Surgical technicians have vital roles in the healthcare industry.
The job title of surgical technician is often used interchangeably with the title surgical technologist.
They both have critical roles in their interactions with patients, with surgeons and operating room nurses.
Surgical technicians are also referred to as operating room technicians.
Some duties that surgical technicians have include maintaining a sterile environment during surgical procedures.
They pass sterile instruments and other supplies to surgeons or other members of the operating room team.
They transport patients to and from operating rooms.
They also keep family members informed before and after surgical procedures.
Knowing the duties of surgical technicians is not the only thing that people who want to work in this field need to know.
They need to know about the license and certification requirements in their state or in the state where they plan to work.
The states may vary in their requirements.
People who do not complete the requirements may not be able to work as surgical technicians in any state.
Choosing to become a surgical technician is a good career choice.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicates that it expects faster-than-average job growth in this field through at least the year 2034.
Surgical techs also earn a good salary.
The BLS indicates that the average salary was $62,480 in 2024.
Surgical technicians who complete required or voluntary education programs and certifications are likely to earn a salary that is above the average salary for the U.S. and for their state.
States That Have License Requirements for Surgical Technicians
People who want to become surgical technicians are likely to be pleased to know that none of the states currently require surgical technicians to have a license.
There has been legislation passed in several states regarding the certification of surgical technicians or surgical technologists.
Some other states do not require, but highly recommend that surgical technicians earn and maintain certification.
No state has adopted a requirement for them to have a license.
Anyone who wants to work as a surgical technician needs to stay on top of any proposed legislation for licensure in their state or the state where they want to work.
It is important for surgical technicians to know that the license or certification laws may be different if they choose to work in a different state than where they live.
It can take a while for bills or proposed legislation to work their way through the states from a proposal, a draft, or a bill to when it becomes a law that requires surgical technicians to have a license.
Even if states require surgical technicians to have a license in the future, those who already work in this position may be grandfathered in and not have to get it.
The rules can vary among the various states.
The states that use the job title of surgical technician interchangeably with surgical technologist also do not require these professionals to have a license.
The same is true in the states that call surgical technicians operating room technicians.
Anyone who wants to work as a surgical technician should not abandon their career goals because they fear that they may need a license in the future.
They should start or continue on their path to fulfill the other requirements to work in the field.
The other requirements often include things like earning a certification, completing education or training requirements.
Some employers may have their own employer-based standards for surgical technicians.
States That Do Not Require a License but Mandate Certification or Training
Although the various states do not require surgical technicians to have a license, there are other requirements that future surgical technicians must comply with to work in this field.
Some states may require them to earn a certification.
Some states may not require surgical technicians to have a license, but may have training or education requirements.
It is important that students or other people who want to become surgical technicians know the certification and training requirements for their state.
There are several certifications that people may choose to pursue when they want to become surgical technicians.
State regulations or governing bodies may require certain certifications for their state.
The Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) certification is sometimes mistakenly called the Certified Surgical Technician certification.
People who want to work as surgical technicians may want to explore earning this certification.
The certification is offered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA).
The Certified Operating Room and Surgical Technician (CORST) certification is not as common as other certifications.
Still, some employers may require surgical technicians to have this credential.
The National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) offers the Tech in Surgery–Certified (TS–C) certification.
Future surgical technicians need to check their state and with their employer to see if they need this certification.
The first step to earning a certification is to earn a high school diploma or a GED.
Enrolling in and completing a surgical technician program or a surgical technologist program is the next step.
Make sure that the program has accreditation from either the Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools.
It is important for students to make sure that they enroll in an accredited program.
Check with your state to learn about certification requirements for surgical technicians.
Alaska
Alaska has no requirement for surgical technicians or technologists to have a certification.
The state does recommend a certification.
There are no other state regulations for surgical technicians.
Colorado
Colorado does not require surgical technicians to have a certification or license.
The state does require, as of 2016, that all surgical assistants be registered with the state.
Students who want to become surgical technicians need to check to see if this regulation applies to them.
Indiana
Indiana, like many states, uses the term surgical technologist, rather than surgical technician.
Surgical technologists must have a certification credential from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting.
One alternative to the certification includes military personnel who complete a program that is offered by the U.S. Military.
Massachusetts
The state of Massachusetts requires that surgical technicians have a certification.
People who work as surgical technicians or surgical technologists for the U.S. Military are exempt from the certification requirement.
People who have worked in the position for at least 12 months are also exempt from the certification requirement.
Missouri
Missouri is another state that does not require its surgical technicians to have a license or certification.
Nebraska
The state of Nebraska does not require surgical technicians to have a certification.
If they work at a facility where their job title is surgical assistant, they must graduate from an approved program, have a license, and a certification.
Nevada
Earning and maintaining the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) certification is a requirement for surgical technologists.
Surgical technicians are likely to need this certification to work in Nevada.
New Jersey
Students who want to become surgical technicians and work in New Jersey need to verify the current law.
They need to do this before they enroll in a surgical technician program, a surgical technologist program, or a surgical assistant program.
The reason is that, although it is recognized by the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST), the state does not accept the Certified First Surgical Assistant credential.
Stay up to date on laws affecting surgical technicians.
New York
New York requires people to hold certification to work as surgical technologists in the state.
The law, like in many states, does not mention surgical technicians or certification.
Completing an accredited program is also a requirement.
Oregon
Oregon requires surgical techs to complete a surgical tech education program.
They must also earn and maintain certification.
South Carolina
The state of South Carolina does not require surgical assistants to have a license or to earn a certification.
Surgical techs do need to earn certification or have completed a military surgical tech program.
Tennessee
Future surgical techs who want to work in Tennessee have a unique choice when it comes to certification.
They can either earn and maintain a certification or complete an accredited program.
They do not have to complete both things.
Texas
The state of Texas has had certification requirements for surgical techs since 2009.
The state requires that they complete an accredited program.
They must also earn and maintain certification.
Idaho
The state of Idaho does not require its surgical assistants to earn a license or a certification.
Surgical techs have different qualifications if they work in Idaho.
The state regulations indicate that if operating room technicians complete a one-year education program that is accredited by the Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation of the American Medical Association (CAAHEP) or if they earn a certification, then they meet the minimum state requirements for hospitals in the state of Idaho.
Washington, DC
It is important to note the requirements to work as surgical technicians in Washington, DC.
Although it is not a state, it does have information for people who want to work as surgical technicians in the area.
Registering as a surgical technician is not required to start working in this career in the Washington, DC area.
The District of Columbia Department of Employment Services (DOES) does not specifically say that surgical technicians must have a certification.
Yet it lists certifying bodies and exams that people can take to become surgical technicians.
Checking with employers in the Washington, DC area or contacting DOES for clarification can help students meet the requirements.
States with No License Requirement but Employer-Based Standards
The fact that surgical technicians do not need to have a license to work in any of the states does not mean that they do not have other requirements.
Employers often have their own requirements or standards for surgical technicians.
Surgical technicians who work in states that require them to earn and maintain a certification may also discover that they must comply with employer-based standards.
Students or other people who want to become surgical technicians need to check individual employers to find out if they have their own standards or other regulations.
They then need to make the decision whether they are willing to abide by those employer-based standards.
Understanding and complying with employer-based standards in the various states can help future surgical technicians find a good job.
It may help them to have better career opportunities and the opportunity to earn a better salary.
The same is true for future surgical techs who want to work in the Washington, DC area.
The fact that Washington, DC has its own rules and regulations for surgical technicians means that employers there may also have employer-based standards that surgical technicians must abide by to achieve or maintain their employment.
