Learn New Skills Without Required Travel
Complete the didactic portion of the program online, then complete your supervised clinical internship at an approved affiliated clinical facility. Many students are able to train at the facility where they already work, allowing them to build their Surgical Assisting skills alongside surgeons and operating room teams they know.
Eligibility
We offer an interactive distance learning Surgical Assisting program for the allied health professionals who meet our entrance requirements.
Eligibility: Allied Health Professionals
| The Surgical Assistant Program is designed for allied health professionals with documented perioperative knowledge, clinical judgment, professional behaviors and experience in the surgical environment. General Admission RequirementsApplicants must be at least 18 years of age, possess a high school diploma or equivalent and submit two professional letters of recommendation using the RASA template. Letters must verify operating room fundamentals, professional behaviors, and scrubbing proficiency. Applicants may qualify through one of the following pathways:
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| *Pathway 3 applicants must complete RASA’s Equivalency Entrance Evaluation, entrance examination, and an interview with a RASA instructor or the Program Director. This process is used to verify foundational operating room knowledge, baseline surgical and scrubbing competencies, professional behaviors, and readiness for admission to the Surgical Assisting Program. A minimum of 120 verified surgical cases performed in the scrub role (Scrub/First Scrub) is required for enrollment through this pathway. A $100 non-refundable fee applies to Pathway 3. The RASA Program Director makes the final admission determination, and completion of the entrance evaluation process does not guarantee enrollment. Required basic science coursework includes medical terminology, microbiology, pharmacology and anatomy, physiology with pathophysiology. Additional Operating Room Fundamentals coursework and/or competency evaluations may be required based on the applicant’s demonstrated preparation. Applicants whose identified deficiencies cannot be adequately addressed and objectively verified through RASA’s existing curriculum and preclinical competency requirements will not be enrolled. Required basic science courses may be completed through RASA or accepted in accordance with RASA’s Transfer of Credit Policy. Additional Requirements · Background checks, drug and/or alcohol screening, exclusions checks, immunization requirements and additional clinical site requirements may be required by RASA and/or affiliated clinical facilities. · Students are responsible for securing an approved clinical facility willing to enter into an Affiliation Agreement with RASA. · Applicants and students are encouraged to verify any state-specific licensure, registration, certification or practice requirements. Surgical Technologist may find information at: https://www.ast.org/Public_Policy/Legislative_Overview/. RNs, LPNs and PAs should check their respective State Boards. |
Colorado students must provide proof of DORA registration, when required by law, before beginning the supervised clinical internship.
Didn’t Complete a Formal Surgical Technology, RN, or PA Program?
You may still qualify for admission through RASA’s Equivalent Experience and Competency Assessment (EECA) pathway. Applicants with documented proficiency in Operating Room Fundamentals and a minimum of 120 verified surgical cases performed in the scrub role may be eligible to apply, subject to completion of the additional Pathway 3 requirements listed above.
RASA also offers the four required Basic Science courses for applicants who need them. These courses may be completed as co-requisites with the Surgical Assisting Program, in accordance with RASA’s admission and transfer-credit requirements.
Medical Terminology
Microbiology
Pharmacology
Anatomy, Physiology and Pathophysiology
Learn by Doing
Many RASA students are able to complete their clinical internship at the facility where they are currently employed, provided the facility meets RASA’s clinical requirements and signs an Affiliation Agreement. Students are responsible for securing an approved clinical site for their internship.
The program offers flexibility within established module deadlines, allowing students to progress at a pace that works with their professional and personal schedules.
Achieve your goals – Get Nationally Certified
Upon successful completion of all program requirements, students are awarded a Certificate of Completion. Graduates who wish to pursue national certification are eligible to apply for the Surgical Assistant–Certified (SA-C) examination through the American Board of Surgical Assistants (ABSA) after meeting ABSA’s current application and eligibility requirements. Certification information is available at www.ABSA.net.
Contact Form and Information Request:
If you would like to receive a Surgical Assisting application, program catalog or have a question, please complete the following form.
A program advisor will personally email you information regarding our Surgical Assisting program.
