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 [...]
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 [...]
At the Fall 2020 meeting of the ARC/STSA Board of Directors, the following determinations were made regarding Initial and Random/Continuing Site Visits as related to the COVID-19 Pandemic. A Virtual Site Visit Policy for Initial Applicants has been approved for programs that qualify during the public health crisis. Click here to review the policy posted on the ARC/STSA website. All Random/Continuing Site Visits [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
At-a-glance list of ARC/STSA activities that have been postponed or submission deadlines that have been extended as of April 20, 2020.
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 [...]
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 [...]
