Program description
The 12-month Surgical First Assistant Program at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, offers the best-accredited certificate training program in the Midwest. You will gain an advanced understanding of human anatomy while refining your surgical skills. This program prepares you with the knowledge and skills needed to become an effective member of a surgical team with extensive knowledge of surgical procedures, all while learning the appropriate professional standards of the role.
Surgical first assistants, or first assists, act as a second pair of hands for surgeons during surgery. They work in the operating room, assisting the surgeon with equipment, retracting incisions, stopping bleeding, closing the incision, among other hands-on tasks during surgery.
month program
of only 14 surgical first assistant programs in the nation
students each year
Program highlights
- A curriculum that includes five months of classroom and lab education and seven 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.
- A focus on hands-on and tactical training where you’ll work on hundreds of cases that far exceed the accreditation board’s minimum hours of clinical experience.
- 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). In 2023, the CSFA exam pass rate was 84%. Accreditation requires a minimum of 71%.
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.
Our goal is to prepare individuals to become competent members of the surgical team. We start in the classroom, focusing on various technical skills with extensive hands-on experiences in lab sessions. As the student transitions into the clinical setting, they are fully prepared to the apply the knowledge and skills gained in the lab to care for our patients with the support of our experienced preceptors.
Sarah Penkava, M.S.N., R.N.
Surgical First Assistant Program Director
Student stories
You will be exposed to some of the most brilliant medical minds and practitioners the world has to offer. Not only will you learn from them, you will have the opportunity to work alongside them. These experiences are invaluable as they pertain to becoming a well-rounded surgical assistant. Furthermore, being at Mayo allows you access to the most cutting-edge technology modern medicine has to offer. You will learn how to operate and manage these resources from experienced professionals.
Matthew Shedd, C.S.A.
2019 graduate who now works as a certified surgical assistant
Surgical first assistant salary range at Mayo Clinic in Rochester
$74,859-$112,195/year
($35.99-$53.94/hour)
source: 2024 Mayo Clinic Pay Structure, subject to change
job placement rate
Rochester, MN
Campus and communityBehind the scenes: Surgical first assistant
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Explore what a surgical first assistant does
Surgical first assistants work closely with surgeons in the operating room. They anticipate the needs of the surgical team and assist the surgeon by preparing equipment, retracting incisions, stopping bleeding, and closing incisions.
Accreditation information
The Surgical First Assistant Program is an accredited training program.
Accreditation
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
25400 US Highway 19 North
Suite 158
Clearwater, FL 33763
Phone: 727-210-2350
See accreditation information for Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science.