery methods, the ARC/STSA recognizes that programs may need to initiate different approaches and strategies that may be influenced by individual institutional policies and procedures, local, state and federal regulations.
The ARC/STSA is providing the following guidance in order for programs to remain compliant with the surgical technology and surgical assisting core curricula and CAAHEP Standards during this challenging time. We recognize that this is a rapidly evolving situation, so additional guidance will be provided as it becomes necessary.
Didactic Coursework
As previously announced (March 12, 2020), institutions initiating alternative education delivery methods, such as asynchronous online learning or synchronous web conferencing, during this public health crisis may do so without completing the ARC/STSA Distance Education Application. Program directors are requested to send a notification of the change to info@arcstsa.net, and must include administration (dean and/or president) on the correspondence.
The notification should include the change that the institution has decided to make with the starting date and anticipated duration. Such decisions should take into account guidance from the school administration and institutional accreditors, and give due regard to student enrollment policies. ARC/STSA expects programs to comply with public health agencies’ directives and other local, state and federal requirements. [Resource: U.S. Department of Education’s Guidance for interruptions of study related to Coronavirus (COVID‐19)]
Please note that this is a temporary exemption; if a program wishes to continue distance education delivery after the COVID‐19 crisis, it will need to follow the ARC/STSA’s stated application procedures.
Laboratory Coursework
The critical role of surgical technologists and surgical assistants in the operating room is foundational to the CAAHEP Standards and the basis of laboratory requirements within the curricula. The skills-focused nature of laboratory requirements presents challenges to converting programs primarily to online learning. Please keep the following Standards in mind during this adjustment:
- Standard III.A. – If appropriate resources are available, the ARC/STSA supports students practicing their lab skills at home as preparation for clinical; however, final skill competencies are to be graded in the live lab setting with the instructor or program director in person. We understand that this may cause a delay in course completion until sufficient lab resources are available. [Resource: U.S. Department of Education’s Guidance for interruptions of study related to Coronavirus (COVID‐19)]
- Standard III.C. – There must also be subsequent evidence that lab curriculum meets or exceeds the content and competencies specified in the Core Curriculum.
- Standard IV.A.1. – Evaluation of the students must be conducted on a recurrent basis and with sufficient frequency to provide both the students and the program faculty with valid and timely indications of the students’ progress toward and achievement of the competencies and learning domains stated in the curriculum.
- Standard IV.A.2. – Records of student evaluations must be maintained in sufficient detail to document learning progress and achievements. Student files must include documentation of student status and assessment processes as the program employs alternative delivery methods.
- Standard V.A. – It is the sponsoring institution’s responsibility to the student to ensure the student receives the content and hours stated in the enrollment agreement.
Clinical Coursework/Cases
It is important to note that minimum requirements of 120 clinical cases as stated in the Surgical Technology Core Curriculum (6e) and 140 clinical cases as stated in the Surgical Assisting Core Curriculum (3e) will not be reduced and simulation cannot be substituted to meet the Standard requirements.
We understand the considerable pressure our programs are experiencing regarding releasing students from meeting these minimum standards of practice; however, these requirements are in place to ensure that students are well prepared to meet the critical role of the surgical technology and surgical assisting professions, the unique challenges of the operating room, and the best interests of the patient.
If you have students who meet the CCST or CCSA case requirements but have not met credit hour requirements for your individual program, please seek guidance from your school administration and institutional accreditors with regard to stated enrollment policies. The ARC/STSA does not have a stated credit hour requirement that must be met during the clinical component of the program; however, under Standard V.A, it is the sponsor’s responsibility to ensure that the student receives the content and hours stated in the enrollment agreement.
Interruption of Studies
If an institution temporarily suspends all classes, students are suspended from all clinical sites, and/or students have reached a point in their program that they cannot advance or graduate until on-ground experiences resume, please refer to the institution’s policies for extended terms, delayed graduations, leaves of absence, or incompletes. Such decisions should take into account guidance from the school administration and institutional accreditors, and give due regard to student enrollment policies. The ARC/STSA expects programs to comply with public health agencies’ directives, and other local, state and federal requirements. [Resource: Department of Education’s Guidance for interruptions of study related to Coronavirus (COVID‐19) and updated FAQ section]
Should such an interruption in learning take place, program directors should notify the ARC/STSA at info@arcstsa.net. The notification should include the change that the institution has decided to make with the anticipated starting date and duration. The administration (dean and/or president) must be included on the correspondence.
Regulatory Authorities
The ARC/STSA recognizes that programs may need to initiate different approaches and strategies to comply with their institutional policies; programmatic and institutional accreditation standards; and, local, state and federal regulations. As such, if there is a circumstance in which CAAHEP Standards are in direct conflict with governmental emergency directives, please notify ARC/STSA at info@arcstsa.net and we will work with the program on any specific challenges.
Conclusion
The COVID-19 crisis continues to evolve day by day; and, while the situation is unpredictable, our commitment is steadfast to do the right thing by our patients, program educators, students and volunteers.
As a world, as a nation, and as educators, we are stronger together. To that end, we pledge to continue to work with each of our programs to ensure that students receive an education that is consistent with the surgical technology and surgical assisting core curricula and CAAHEP Standards. We will also continue to monitor the situation around the nation and provide you with updates as they become available.
Thank you for your tireless work, late nights and problem solving throughout this pandemic. Even in the midst of an unprecedented public health crisis, our educators continue to impress and inspire us. Your dedication to your students and commitment to the surgical technology and surgical assisting professions, public health and patients are exemplary.
Stay well, be strong and Aeger Primo!
See the ARC/STSA COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Announcements page for suggested resources related to the COVID-19 crisis.
Given the current public health crisis, the ARC/STSA has made the decision to proactively cancel the Accreditation Fundamentals for Educators (AFE) workshop scheduled for May 27, 2020, in Atlanta, Georgia.
We understand that your focus as educators is fully on your students, families and communities, as it should be. This continues to be an unprecedented and unpredictable event – we do not know if it will be safe to travel in May and would like to give you as much notice as possible to make or change your plans.
Those who have already registered and paid will be contacted directly with the options of a full refund or rolling the payment forward to the next AFE. The ARC/STSA will continue to monitor the current crisis and notify our entire community when the next AFE is scheduled.
As we stated last week, the health and safety of our volunteers, educators and students is our most important concern as we make these decisions. We will miss our time together at the AFE, as we truly enjoy the day with our ARC/STSA family of educators, but believe it is the right thing to do given the current circumstances.
Thank you for your continued support of and dedication to the surgical technology and surgical assisting professions and your students.
Stay well!
In an effort to protect the health and well-being of our staff, the ARC/STSA administrative offices will operate on a remote basis beginning Tuesday, March 17. We will continue to serve our programs and be available during our normal business hours from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. MDT at info@arcstsa.net and 303-694-9262.
Given the unprecedented nature of the current public health crisis, we will monitor the information provided on COVID-19 (coronavirus) by health organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and federal, state and local public health agencies to determine the appropriate timeframe in which to operate virtually. Please see the ARC/STSA website (https://arcstsa.org/) for our previous statements regarding COVID-19 and for future updates.
In the meantime, our hearts go out to those affected by COVID-19; and, all administrators, educators and students whose schedules have been adjusted.
Stay well!
This notification serves to update the statement issued by the ARC/STSA on March 9, 2020, to support our programs as educators are challenged with instituting proactive measures to address the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus).
As institutions make decisions to alter the delivery of surgical technology and surgical assisting curriculum, whether this includes a temporary closure of an institution or a move to alternative delivery of didactic coursework, the ARC/STSA requests that a notification be sent to info@arcstsa.net. The notification should include the change that the institution has decided to make with the anticipated timetable (realizing that this situation is fluid), and should copy administration (dean and/or president) on the correspondence.
As noted in the March 9, 2020, statement, such decisions should be made with guidance from school administration and institutional accreditors, and with regard to student enrollment policies and local and state public health agencies’ directives.
We have put forth several suggested resources (below) to consult when making these decisions. Specifically, in regard to temporary closures or moving courses to a distance education delivery, the ARC/STSA has found the U.S. Department of Education’s Guidance for interruptions of study related to Coronavirus (COVID-19) to offer possible solutions. The ARC/STSA will follow the Department’s guidance and allow programs to offer didactic coursework via distance education modalities without completing an application during this unusual public health circumstance. Please note that if a program wishes to continue distance education delivery after the COVID-19 crisis, it will need to follow the ARC/STSA’s stated application procedures.
It is important to note that simulation cannot be substituted for scheduled hands-on laboratory or clinical hours/cases.
Placing the health and safety of our volunteers, educators and students as our top priority, the ARC/STSA has postponed on-site evaluations scheduled to occur between March 15 – April 15, 2020, and has suspended the coordination of future site visits until further notice. This was not an easy decision. The situation is unpredictable, but the constant is that we want to do the right thing by our volunteers, our programs and our students.
Among our concerns in postponing initial site visits was the impact that it could have on graduates’ testing eligibility. We have been actively communicating with our partner organizations, the AST and NBSTSA, as we all work to ensure that our programs are well supported. We have worked with the NBSTSA to request that if currently enrolled students (students enrolled at the time that the site visit was originally scheduled) graduate prior to the rescheduled site visit, that they will be permitted to sit for their certification examinations, upon the award of accreditation. The NBSTSA has approved this request as a temporary provision during the COVID public health crisis. Further, the NBSTSA will work with each individual sponsoring institution to facilitate the 60-day WBT testing window as needed.
We are all in this together and will work with each of our programs to ensure that students receive the required education per the surgical technology and surgical assisting core curricula and CAAHEP Standards.
Suggested resources for the latest information on coronavirus:
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- US Department of Education
- Federal Student Aid
- Local public health authority for your county and state
- Your local and state regulatory institutions
CAAHEP-accredited surgical technology and surgical assisting programs are in the process of planning and making decisions on how best to respond to the impact of COVID-19. Since the spread of COVID-19 is continuing, please know the ARC/STSA supports you as you work through this public health crisis. We will work with our programs to help them navigate issues that impact our students.
As academic institutions are in the process of planning and deciding how best to respond we encourage you to refer to these helpful resources for the latest information on coronavirus:
- WHO
- CDC
- US Department of Education
- Federal Student Aid
- Local public health authority for your county and state
- Your local and state regulatory institutions
For students in the clinical phase of their program, decisions made may impact the students’ graduation date. Factors to consider include but are not limited to:
- Meeting with the Program Advisory Committee and clinical stakeholders to discuss options for continued learning
- Utilizing other clinical affiliations that are accepting students
- Extending the students’ learning
- Following your local public health authority’s recommendations
- Following your program’s and institution’s protocols
- Implementing the academic continuity plan for your institution
- Meeting your institutional requirements for potentially extended graduation for all students, consulting policies for incompletes, leaves of absence, and student enrollment agreements
If suspended from clinical sites, and no other sites are available, then follow the program’s action plan for students who do not meet the program’s established minimums for clinical experience.
If graduation dates are delayed, be prepared to provide the ARC/STSA with evidence demonstrating which clinical sites and students were directly impacted and the length of the disruption.
We are continuing to monitor the available information on COVID-19, which now changes daily, and will stay in communication with you all as we have more information to share.