Have you been searching for a flexible
Surgical Assistant program?
The Royal Academy of Surgical Assisting has you covered.
Call The Office
(888) 958-0149
Office Location
6105 S Main Street, Suite 200,
Aurora, CO 80016
Email Us
We are accredited by ACCET, the Accrediting Commission of Continuing Education and Training, as a national school, recognized by the US Department of Education.
We are approved and regulated by the Colorado Department of Higher Education, Division of Private and Occupational Schools.
Think back…
Think back to your first year in the operating room. You were probably excited to get your start in the healthcare industry and work alongside experienced medical professionals. Recently, though, perhaps you’ve felt stuck in your position.
Think ahead…
Now you have an opportunity to advance your career and step across the table to assist the surgeon.
RASA represents a convenient, affordable way for operating room professionals to become Surgical Assistants. So what exactly sets RASA’s program apart from others in the industry?
Here are six reasons why more students are choosing RASA:
Flexibility
With RASA, you benefit from an interactive distance learning program. There is no required travel and, unlike other programs, we do not charge additional fees for moving at a quicker pace.
Extensive learning
Once students have successfully completed the required interactive distance-learning coursework, preclinical skills evaluations, and all clinical-clearance requirements, they are approved to begin the supervised clinical internship. Students must complete 140 supervised first-assisting cases at an approved affiliated clinical facility under the direct supervision of approved surgeon clinical preceptors with current surgical privileges, in accordance with facility policy and applicable law.
Few prerequisites
Our Surgical Assisting Program is open to qualified allied healthcare professionals who meet RASA’s published admission requirements. Many of our students are graduates of a Surgical Technology program or Associate’s Degree RNs. All applicants must provide two professional letters of recommendation verifying operating room fundamentals, professional behaviors, and scrubbing proficiency. See our eligibility pathways for more details.
Affordable tuition costs
RASA is committed to making Surgical Assisting education accessible and affordable. We offer competitive tuition and flexible payment options designed to help students advance their careers without taking on unnecessary educational debt.
Wound Closure and Laparoscopic Training
One of the most engaging parts of the RASA program is the opportunity to build hands-on skills before entering the clinical internship. After enrollment, students receive a our unique Wound Closure Kit that combines online video instruction with a portable skills kit for step-by-step practice in basic through advanced suturing, knot tying, instrument handling, and wound-closure techniques.
Our Laparoscopic Trainer adds another level of hands-on preparation. Students receive the equipment needed to practice foundational laparoscopic skills, including trocar placement and laparoscopic instrument manipulation, with remote instruction, feedback, and guidance from RASA instructors.
National Certification
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are eligible to apply for the Surgical Assistant–Certified (SA-C) national certification examination through the American Board of Surgical Assistants (ABSA), after meeting ABSA’s current application and eligibility requirements.
Our Program
Distance Learning
No Travel
State of the Art Program
Advice When You Need it
Invest in Our Surgical Assistant Program… Invest in Yourself.
The Value of Advancing Your Surgical Assisting Skills
Completing a Surgical Assisting program may provide opportunities for increased responsibility and earning potential, depending on your role, employer, geographic location, credentials, and applicable state and facility requirements. Because compensation varies widely, prospective students should evaluate their own employment circumstances when considering the potential financial return on their education.
Additional Career Benefits
Cross-training into the Surgical First Assistant role may expand your professional opportunities and, in some settings, may lead to increased compensation or greater scheduling flexibility. Some Surgical Assistants may also work with private surgeons or in independent practice arrangements where permitted by applicable law and facility policy. Students and graduates are responsible for verifying state, employer, credentialing, billing, and scope-of-practice requirements before pursuing these opportunities.
Are you ready to go from passing instruments to using them?
Surgical Technologist/Perioperative RN/Scrub vs. Surgical Assistant
Surgical Technologist / Perioperative RN
Many Surgical Assistants begin their careers as Surgical Technologists, perioperative nurses, or other experienced members of the operating room team. In these roles, they help support the safe and efficient progression of surgery.
A Surgical Technologist is responsible for preparing the sterile field, organizing instruments and supplies, anticipating the needs of the surgical team, and passing instruments and supplies to the surgeon and first assistant while maintaining sterile technique. Depending on the facility and role, Surgical Technologists may also assist with room preparation, equipment, specimen handling, instrument processing, and other perioperative responsibilities.
Perioperative RNs perform a broader nursing role that may include patient assessment, care coordination, medication administration, documentation, safety monitoring, circulating duties, and, when appropriately trained and assigned, scrub responsibilities.
Surgical Assistant
With advanced education and clinical training, qualified healthcare professionals may progress into the Surgical Assistant or Surgical First Assistant role.
The American College of Surgeons (ACS) describes the first assistant as a trained individual who actively assists the surgeon in completing the operation safely and efficiently. The Surgical Assistant works under the direction and supervision of the surgeon and may perform functions such as:
- Providing and maintaining surgical exposure
- Retracting and manipulating tissue
- Assisting with hemostasis
- Handling and using surgical instruments and equipment
- Assisting with tissue dissection and other technical functions as directed
- Performing wound closure when permitted by facility policy, surgeon delegation, and applicable law
- Anticipating the surgeon’s needs throughout the procedure
The role requires more than technical skill. Surgical Assistants must develop a strong understanding of advanced surgical anatomy, pathophysiology, surgical procedures, instrumentation, equipment, potential complications, and intraoperative decision-making so they can anticipate the next step and respond appropriately throughout the operation.
By Any Other Name…
The role may be referred to by several titles, including Surgical Assistant, Surgical First Assistant, First Assistant, or Surgeon Assistant. Regardless of the title used, the primary function is to assist the surgeon during the operative procedure and serve as an additional skilled pair of hands.
Surgical Assistants perform their duties under the direction and supervision of the surgeon and within applicable state law, facility policy, credentialing requirements, and scope of practice.
