Associate of Occupational Science in Surgical Technology is an Associate Degree program (Hybrid) offered by Premiere Career College in Irwindale, CA. The program takes 61 weeks to complete, with a total tuition of $32,725.
Program Overview
The goal of the Associate of Occupational Science in Surgical Technology program is to prepare entry-level Surgical Technologists who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills) and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession. It is a 1,535 clock hour, 65 semester credit associate degree over 61 academic weeks.
Classroom education, laboratory skill training and supervised clinical experience are all included. Instruction begins with study skills and strategies for college success, and the curriculum moves through general education, science, core concepts, basic surgical procedures and clinical practice.
Students learn to combine knowledge of human anatomy, surgical procedures and technologies to become members of a surgical team that supports invasive, therapeutic and diagnostic procedures. The Surgical Technologist works with nurses, anesthesiologists and surgeons to create and maintain a safe operating room through aseptic technique, knows the routine steps needed to assist the surgeon with instrumentation, and maintains the equipment and sterile supplies each operation needs.
What sets this Program apart
- CAAHEP-accredited. The college’s catalog states the program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, and it is also programmatically recognized by ABHES.
- Real surgical cases. Graduation requires participation in a minimum of 120 cases, per the Core Curriculum for Surgical Technology, 7th Edition.
- Certification built in. Students take part in a mandatory college-sponsored review and sit the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) examination of the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting.
- A simulated operating suite and a clinical simulation lab with medium to high-fidelity mannequins.
Admission Requirements and Process
The first thing to remember about the admissions process is that there are many people at Premiere Career College qualified and willing to help you. Requirements for admission to Premiere Career College are based upon the applicant’s career goals, their motivation to succeed, and their ability to benefit from the program. Your Admissions Advisor will have all the details about each program.
General Requirements
- Minimum Age 18Be 18 years of age or not subject to compulsory school attendance in California.
- California ResidencyBe a California resident. Applicants must provide a state-issued ID to evidence California residency.
- High School Diploma or GEDHave a high school diploma (this can be from a foreign school if it is equivalent to a U.S. high school diploma) or have the recognized equivalent of a high school diploma, such…
- Wonderlic Entrance ExamPass the College’s Entrance Examination (Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam, Form IV or V) with a minimum passing score of 16. Applicants who do not pass on the first try may retake…
- Career Planning InterviewParticipate in a career planning interview with an admissions advisor.
- Required OrientationAttend the required orientation.
- Background Check & Drug ScreenHospitals may require students to undergo criminal background checks to be allowed to do their clinical rotation, and some hospitals require a 10-panel drug screening for…
- Program VaccinationsThe College has no general vaccination requirement for students entering the College. However, a specific program may have vaccination requirements for the externship and clinical…
- Physical RequirementsAn allied health professional must be in good physical health since they will be working in direct contact with customers or patients. The related fields of study require a great…
- English ProficiencyAll classes are conducted in English. Students must have the ability to read and write English at the level of an American high school graduate, as demonstrated by a high school…
Application Process
- 1Visit the Campus and Meet an Admissions AdvisorVisit the campus and meet with an Admissions Advisor. This is an important first step, and all inquiring applicants are scheduled for a tour of the College. We encourage you to bring your family and involve them in the process.
- 2Complete the Application FormThe enrollment procedure begins with filling out an application form designed to ascertain your educational, occupational, and financial background. Contact the Admissions Office to get started.
- 3Interview and Program PresentationAll applicants are interviewed, given a tour of the facility and a thorough presentation of the training program they are interested in, and receive information on tuition and fees, a copy of the catalog, and a copy of the School Performance Fact Sheet.
- 4Take the Wonderlic Entrance ExamQualified applicants are given the timed admission test (Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam). The required scores vary by program.
- 5Apply for Financial Aid (FAFSA)Upon making a formal application to the College, you may meet with a Financial Aid officer who will help determine your eligibility for participation in the Federal Student Aid program. Entrance Counseling with the financial aid officer is required.FAFSA Code for Irwindale: 031258Fill Out the FAFSA
- 6Admissions ReviewThe Director of Admissions, with the guidance of the respective Program Director, reviews and approves all applications for admission. Applicants who do not qualify are notified promptly via telephone, text messaging, e-mail, or in person.
- 7Attend OrientationAttend the required orientation before your program starts. Classes start every week, so chances are good that there’s a new class starting soon.
Program Schedule
1,535 clock hours over 61 academic weeks, delivered residentially or blended. The catalog lists the program schedule as 4 hours a day, 5 days a week, 20 hours a week. The maximum time allowed to complete is 150% of the program length: 91.5 weeks.
The program ends with 120 hours of central supply and instrument processing and a 520-hour operating room rotation at affiliated clinical facilities.
Campus Location
Why Accreditation Is Important
When you attend an accredited institution, you attend a school that has been independently evaluated for educational quality.
This program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and recognized by ABHES, which accredits the college through February 28, 2031. In August 2026 ABHES issued the college a Continued Show-Cause Action and directed it to submit a teach-out plan. It is approved to operate by the California BPPE.
- A reliable indicator of quality
- Approved program of study
- Qualified instructors
- Recognition by employers nationwide
Accreditations
Student Demographics
These are demographics for all students at the Irwindale Campus (IPEDS, 2024).
Percentages are of total fall enrollment. 6 students whose race or ethnicity was not reported are included in that total but shown as no category, so the figures above come to 94.3% rather than 100%.
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
| Charge | Academic year 1 | Academic year 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $16,427.50 | $16,297.50 |
| Registration Fee (non-refundable) | $150.00 | |
| Books | $1,380.00 | |
| Uniforms | $80.00 | |
| Supplies | $300.00 | $300.00 |
| Kit Fees | $90.00 | |
| Medical Fees | $600.00 | |
| Background Check Fee | $100.00 | |
| Test/Certification/Membership Fee | $275.00 | |
| Academic year total | $18,427.50 | $17,572.50 |
Program total: $36,000.00.
Federal student aid. Premiere Career College participates in the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, Federal Direct PLUS Loans and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant. A Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid.
Veterans. The college is approved to train veterans and eligible persons by the California State Approving Agency for Veterans Education.
Paying tuition. All tuition and fees are due on or before the first day of attendance unless other payment arrangements are made. Books and supplies are provided by the college at the stated charges, which are estimates based on current prices and may change. The STRF assessment is $0.00, effective April 1, 2024. These rates took effect May 1, 2026.
Curriculum
Fifteen courses: 703 theory, 192 lab and 640 externship hours, 1,535 clock hours and 65 semester credits in all.
The required courses below are from Premiere Career College's published catalog.
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name | Lecture | Lab | External | Total | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST101 | English Composition | 45 | 45 | 3 | ||
| ST102 | Business Math | 45 | 45 | 3 | ||
| ST103 | General Psychology | 45 | 45 | 3 | ||
| ST201 | Introduction to Surgical Technology | 20 | 20 | 1 | ||
| ST202 | Human Biology Part 1 | 40 | 40 | 2.5 | ||
| ST203 | Human Biology Part 2 | 100 | 100 | 6.5 | ||
| ST204 | Pathology Fundamentals | 40 | 40 | 2.5 | ||
| ST205 | Pharmacology & Anesthesia Concepts | 40 | 40 | 2.5 | ||
| ST206 | Biomedical Sciences | 40 | 40 | 2.5 | ||
| ST301 | Patient Care & Principles of Surgery | 12 | 8 | 20 | 1 | |
| ST302 | Asepsis | 24 | 16 | 40 | 2 | |
| ST303 | Fundamentals of O.R. Techniques | 84 | 56 | 140 | 7 | |
| ST304 | Basic Surgical Procedures | 168 | 112 | 280 | 14.5 | |
| ST401 | Central Supply / Instrument Processing | 120 | 120 | 2.5 | ||
| ST402 | Operating Room Rotation | 520 | 520 | 11.5 | ||
| Totals | 703 | 192 | 640 | 1,535 | 65 |
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ST101 | English Composition | 3 |
| ST102 | Business Math | 3 |
| ST103 | General Psychology | 3 |
| ST201 | Introduction to Surgical Technology | 1 |
| ST202 | Human Biology Part 1 | 2.5 |
| ST203 | Human Biology Part 2 | 6.5 |
| ST204 | Pathology Fundamentals | 2.5 |
| ST205 | Pharmacology & Anesthesia Concepts | 2.5 |
| ST206 | Biomedical Sciences | 2.5 |
| ST301 | Patient Care & Principles of Surgery | 1 |
| ST302 | Asepsis | 2 |
| ST303 | Fundamentals of O.R. Techniques | 7 |
| ST304 | Basic Surgical Procedures | 14.5 |
| ST401 | Central Supply / Instrument Processing | 2.5 |
| ST402 | Operating Room Rotation | 11.5 |
| Totals | 65 |
Career Outcomes
Graduates qualify for employment as entry-level Surgical Technologists (SOC 29-2055, 31-9093) in hospitals, surgical centers and outpatient facilities — a critical part of any operating room team.
To complete the program students must sit the Certified Surgical Technologist examination administered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting. The college’s curriculum incorporates the CST examination topics and is designed to prepare students to pass it.
Career services. Students and graduates use the college’s Career Development and Placement Assistance Services. Career Development staff act as a liaison with employers and provide job search information and techniques based on current market needs, with instruction on résumé preparation, market research and interviewing, and they remain available to alumni who later consider a change of position.
What to expect as a Premiere Career College student
Important notice from the college. On August 14, 2026, Premiere Career College published a student disclosure notice: on August 12, 2026 the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) directed the college to submit an updated teach-out plan or agreement, because the institution received a Continued Show-Cause Action due to prolonged heightened cash monitoring (payment method HCM2), and required additional information showing it has the financial resources to continue operating and meet its obligations to students and employees. The college will provide a proposed teach-out plan for all five of its programs. It states that its current ABHES grant of accreditation continues through February 28, 2031.
Premiere Career College has trained students for careers in the business and medical fields since it was established in November 1991. It is located in the business center of Irwindale, in the East San Gabriel Valley, reached from the San Gabriel (605), San Bernardino (10) and Foothill (210) freeways, with parking at the front, sides and rear of the building.
The college occupies a 13,122 square foot building of connected suites: seven lecture rooms, a computer laboratory, an operating suite, a simulated doctor’s office and examination room, a nursing skills laboratory with mannequins, a clinical simulation lab that simulates a hospital suite, a simulated EKG room, an instrument processing lab, a career development and student center, and a learning resource center. Every lecture room has a motorized screen, an LCD projector and wireless desktop computers.
The college is open Monday through Friday; most classes are in session from 8:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M., and externship and clinical rotations may be held on nights and weekends. All instruction is in English. The college provides no housing.
The surgical technology facility has a simulated operating and instrument room with operating tables, a Mayo stand and back table, an electro-surgical unit, a suction machine, a scrub sink with foot pedals and intravenous fluid poles.