Surgical technology training ยท Virginia Beach, VA
Surgical tech programs in Virginia Beach and nearby Hampton Roads include associate degrees at TCC, Sentara College and Riverside. You can compare campus locations, clinical training and published tuition while checking how each surgical technology program prepares you for certification.
These surgical technology degrees have local campuses in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake and Newport News. Compare the published figures, and request a separate quote for prerequisites, books and travel to clinical sites.
3 local programs listed
| School | Program | Credential | Length | Schedule | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tidewater Community CollegeVirginia Beach, VA At the Regional Health Professions Center. TCC states NBSTSA exam eligibility; ask for documentation of current CAAHEP or ABHES program status before applying. School page | Surgical Technology | AAS | 4 semesters; 63 credits | Ask school | Ask school |
| Sentara College of Health Sciences at Batten UniversityChesapeake, VA Chesapeake campus at 1441 Crossways Boulevard. School lists program accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Length, hybrid delivery and charges appear in the 2026-2027 catalog. Books and uniforms cost extra. School page | Associate of Applied Science in Surgical Technology | AAS | 58 weeks over 4 semesters, plus prerequisite courses | Full-time daytime; hybrid (catalog calls delivery blended) | $22,260 tuition; $26,039 tuition and listed fees, effective August 2026; prerequisites extra |
| Riverside College of Health SciencesNewport News, VA Program accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). School lists August 23, 2027 as the next start. Its 2026-2027 catalog gives $30,400 tuition for the full traditional track, plus fees. School page | Surgical Technology | AAS | 72 weeks, two academic years, plus specified prerequisite courses | Full-time day; some hybrid and distance courses in the catalog | Accelerated transfer track: $25,600 core tuition plus $1,000 post-enrollment fees; full traditional track: $30,400 tuition plus $1,000 fees (2026-2027 catalog) |
Virginia Beach campuses first, then nearby cities. Details come from each school's website; costs and start dates change, so confirm with the school.
TCC combines classroom instruction, laboratory training and clinical experience in hospitals and surgical centers in its surgical technology degree.
The Chesapeake surgical technology program teaches sterile technique, instrument preparation and surgical procedures through daytime classes and clinical rotations.
Riverside's surgical technology degree integrates laboratory simulations with clinical experience at its medical center and affiliated clinical sites.
For the CST exam, NBSTSA says graduates must come from a surgical technology program with CAAHEP or ABHES accreditation. Ask the school to confirm eligibility for your graduating cohort before you commit.
Complete the school's required coursework and application. TCC lists six prerequisite courses, while Sentara College lists sciences with labs, math, English and other general education courses.
Train in sterile technique, instruments and surgical procedures, then complete supervised clinical work. Riverside combines classroom work, lab simulations and clinical experience at its medical center and other clinical sites.
After establishing eligibility, submit the examination application and pay the required fee. NBSTSA's application page explains the online process; its exam overview describes a four-hour test with 175 multiple-choice questions, including 150 scored items.
Virginia Code section 54.1-2956.12 requires Board certification to use the surgical technologist title. Submit a separate state application through the Board of Medicine; the law recognizes several routes, including qualifying education with an NBSTSA credential, military training and registered apprenticeship.
BLS estimated 420 surgical technologist jobs (SOC 29-2055) in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area for May 2025. The hourly median was $31.43, and the annual median was $65,370, according to the BLS OEWS metro table. The annual mean wage was $68,620. These figures give you a regional pay reference while you compare surgical technology degrees. BLS wage definitions exclude on-call pay and overtime. Ask about those items when reviewing operating-room positions, along with weekend duties and certification requirements. Consider the answers together with each school's tuition, prerequisite costs and clinical schedule.
Sentara College's 2026-2027 catalog lists $22,260 in surgical technology tuition and $26,039 with listed fees, effective August 2026. Prerequisites, textbooks and uniforms add to that amount. Riverside publishes $25,600 core tuition for its accelerated transfer track. Its catalog gives $30,400 tuition for the full traditional track. Have admissions explain which track fits your credits.
Riverside's catalog describes Pell Grants, loans and scholarships for students who qualify. TCC's financial aid page explains how to submit the FAFSA and follow up with the college.
For military funding, TCC's benefits staff can review GI Bill use. Eligible military spouses can also ask staff to check MyCAA approval for their specific degree plan.
Virginia Code section 54.1-2956.12 requires Board certification to use the surgical technologist title or S.T. designation. To use C.S.T., you also need the current NBSTSA credential and qualifying training. Virginia provides several routes to Board certification, so national CST certification is not the sole state pathway. Read the Code section and the application wizard for the route that applies to you.
CST stands for Certified Surgical Technologist, the credential issued by NBSTSA. Its exam covers perioperative care, ancillary duties and basic science. You first establish eligibility, then apply for testing. A school completion award alone does not confer CST status. Use the NBSTSA certification overview to check the exam format and application steps.
TCC lists four semesters. Sentara College's catalog shows 58 instructional weeks across four semesters, and Riverside lists 72 weeks over two academic years. These calendars also involve prerequisite coursework. Ask for a dated plan that shows your first prerequisite, clinical rotations, graduation and the period when you can apply for certification.
Plan for in-person laboratory and operating-room work. Sentara College lists clinical rotations in hospitals and surgical centers, and its catalog describes blended delivery. Riverside's catalog also includes hybrid and distance courses alongside campus labs and clinical training. Ask which courses are online and which days require travel before building your work schedule around classes.
Check the specific surgical technology program and campus. Sentara College and Riverside name the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). TCC states exam eligibility but does not name a program accreditor on its program page. Request current documentation and confirm the route with NBSTSA, which makes the final eligibility decision.
We check these pages when we update this guide. If something has changed, tell us.
Ask each school for a campus visit, a prerequisite review and written details on clinical placement and certification eligibility.