ARC/STSA / AST / NBSTSA Joint Statement for Surgical Technology Program Directors

Dear Program Director,

The Association of Surgical Technologists (AST), Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA), and National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) have recently been contacted by a number of surgical technology program directors regarding information sent by an alternative certifying body about the associate degree in surgical technology. All surgical technology programs are crucially important to the profession, and maintaining unity among the 432 programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), whether certificate, diploma or associate degree, is foremost in the minds of the leadership.

Trends in Surgical Technology Education

CAAHEP, ARC/STSA, AST and the American College of Surgeons (ACS) cooperate to establish, maintain and promote the Stan