Admission into the Surgical First Assistant program at College of Western Idaho (CWI) is competitive and requires a supplemental application process as outlined below.
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1. Review Qualifications & Expectations
Applicants of the Surgical First Assistant program must:
- be a graduate of a CAAHEP or ABHES accredited Surgical Technology program
- hold and maintain the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) credential during enrollment
- have a minimum of two (2) years of experience as a CST within the last four (4) years
- and agree to a criminal background check at their own expense upon admission into the program.
Coursework
- A significant portion of the Surgical First Assistant program's classroom instruction will be delivered in a virtual, online format.
- As such, students are responsible for having adequate computer resources and access to the internet to participate in the program.
- Detailed technical specifications will be provided to program applicants during the mandatory program overview.
Clinical Skills Lab
- In addition to a clinical experience, students will participate in a mandatory, in-person clinical skills lab in Boise, Idaho, during the month of March. Travel expenses associated with this lab are the student's responsibility.
Clinical Experience
- Surgical First Assistant students are responsible for identifying and securing their own clinical experience location.
- Once a clinical experience location is identified, the program will assist with the affiliation agreement process.
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2. Apply to CWI
- Apply to CWI.
- Choose Surgical First Assistant as your major.
- Be admitted as a student, and complete next steps on the Student Checklist for Success.
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3. Verify Certifications
As part of your application, you will be asked to include a copy of each certification you hold listing the date issued and expiration. Expired or lapsed certifications will not be accepted.
Required Certifications
Applicants are required to have the following certifications:
- Current Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) credential by the National Board of Surgical Technology & Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA)
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
Additional CERTIFICATIONS
While not required to apply for admission, additional certifications can increase your ranking points on your application including:
- Certified Registered Central Service Technician
- Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
- Orthopedic Technologist Certified (OTC)
- Paramedic
- Registered Nurse (RN)
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4. Obtain Professional References
As part of your application, you will be asked to provide two (2) professional references.
- References must be from a surgeon whom you have worked with, ideally a general surgeon.
- Each of your chosen references will complete an Surgical First Assistant Professional Reference Form.
- Upon completion, the reference will seal the form in an envelope, sign their name across the seal for official recognition, and return the sealed envelope to you for submission with your application.
- Reference letters will also be accepted in addition to the form.
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5. Verify Employment
As part of your application, you will be asked to verify your employment as a Certified Surgical Technologist.
- A Surgical First Assistant Employment Verification Form should be completed for each of your positions within the past two (2) years.
- The form will be completed by your supervisor of each position.
- Upon completion, the supervisor will seal the form in an envelope, sign their name across the seal for official recognition, and return the sealed envelope to you for submission with your application.
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6. Provide Unofficial Transcripts
As part of your application, you will be asked to provide a copy of your unofficial transcripts.
- If you have attended or are currently attending CWI, access your unofficial transcript via your Self-Service Toolkit on myCWI.
- Unofficial transcripts from other colleges or universities may be obtained by contacting the institution directly.
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7. Apply to the Surgical First Assistant Program
Upon completion of Steps 1 – 6, you are now ready to officially apply to the Surgical First Assistant program.
Surgical First Assistant Program Application
- Your completed and signed application, along with any required materials, should be sealed in an envelope and submitted to One Stop Student Services in-person or by mail by the deadline.
- Please write your full name and Surgical First Assistant Program Application on the envelope.
- Do not staple any of the documents within your application.
- Only complete applications will be considered.
- Additional materials or additions to your application will not be accepted upon submission.
- Each summer, 15 students are admitted into the program.
- Applicants must reapply each semester.
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8. Be Selected to Interview
- Top-scoring applicants will be selected for an interview.
- Applicants who attend this interview will receive an additional 30 points on their application.
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9. Attend Mandatory Program Overview
All applicants to the Surgical First Assistant program are required to attend a mandatory program overview following submission of their application.
- The program overview will take place in November, via Zoom.
- Details of the session will be communicated via email to each applicant.
Questions?
- CCMA
- CST, CSFA, MET, FAST
- CST, M.S.Ed, FAST