Welcome to Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting
Currently headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting began operations in December of 1999. Since then, we have become the Nation’s leading provider of surgical assisting education and training through achieving our goal of implementing and conducting courses that set the industry standard. Our Surgical First Assistant Certificate Program aims to train and graduate the highest quality surgical assistants in the country. To allow our SFA Certificate graduates to further their education, we also offer an Associate’s degree in Surgical Assisting Program, where students build upon the education gained in our Certificate Program refine their knowledge and skills while earning their credentials from a nationally accredited institution.
Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting is authorized for operation as postsecondary educational institution by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. In order to view detailed job placement and completion information on the programs offered by Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting, please visit https://www.tn.gov/thec/bureaus/student-aid-and-compliance/postsecondary-state-authorization/authorized-institutions-and-data.html.
Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting is excited to announce our SFA Online Program — the largest online Surgical First Assistant program in the United States — is now accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs (CAAHEP). This accreditation was made upon the recommendation of the Subcommittee on Accreditation for Surgical Assistants (SASA).
Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education School (ABHES), a national accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education.
Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting has been approved by Tennessee to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements. NC-SARA is a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education.
Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting is not regulated in Texas under Chapter 132 of the Texas Education Code. This does not preclude any student from Texas from enrolling in our program and being eligible for the national certification exam.
Some states require Surgical First Assistants to be licensed. The below states require graduation from an accredited program to apply for licensure. Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting’s Surgical First Assisting program fulfills this requirement by being dual accredited. States that require licensure to practice as a Surgical First Assistant:
State Licensure Requirements