Tech in Surgery (Surgical Technologist)

Minimum requirements to enroll:

• Be at least 18 years or older at the time of enrollment
• Have a valid government-issued photo ID
• Have at least a high-school diploma or GED
• Complete an admissions interview and pass a Wonderlic basic-skills test

Although not required, education or experience in Anatomy & Physiology, Medical Terminology, and Microbiology is considered during admission, as this program is fast and rigorous. The Wonderlic test evaluates basic math, logic, and English skills and does not require studying.

The program runs 500 classroom/lab hours over 8–9 months, followed by a clinical externship of roughly 300 hours (155 procedures). It is delivered as 400 hours of live online classes and 100 hours of in-person labs, with labs conducted once per week. Day, night, and weekend cohorts are available:

• Day class: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
• Night class: Monday–Thursday, 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM
• Weekend class: Friday and Saturday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Our start dates are as follows:

• July 20, 2026 (day and night)
• October 16, 2026 (weekend)

Students demonstrate knowledge and skills in:

• Anatomy & Physiology
• Pharmacology & Medical Terminology
• Sterile-field maintenance
• Aseptic surgical technique
• Setting up surgical instruments and drapes
• Passing surgical instruments and other sterile supplies
• Energy sources in the perioperative area

The program concludes with a clinical externship of 155 procedures (approximately 300 hours) at a partner hospital.

Tuition for the Tech in Surgery program is $21,850. The total program cost, including required fees and materials, is $23,850, with $2,000 due upon enrollment:

• Registration Fee (non-refundable): $250.00
• Books: $750.00
• Lab & Materials: $850.00
• Uniform & PPE: $150.00
• Tuition: $21,850.00
• Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF): $0.00
• Total: $23,850.00

Payment plans (tuition):

• Pay in full and receive a 15% discount ($18,572.50)
• Four installments with a 10% discount ($4,916.25 each)
• Eight installments with a 5% discount ($2,594.69 each)

Financing and third-party funding: Altamont Healthcare partners with Climb Credit for student loans (up to 84-month terms for Tech in Surgery; interest rates range from 7.99%–20.45%). The school also accepts funding from the California Department of Rehabilitation, the California Employment Development Department, the U.S. Department of Labor (WIOA), and the Workers' Compensation Supplemental Job Displacement Voucher Program. It does not accept FAFSA or GI Bill benefits and does not participate in federal Title IV aid. A $20 late fee applies to payments more than seven days past due.

Graduates work as surgical technologists with TS-C certification, assisting surgeons, registered nurses, and anesthesiologists in the operating room — a role that requires no college degree. The program prepares you to pass the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) Tech in Surgery (TS-C) exam, which is accepted in the United States and valid for five years.

Altamont Healthcare is not required to assist with job placement, but its Externship Team researches opportunities weekly to help connect graduates with employers.

Altamont Healthcare uses a blended-learning approach; for Tech in Surgery, online lectures are paired with in-person labs conducted once per week, followed by a hands-on clinical externship. Programs are built on four values: comprehensiveness, growth, community, and accessibility.

Completing the program prepares you for the certification exam; certification is awarded upon passing the exam, not upon course completion. If you do not pass, you may retake the course at no additional cost. Under FERPA, Altamont Healthcare cannot share your progress with family members or funders without your explicit consent.

Graduates are prepared to sit for the NCCT Tech in Surgery (TS-C) certification exam (valid 5 years, nationwide) and work as surgical technologists assisting surgeons and anesthesiologists in the operating room. No college degree required.