Oct. 05, 2026
South College Dallas has earned initial accreditation for its Surgical Technology program and graduated the campus’s first enrolled student as the Dallas campus celebrates its second anniversary.
Surgical technologists learn skills to help care for patients, prepare for surgery, keep areas sterile and assist surgeons during surgical procedures.
The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) granted the accreditation status for the Dallas program upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA).
“Surgical technologists bring critical skills to operating rooms and other healthcare settings,” said Turner South, president of the Dallas campus. “This initial accreditation reflects our commitment to quality education that prepares highly skilled healthcare professionals to serve patients in Dallas or wherever their dreams take them.”
Jordan Cooksey’s goals brought her to South College as the first-ever student to enroll at the Dallas campus to pursue a professional path as a surgical technologist assisting surgeons in operating rooms. She has now graduated with an Associate of Science degree in Surgical Technology and is eager to take her board exam and get to work.
“I appreciated being part of the first cohort and receiving a lot of one-on-one attention from faculty, “said Cooksey. “Our clinical coordinator was really there for us as well, supporting us as we embarked on clinical rotations.”
Across clinical rotations at three facilities, she gained hands-on experience preparing operating rooms, counting instruments and assisting surgeons in about 200 procedures, including a craniotomy.
“It is both rewarding and exciting to be part of a surgery and be able to help people. It does make me proud,” Cooksey said.
Cooksey joined the first cohort to earn an Associate of Science in Surgical Technology. The inaugural commencement also recognized Medical Assisting graduates just ahead of the campus’s second anniversary on Oct. 25.
“We have a lot to celebrate this October,” South said. “Welcoming our first graduates is a significant milestone, and this accreditation affirms that we are meeting our educational goals and preparing graduates to pursue in-demand professional paths in healthcare.”
CAAHEP accredits educational programs that prepare health professionals in a variety of disciplinary areas. Programs are accredited when it is determined that they meet the educational standards and guidelines established by the profession.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2025 median pay for surgical technologists is $64,700 per year, and the field is expected to grow by 5% through 2035.
Located at 1505 Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway, South College Dallas offers a range of healthcare-focused degree programs, including dental, nursing, medical assisting and respiratory therapy.
The institution offers a dental clinic, modern classrooms and exam rooms and labs for dental, nursing, surgical technology, medical assisting, ultrasound and radiography programs.
Students have access to a Student Resource Center with study areas, a walking trail, outdoor courtyard, on-site cafe, covered parking and nearby restaurants and stores.
For more information about South College Dallas and its programs, contact the admissions team at 469-324-1051 or visit south.edu/dallas.
South College offers more than 150 academic programs and concentrations at multiple levels, including professional certificates and associate, bachelor’s, master’s, educational specialist and doctoral degree programs via campuses in Knoxville and Nashville, Tennessee; Asheville, North Carolina; Atlanta and Marietta, Georgia; Indianapolis, Indiana; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Dallas, Texas; Orlando, Florida; and Columbus, Ohio, as well as Online and through Competency-Based Education (CBE).
To learn more about South College, visit south.edu.
About South College
South College serves more than 22,000 students and is proud of its more than 25,000 graduates. The institution offers academic programs at multiple levels, including professional certificates and associate, bachelor’s, master’s, educational specialist and doctoral degree programs via campuses in Knoxville and Nashville, Tennessee; Asheville, North Carolina; Atlanta and Marietta, Georgia; Indianapolis, Indiana; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Dallas, Texas; Orlando, Florida; and Columbus, Ohio, as well as Online and CBE. South College focuses on ensuring high standards and quality educational offerings, maintaining multiple authorizations and accreditations.
South College’s programs span diverse fields such as business, criminal justice, dental hygiene/assisting, diagnostic medical sonography, nursing, occupational therapy, paralegal studies, physical therapy, radiography, respiratory therapy, physician assistant studies, pharmacy and surgical technology. The institution is dedicated to preparing students with the skills and knowledge needed for the professional opportunities ahead of them. For more information, visit south.edu.
