Trade Schools
For individuals interested in the medical field, a career as a surgical technician can be an excellent choice.
As an essential member of the operating team, this vocation entails working closely with surgeons, physicians, nurses, and anesthesiologists in the operating room by providing a safe, sanitary, and sterile environment.
A surgical technician’s career demands technical proficiency, excellent communication, and interpersonal skills.
It also requires attention to detail, critical for maintaining a sterile field and controlling and resolving all tools, equipment, and supplies.
Surgical technicians need to have dexterity for manipulating instruments and physical endurance for standing during long surgical procedures.
As surgical technicians, candidates must be comfortable with the extreme nature of operating rooms, surgical procedures, and operations, which are graphic.
The operating room is fast-paced and highly collaborative, and surgical technicians must be focused, even during fast-paced situations.
It can be a fantastic career pathway to earn a healthy income while quickly entering the medical profession with low student debt.
The role requires care, empathy, and commitment skills.
A skilled surgical technician demonstrates empathy for patients and a dedication to the medical team.
Work Environment
Surgical technicians work in the operating room, aiding the surgeon and other members of the operating team.
They usually work in hospitals, but other possible work environments include outpatient centers or the offices of physicians who perform outpatient surgery.
Responsibilities
Pre-operative duties include preparing the patient for surgery by positioning, washing/disinfecting incision sites, and applying sterile drapes.
They also include readying the operating room by setting up and sterilizing equipment, instruments, and supplies, as well as conducting the instrument inventory.
Their role includes passing instruments and maintaining the sterile field during the operation.
The surgical technician aids the medical team by holding retractors and other instruments, and operating surgical equipment, including suction machines or robotic instruments.
Postoperative care includes transporting the patient to the recovery room and applying dressings.
As a surgical technologist, candidates are responsible for restocking, cleaning, and sanitizing the operating room.
Education
Most employers seek to hire surgical technicians with an Associate’s degree or a surgical technician certificate.
Associate Degree Programs
An associate degree program includes more than just surgical technician courses; it also includes general credits.
A surgical technology program at a public college costs between $5,000 and $25,000 or more, including tuition, fees, books, and other miscellaneous expenses.
Living expenses, including room and board, will depend on whether the school is public or private, in or out of state, and the location.
The cost ranges from $12,300-$14,300 for in-state residents to $17,500-$19,500 for out-of-state tuition.
An Associate degree program typically takes 12–24 months to complete.
Surgical Tech Certificate Programs
Accredited certificate programs prepare candidates to work as surgical technologists and to take the certification exam.
A surgical technology program includes classroom lectures, hands-on lab work, and clinical time in a medical center or hospital.
A surgical certificate tech program is generally less expensive than an associate degree program.
Surgical technician certificate programs cost between $4,000 and $25,000.
They provide in-person courses and can typically be completed in 9–12 months.
Online Surgical Technician Training Programs
Many employers don’t demand that surgical technicians have an associate degree; instead, they’re interested in competence, skills, experience, and certification.
Online surgical tech training programs can be completed the fastest and are typically the least expensive options.
Generally, these programs include several months of online instruction and several months of an externship.
Tuition for an online program is the most cost-effective way to enter the profession.
Online training programs cost approximately $4,000.
Candidates should research the programs and be sure to select one that is accredited and has high certification passing rates for its students.
Certification
Surgical Technicians generally don’t require a license, but some states require state-level licensure or registration, while others need professional certification.
Most employers, however, prefer or require candidates to hold the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) credential offered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) or a similar credential.
Requirements differ by state, with some mandating certification or registration and others not having specific regulations.
For example, Texas mandates certification from the NBSTSA but doesn’t require a state-specific license.
CST
Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) Certification from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting
(NBSTSA)
Taking a practice examination costs $40.
The CST exam costs $190 for Association of Surgical Technologists (AST) members and $290 for nonmembers.
Recertification costs $25 every 2 years.
If the certification expires, candidates must recertify by exam, which costs $299 for AST members and $399 for nonmembers.
TS-C
Tech In Surgery – Certified (TS-C) Certification from NCCT
The TS-C exam is $199.
To recertify, candidates must pay $77 annually and complete 14 continuing education credits.
Career Stability
The profession of surgical technologists is anticipated to grow 5 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.
