Site Visitors

Thank you for your interest in serving as a site visitor with the ARC/STSA. Our site visitors fill a vital role in the accreditation process. Learn more about joining our highly knowledgeable, experienced, and dedicated team of volunteers below.

“Serving as a site visitor is my opportunity to give back to the profession that I love.  The experience allows me to contribute to surgical technology education while learning from other programs in the process. The knowledge I have gained has allowed me to incorporate different ideas and creative teaching techniques to further strengthen my own program.”

Surgical Technology Program Director and Site Visit Chair

Becoming a Site Visitor

Purpose

The function of the site visitor is to review and assess compliance with CAAHEP’s Standards and Guidelines, program outcomes, and how non-compliance with Standards and Guidelines is being addressed. The evaluator’s responsibility is to clarify and verify information provided by the program in its application and self‐study or Annual Reports. The observations submitted in the team’s Confidential Report allow the ARC/STSA to determine the extent to which the program complies with CAAHEP’s Standards and Guidelines.

Qualifications

Qualified individuals, knowledgeable about the field of surgical technology (ST) or surgical assisting (SA) and the education process. are eligible to serve as a site visitor. Credentials/roles held by qualified evaluators include:

  • Certified Surgical Technologist (CST)
  • Certified First Assistant (CSFA)
  • Certified Surgical Assistant (CSA)
  • Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR)
  • Medical Doctor (MD)
  • Surgical Technology & Surgical Assisting Program Directors, Clinical Coordinators or faculty members of CAAHEP‐accredited programs
  • Allied health deans.

A professional surgical technology or surgical assisting consultant may only be eligible to serve as an evaluator six months after the last paid consulting job.  Site visitors are approved for a period of three years and may be renewed to serve by the ARC/STSA.

Application Process & Submission

A prospective evaluator must submit the following application materials, combined into a seamless, bookmarked PDF, to info@arcstsa.org to seek approval as a site visitor:

  1. Completed, signed and dated application packet (digital signatures are accepted)
  2. Current curriculum vitae/résumé, which indicates your experience and qualifications to serve as an evaluator and includes your current position
  3. Transcripts for all academic degrees and postsecondary diplomas earned (digital, student/graduate copies accepted)
  4. Copies of certifications and licensures
  5. Site Visitor Agreement form, signed and dated
  6. Proof of attendance at an Accreditation Fundamental for Educators (AFE) workshop within the past three years
  7. Proof of attendance at a Beginners Site Visitor Training (SVT-B) workshop within the past three years
  8. Proof of completion CAAHEP Site Visitor Quiz, available online at www.caahep.org within the past three years

Application & Forms

 Site Visitor Application Packet

Site Visitor Agreement

Site Visitor Expense Form

Workshops & Training

ARC/STSA Accreditation Fundamentals for Educators (AFE) Workshop

  • Offered the day before and at the site of the annual AST Educators Conference (February)
  • Offered the day before and at the site of the annual AST Surgical Technology Conference (May/June)

ARC/STSA Beginners Site Visitor Training (SVT-B) Workshop

  • Typically offered the day before and at the site of the annual AST Educators Conference (February)
  • Webinar training available periodically

See News & Events tab for scheduled workshop and webinar details and registration forms.

2019 Site Visitors