The Surgical First Assistant Bridge Program prepares trainees to function as a surgical first assistant after completing approximately three months of classroom and lab education and six months of clinical time. Classroom time is spent learning surgical techniques, relative anatomy, and expectations of the surgical assistant role. Clinicals are conducted in the various surgical suites of Mayo Clinic Hospital — Rochester to obtain the necessary technical skills vital to this role.

Program highlights

• A program designed to be the bridge for CSTs to become certified surgical assistants.
• A curriculum that includes three months of classroom and lab education and six months of clinical experience, which allows you to start your career more quickly.
• Training experiences at one of the largest surgical suites with one of the most advanced medical centers in the nation.
• An opportunity to sit for two nationally recognized certification exams, the Certified Surgical Assistant (CSA) exam with the National Commission for the Certification of Surgical Assistants (NCCSA) and the Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA) exam with the National Board for Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA).

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates receive a certificate of completion from Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences. The program requires a grade of 70 percent or greater to pass a course. All courses and clinical work must be completed consecutively; deviation from scheduled coursework is not permitted.