Surgical First Assist Program Directory

View our Surgical First Assist Program Directory, find the top school in your area and start your journey of saving lives and making a difference.

SpecialtyCare CARES

Surgical First Assist Program Directory

Surgical First Assist Program Directory

Florida

Gulf Coast State College

Location: Panama City, FL
Program Length: 2 years
Program Director: Brittany Page, BAS, CSFA, CST
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 850-769-1551

Address:
5230 West Hwy 98
Panama City, FL 32401


This program will prepare you for the roles of Surgical Technologist (who prepares, opens and establishes the sterile field passing instruments and anticipating the surgeon’s needs) and Surgical First Assistant (who assists the surgeon with performing the surgical procedure and independently closes wounds).

More info: http://www.gulfcoast.edu/academics/programs/surgical-first-assistant-as/index.html

Idaho

College of Western Idaho

Location: Boise, ID (Nampa campus)
Program Length: 1–2 years
Program Director: Rob Blackston, MET, CSFA, CST
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 208-562-2769

Address:
1450 South Eagle Flight Way
Boise, ID 83709


This program offers an opportunity to enhance your existing skills and learn new ones necessary to assist surgeons more effectively during operations. Focusing on patient safety and surgical efficiency, you will deepen your understanding of surgical procedures, instrumentation, and patient care, becoming an indispensable part of the surgical team.

This program blends comprehensive theoretical instruction with hands-on clinical experiences. You will be mentored by seasoned healthcare professionals and engage in real-world surgical settings, preparing you to confidently support surgeons and healthcare staff and contribute to successful patient outcomes.

More info: https://cwi.edu/program/surgical-first-assistant

Illinois

College of DuPage

Location: Glen Ellyn, IL
Program Length: 25 credit hours (online) + 140 clinical cases
Certification Preparation: Surgical First Assistant
Program Director: Esperanza Wilson, MS, CSFA, CST
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 630-942-3823

Address:
425 Fawell Blvd
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137


The Surgical First Assistant program educates and trains students to safely and expeditiously assist in surgical operations. Students will gain experience with surgical procedure exposure, hemostasis, closure and other intraoperative surgical functions that help a surgeon carry out a safe surgical procedure.

In addition to intraoperative duties, the program provides students with knowledge and skills to perform preoperative and postoperative functions to better facilitate proper patient care under the direction and supervision of a surgeon in accordance with hospital policies, laws and regulations.

More info: https://www.cod.edu/academics/programs/surgical-assistant/index.html

Kentucky

Madisonville Community College

Location: Madisonville, KY
Program Length: 64 credit hours (online)
Certification Preparation:
Program Director: Jeff Bidwell, CST, CSFA, CSA, MA, KCSA, FAST
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 270-824-1740

Address:
750 North Laffoon St
Madisonville, KY 42431

Requirements:
Must be a Certified Surgical Technologist (CST), Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA), Certified Surgical Assistant (CSA), or must be able to demonstrate the entry-level skills possessed by someone who has completed an entry-level surgical technology program. These basic skills are listed in the Association of Surgical Technologists Surgical Technology Core Curriculum.
Must have a minimum of one-year operating room experience.


The Madisonville Community College Surgical First Assistant Program: As defined by the American College of Surgeons, the Surgical First Assistant provides aid in exposure, hemostasis, and other technical functions that will help the surgeon carry out a safe operation with optimal results for the patient. This role will vary considerably with the surgical operation, specialty area, and type of facility.

More info: https://madisonville.kctcs.edu/education-training/program-finder/surgical-first-assistant-program.aspx

Michigan

Delta College

Location: University Center, MI
Program Length: 4 semesters | 24 credit hours
Program Director: Ryan Teeple, AAS, CSFA, CST
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 989-686-9055

Address:
1961 Delta Road
University Center, MI 48710


The non-physician surgical first assistant provides aid in exposure, hemostasis and other functions that will help the surgeon carry out a safe operation with optimal results for the patients.

More info: https://www.delta.edu/programs/surgical-first-assistant/index.html

Wayne County Community College District – Northwest Campus

Location: Detroit, MI
Program Length: 36 credit hours
Program Director: William Miller, AAS, CSA, CSFA
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 734-548-2021

Address:
8200 West Outer Drive
Detroit, MI 48219


The Surgical First Assistant (SFA) College Certificate program is offered as one of three career options for students admitted into the Surgical Technology program.

More info: https://www.wcccd.edu/academic-and-career-programs/health-sciences/surgical-technology-first-assistant

Minnesota

Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Location: Rochester, MN
Program Length: 12 months
Program Director: Sarah Penkava, MSN, RN
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 507-538-1346

Address:
200 First Street SW
Mayo Clinical School of Health Sciences
Rochester, MN 55905


The 12-month Surgical First Assistant Program at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, offers the best-accredited certificate training program in the Midwest.

More info: https://college.mayo.edu/academics/health-sciences-education/surgical-first-assistant-program-minnesota/

North Carolina

Fayetteville Technical Community College

Location: Fayetteville, NC
Program Length: 3 semesters
Program Director: Terry Herring, EdS, CSFA, CST, CSPDT, CSS, COA
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 910-678-8338

Address:
2201 Hull Road
HTC – Office 134
Fayetteville, NC 28303


The Surgical First Assistant curriculum is designed to prepare qualified Surgical Technologists and other surgical professionals.

More info: https://www.faytechcc.edu/academics/healthcare-programs/surgical-first-assistant/

Nebraska

Southeast Community College Area

Location: Lincoln, NE
Program Length: 2–3 terms | 17 credit hours
Program Director: Amy Goracke, CSFA, CST
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 402-437-2285

Address:
8800 O Street
Lincoln, NE 68520


Our Surgical First Assist program is designed for Certified Surgical Technologists ready to take the next step in their career.

More info: https://www.southeast.edu/academics/healthcare/surgical-first-assist/index.php

New Mexico

San Juan College

Location: Farmington, NM
Program Length: 1 year (online)
Program Director: Lydell Powell, AAS, CSFA, CST
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 505-566-3856

Address:
4601 College Boulevard
Farmington, NM 87402


Surgical first assistants are essential teammates in an operating room.

More info: https://www.sanjuancollege.edu/education-training/programs/surgical-first-assistant-certificate/

Tennessee

Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting

Location: Nashville, TN
Program Length: 1–2 years
Program Director: Dennis Stover, CSFA, CST
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 615-678-8166

Address:
1507 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218


Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting offers two programs: SFA Online Certificate Program and Associates of Applied Science in Surgical Assisting.

More info: https://www.meridian-institute.edu/program-information/

Texas

Collin County Community College District – McKinney Campus

Location: McKinney, TX
Program Length: 1 year
Program Director: Donna Smith, CSFA, CST, BAAS, AAS
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 972-548-6841

Address:
2200 West University Drive
H222A
McKinney, TX 75071


Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, the Collin College Surgical Assisting Program is the only program in Texas.

More info: https://www.collin.edu/department/surgicalprofessions/surgicalassisting

Virginia

EVMS at Old Dominion University – Surgical Assisting

Location: Norfolk, VA
Program Length: 71 credit hours
Program Director: H. Clinton Crews, MPH
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 757-446-6155

Address:
PO Box 1980
Norfolk, VA 23510


Old Dominion University offers a Master of Surgical Assisting with a 10-month didactic phase and second-year clinical practice.

More info: https://www.odu.edu/academics/programs/surgical-assisting

Wisconsin

Bellin College

Location: Green Bay, WI
Program Length: 3 years
Program Director: Diana Amundson, MBA, CSFA, CST
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 920-712-6507

Address:
3201 Eaton Road
Green Bay, WI 54311

More info: https://www.bellincollege.edu/academics/surgical-assisting/