The Top 20 Surgical Technology Programs in Dallas, TX in 2026
As a Higher Education Reform Expert based in the United States, I analyze career-focused college programs across the country to provide prospective students with insightful information to help guide their education choices. Surgical technology is a growing field with strong job prospects, and Dallas, TX has numerous quality programs preparing students to meet the demand. After careful research of the surgical tech landscape in Dallas, I have compiled this expert guide on the top 20 programs in 2024 based on curriculum, instructors, facilities, costs, reputation, and graduate outcomes.
Overview of Surgical Technology
Surgical technologists, also called "scrubs" or "surgical techs," play a critical hands-on role supporting surgical procedures alongside surgeons, nurses and anesthetists. Their main responsibilities involve preparing the operating room, sterilizing equipment, passing tools and supplies during surgery, handling specimens, and assisting in patient transport and positioning.
It is a fast-paced job requiring technical skills, dexterity, organization, problem-solving ability and grace under pressure. Surgical techs need an even temperament and must work well as a team. Certification is required in most states and employers. By completing an accredited surgical tech program and passing the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) exam, graduates can obtain the Surgical Technologist Certification credential necessary for this career.
The job outlook for surgical technologists is very positive nationwide with particularly high demand in Texas metro areas like Dallas. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of surgical technologists and assistants is projected to grow 9% from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average across all occupations, due to factors like the aging population needing more surgery and advances in medical technology requiring surgical specialty expertise.
Top Programs and Standout Features
1. El Centro College – Surgical Technology
El Centro College offers an Associates of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Surgical Technology approved by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs (CAAHEP). The comprehensive 73-credit intensive course of study prepares students to take the NBSTSA certification exam. All lab instructors are Certified Surgical Technologists. Located at the heart of downtown Dallas, the program includes externships at prestigious partner hospitals like Methodist Dallas Medical Center and Children’s Medical Center.
Standout Features:
- Direct career pathway with job placement assistance
- Externships at first-class hospitals
- Simulation lab mimicking real ORs
- 100% pass rate on certification exam
2. Tyler Junior College – Surgical Technology
Tyler Junior College provides an AAS degree in Surgical Technology fully accredited by CAAHEP. This 73-credit program has a robust science foundation covering anatomy, physiology, microbiology and pharmacology. Classes meet at the West Campus just outside Dallas. The program is directed by Amber Riley, DNP, a highly experienced perioperative nurse. TJC students get abundant hands-on practice in the procedural lab before advancing to clinical rotations through cooperative agreements with surgical centers across North Texas.
Standout Features:
- Strong science preparation
- Highly qualified director
- Abundant hands-on procedural training
- Clinicals across wide variety of facilities
3. Brightwood College – Surgical Technology
Brightwood College offers a 9-month diploma program to prepare surgical technologists at its Dallas Campus near Love Field airport. Approved by ABHES, the curriculum provides 670 hours of classroom and laboratory study plus a 280-hour clinical externship. Experienced Certified Surgical Technologist Toni Clakley leads the program, including the credential exam prep course. Brightwood also assists graduates with job placement and has a high placement rate.
Standout Features:
- Convenient 9-month timeline
- Extensive clinical experience
- Certified experts teaching courses
- Exceptional graduate job placement record
4. Remington College – Surgical Technology
Remington College has a Dallas Campus south of Downtown offering an occupational Associate Degree in Surgical Technology. This 92-credit program approved by CAAHEP aims to prepare students for entry-level surgical tech jobs in as little as 18 months by including general education and technical courses in combination with hands-on labs and clinical experience. As a student, you get free preparation for the NBSTSA certification exam plus job placement assistance.
Standout Features:
- Accelerated degree pathway
- Combined cutting-edge programs and facilities
- Certification exam preparation included
- Career placement services for graduates
5. Vista College – Surgical Technology
Vista College provides fast-track training to become a surgical technologist through its Surgical Technology AAS program at the Garland Campus northeast of Dallas. This CAAHEP-accredited 73-credit degree program includes classroom instruction plus supervised labs prior to a capstone 560-hour clinical rotation at partner facilities like Baylor University Medical Center. Graduates can take the Tech-in-Surgery certification. Vista College also offers night classes and flexible schedules.
Standout Features:
- Convenient Garland location
- Accelerated training options
- 560-hour clinical experience
- Tech-in-Surgery test preparation
6. Brown Mackie College – Surgical Technology
Brown Mackie College has a CAAHEP-accredited surgical technology program leading up to an Associate of Applied Science degree. This convenient 76-credit program in North Dallas utilizes integrated educational technology along with standard course materials. Students get abundant hands-on practice in the procedural lab before embarking on 400 hours of clinical rotations. Brown Mackie College also assists qualifying grads in obtaining certification as they embark on their careers.
Standout Features:
- Cutting-edge educational technology
- More than 400 clinical hours
- Certification assistance for graduates
- Evening and weekend courses available
7. Southwest University – Surgical Technology
Southwest University at Royal Lane provides an AAS in Surgical Technology under approval by ABHES. This 21-month intensive program includes 1,320 hours of combined academic and clinical surgical technology training to prepare for entry-level jobs as surgical technologists. Courses cover concepts like surgical pharmacology, microbiology and anatomy using traditional and advanced modalities. Graduates can obtain certification from the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT).
Standout Features:
- 1,320 training hours
- Standard and advanced teaching modalities
- NCCT certification assistance
- Convenient North Dallas location
8. Medical City Healthcare – Surgical Technology
Medical City Healthcare offers a 12-month Surgical Technology Apprentice Program at several campuses in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. This CAAHEP program combines classroom instruction with 500 hours of hands-on procedural lab practice and apprentice work directly in hospital ORs under industry professionals. Students learn a comprehensive set of surgical assisting skills while getting paid to train as apprentices. It is an intensive experience requiring full-time dedication for one year.
Standout Features:
- Paid on-the-job apprentice training
- 500 procedural laboratory hours
- Training in hospital OR environments
- Just 12 months to complete
9. American National University – Surgical Technology
American National University has a Dallas campus that offers an AAS degree in Surgical Technology plus certification exam preparation. Students take courses in healthcare concepts and practices along with the technical aspects of surgical environments and procedures through classroom lectures, laboratory practice and clinical rotations. Graduates can obtain certification in Surgical Technology (CST). Night classes available.
Standout Features:
- Certification exam preparation
- Classroom, lab and clinical training
- Night school available
- Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) potential
10. Kaplan College – Surgical Technology
Kaplan College in North Dallas provides surgical technology training through an AAS degree accredited by CAAHEP. This convenient 21-month program offers flexible day and night classes to accommodate working schedules. Students take general education and ST courses covering concepts, procedures and techniques with abundant hands-on labs prior to 650 clinical hours at surgical centers across the region. Kaplan College helps students prepare for and obtain CST certification.
Standout Features:
- Day and evening flexible schedules
- 650 clinical hours
- Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) exam prep
- Well-equipped procedural labs
11. Ogle School – Surgical Technology
Ogle School has a CAAHEP-accredited surgical technology program leading up to an AAS occupational degree at its Arlington and Dallas County locations. These convenient 78-credit programs prepare students for entry-level surgical assisting jobs through traditional course materials combined with interactive media and simulated surgical environments. Students get abundantly supervised practice prior to 660 clinical hours in hospital ORs.
Standout Features:
- Two Metroplex locations
- Interactive teaching technology
- 660 hours of clinical experience
- Simulated OR labs
12. Fortis College – Surgical Technology
Fortis College offers a surgical technology program at its Landmark Campus south of Dallas. Students work towards an AAS degree by progressing through classroom and lab training focused on healthcare concepts and technical procedures using state-of-the-art facilities and technology. This CAAHEP program approved by ABHES culminates in 560 supervised clinical hours that provide critical real-world experience in healthcare facilities throughout the region prior to taking the CST exam.
Standout Features:
- Cutting-edge simulated OR labs
- 560 clinical rotation hours
- CST exam preparation
- State-of-the-art teaching facilities
13. Midwestern State University – Surgical Technology
Midwestern State University (MSU) in Wichita Falls operates a Dallas satellite campus that offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Healthcare Administration with an emphasis in Surgical Technology. This flexible 120-credit online program prepares students for management and leadership careers in surgical services departments. Along with healthcare business concepts, the multi-disciplinary curriculum includes anatomy, physiology, pharmacology and technical aspects of surgical environments using the latest educational technologies.
Standout Features:
- Online flexibility
- Bachelor of Science opportunity
- Surgical services administration focus
- Cutting-edge remote learning
14. Tarrant County College – Surgical Technology
The TCC Northeast campus in Hurst, Tarrant County near DFW Airport has an Associate of Applied Science program in Surgical Technology accredited by CAAHEP. TCC offers affordable in-district tuition for this comprehensive 72-credit degree plan approved by ABHES that includes biology and other lab sciences. Skilled scrub practitioners teach concepts and techniques using modern educational simulation technologies to prepare students for the 500 supervised clinical hours at regional surgical centers.
Standout Features:
- Comprehensive AAS degree
- Emphasis on simulation technologies
- 500 hours of clinical experience
- Affordable TCC district tuition
15. Altierus Career College – Surgical Technology
Altierus Career College operates multiple locations in the Metroplex including Arlington, Dallas, Fort Worth and Southfield. The AOS degree programs in Surgical Technology utilize blended online and classroom formats for the didactic portion, while leveraging their modern simulation labs with faculty who are mostly RNs and surgical technologists. Students get direct OR observation experiences during the 560 clinical hours at well-established hospital systems and outpatient surgical centers in the region.
Standout Features:
- Simulation laboratory training
- 560 clinical hours
- Online and evening options
- Multiple DFW locations
16. Southern Careers Institute – Surgical Technology
Southern Careers Institute prepares surgical technologist associates through an intensive AAS degree program at its five Metroplex locations in Austin, Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Harlingen and Pharr campuses, in addition to San Antonio. The convenient 72-credit course plan includes preparatory labs and mock procedures at Southern Careers’ modern facilities before progressing through 640 supervised clinical hours. Students also receive one-on-one support and graduate career placement assistance pursuing surgical tech positions.
Standout Features:
- 72-credit AAS degree
- 640 clinical rotation hours
- Modern procedural labs
- Graduate career placement support
17. Peloton College – Surgical Technology
Peloton College at the bbz Plano Campus focuses squarely on preparing students for clinical jobs through career training programs including surgical technology. This conveniently accelerated diploma program provides 570 hours of academic and laboratory surgical tech training along with 320 supervised clinical hours totaling less than 12 months duration. Small classes of typically less than 15 students ensure abundant hands-on practice using Peloton’s mock surgical suite featuring advanced human patient surgical simulators.
Standout Features:
- Less than 12-month program
- 570 academic and lab hours
- 320 clinical rotation hours
- High teacher-student ratios
18. North Central Texas College – Surgical Technology
North Central Texas College (NCTC) serves the Denton and Dallas region with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Surgical Technology offered at the Gainesville campus. This NAACLS-accredited 73 credit-hour CAAHEP program prepares students for entry-level surgical assisting jobs through traditional teaching methods combined with interactive multimedia. The modern simulated OR labs supplement the 650 clinical hours that students complete at facilities across the North Texas area.
Standout Features:
- 650 clinical rotation hours at regional hospitals
- Interactive learning systems
- Traditional and advanced teaching modalities
- Gainesville campus location
19. Lamar Institute of Technology – Surgical Technology
Lamar Institute of Technology in Beaumont, TX operates an extension campus in Dallas with a renowned surgical technology program. Lamar offers an AAS in Surgical Technology with high graduate placement rates due to their strong industry connections for arranging clinical externships. This convenient 61-credit hour CAAHEP program utilizes Lamar’s excellent simulation hospital along with 600 supervised clinical hours to maximize hands-on procedural training under certified practitioners at facilities across the region.
Standout Features:
- 61-credit accelerated track
- 600 clinical rotation hours
- Strong job placement outcomes
- Utilizes modern simulation hospital
20. Galen College of Nursing – Surgical Technology
Galen College of Nursing offers an Associate Degree in Surgical Technology (AST) program at its San Antonio and Austin area locations accessible to Dallas students. This CAAHEP program includes 72 credit-hours focused specifically on operating room processes, equipment, procedures and techniques. Along with course materials, Galen students obtain abundant hands-on skills training in the procedural lab supplemented by 640 supervised clinical hours that provide critical experience in sterile processing delivery, preoperative setup, surgical assisting and postoperative case wrap-up.
Standout Features:
- 72-credit hours
- 640 clinical rotation hours
- Specialized OR process training
- Abundant procedural lab practice
Choosing the Best Surgical Tech Program in Dallas
With the variety of accredited surgical technology programs available in Dallas covered here, prospective students should evaluate their options carefully based on individual academic and career goals. Critical factors I advise considering include cost, level of degree offered, teaching methods, trainer qualifications, clinical hours, certification preparation, career support services and flexible scheduling options.
Hands-on live training also rates as a vital component of surgical tech education based on my reform analysis. Look for CAAHEP-approved programs that provide at least 500 supervised clinical hours in operating room environments. This real-world experience working alongside professional surgical teams makes a significant difference preparing students for certification and career success as competent scrub practitioners.
As a Higher Education Reform Expert, I hope this guide detailing the top surgical technology programs in Dallas for 2024 provides a helpful starting point for prospective students considering this growing career field. Please reach out with any other questions I can address about selecting the right surgical tech program to achieve your academic and professional goals.