North Idaho College Celebrates 100% Pass Rate for Surgical Technology Graduates
North Idaho College (NIC) proudly announced that all nine members of its 2025 Surgical Technology graduating class achieved a remarkable 100% pass rate on their first attempt at the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting certification exam. This achievement was highlighted during a pinning ceremony on July 11, significantly surpassing the national average first-time pass rate of 66.8%.
Since its inception in 2019, NIC’s Surgical Technology Program has graduated a total of 68 students with an impressive overall pass rate of 98.3%. The program’s students have also excelled in average exam scores, achieving 81%, far above the national average of 71.8%.
Terra Lawson-Gilbert, the Program Director, expressed her pride in the graduates, attributing their success to the dedication of the students, faculty, and clinical partners. "Our pass rates testify to the hard work and preparation our students receive, ensuring they are among the best equipped for their careers in surgical technology," Lawson-Gilbert stated.
As part of the program, students complete over 350 hours in surgical settings and engage in 140 to 170 surgical cases prior to graduation. The occupational demand for NIC’s graduates is high, with many receiving full-time job offers before completing the program, boasting starting salaries averaging above $30 per hour.
Among the graduates are Jazlynn Billingsley of Athol, Anita Oleynik from Liberty Lake, and Tyler Pederson of Post Falls, all of whom will enter the workforce prepared and ready to make an impact from day one.
NIC’s Surgical Technology Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs and selects students biannually through a competitive application process. This success follows a similar achievement byNIC’s Radiography Technology Program, where all eight graduates passed the ARRT national board exam on their first attempt, exceeding the national pass rate of 79% for 2024.
For more information: visit nic.edu/surgtech.
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