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If you are wanting to find a growing allied health career, becoming a surgical technician or operating room technician is a great idea! The growth of the career is high (we will cover that more below) and is growing above the national average at 12% over the next decade. In the article below we cover how to get started on the oath to become an operating room technician and start today!

Find Surgical Tech Schools Today

What is the process to become a Surgical Tech?

Below we walk you through the process to become a surgical tech. Follow the steps and you can be on your way to a rewarding career in a medical field that is growing and has a real bright future!

STEP 1 – Earn Your High School Diploma or GED

To be eligible for surgical tech training candidates must be a H.S. graduate or have their GED equivalent.

STEP 2 – Select the Right Surgical Tech Program for you

There are a many options for surgical technologist training. We will show you how to find accredited programs in a few clicks. Surgical technicians will often earn their associate degrees. They will do this at either through community colleges or vocational schools in most situations. A great place to look for accredited schools is to select a program that is accredited by the (CCAHEP) Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. If you use there database you can be sure you will start on the right path to certification.

Accredited Surgical Tech Programs

Below are what we consider the top accredited training options for surgical technologists and technicians. Surgical technicians and technologists must attend a program accredited by the Association of Surgical Technologists chosen accrediting body for their programs, which is the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Below is a link to their database of all the accredited Surgical Technology Programs.

(CAAHEP) Accredited Surgical Tech Training Programs

Step 3 – Earn you Surgical Tech Certification

Getting certified is not required in all 50 states but it cannot be understated that being certified helps you prepare for the career and get yourself hired as a tech. There are numerous options and certificates you can get, but we recommend certification through either the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting or the National Center for Competency Testing. Another good certification to get is a CPR certification.

As we stated above it is possible to become a surgical tech without earning a degree. Certifications take a year to complete in most cases. If candidates are getting their associates degree it will take two years to complete. If degrees and certifications are earned, the chances of getting hired increase immensely.

Pass the Certification Exam

Receiving a license as a (CST) Certified Surgical Technician from the (NBSTSA) National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting is the best way to prep your future as an operating room tech.

To be eligible for the CST examination candidates must have either:

Held a previous CST certification
Have associate’s degree from an accredited surgical technology program
Have associate’s degree from a surgical first assistant program
Have military experience/training in surgical technology

Proof of your eligibility will be required before applying to take the examination. A copy of your transcript is needed for proof of education. Military service proof is done by sending a copy of your DD-214 (make sure your base where you trained is listed). The fee for the examination application can range from $190 to $290.

Find a job as a Surgical Technician

If you get certified your chances of getting a job as a operating room tech increase. If you graduate from an accredited program and get certified as a CST you are on your way!

About Surgical Technologist salary

Operating room techs and surgical techs are paid more than the average allied health workers with comparable education as you can see below:
Surgical technologists $46,310
Health technologists and technicians $43,590
Total, all other allied health occupations $37,690
source – bls.gov

What is the average salary for a Surgical Tech?

The average pay for surgical techs is $46,310 per year and $22.26 per hour per the latest data from bls.gov. The career as a whole pays more than the average allied health career for jobs with similar education demands too!

Surgical Technician salary by state

StateAvg HourlyAvg. Salary
Alabama16.4934,300
Alaska25.2152,440
Arizona23.5548,990
Arkansas19.3540,240
California27.4757,140
Colorado24.1850,300
Connecticut26.2854,660
Delaware21.0243,730
District of Columbia27.4957,170
Florida19.1539,820
Georgia18.8339,160
Hawaii27.0556,270
Idaho20.0441,670
Illinois21.344,310
Indiana20.0441,680
Iowa18.6938,870
Kansas19.3540,260
Kentucky18.5938,680
Louisiana18.7338,950
Maine20.9443,560
Maryland23.1848,220
Massachusetts23.8849,670
Michigan20.3842,400
Minnesota24.2550,450
Mississippi17.235,780
Missouri19.6940,950
Montana20.6943,030
Nebraska19.941,390
Nevada27.6457,500
New Hampshire22.9147,650
New Jersey22.9947,830
New Mexico2041,590
New York24.0449,990
North Carolina19.1639,850
North Dakota18.6838,860
Ohio20.3942,420
Oklahoma18.2838,030
Oregon23.5348,950
Pennsylvania19.4940,530
Rhode Island23.8349,570
South Carolina17.7436,900
South Dakota18.4638,390
Tennessee18.5738,620
Texas21.1844,050
Utah18.338,060
Vermont18.7839,060
Virginia22.8147,450
Washington24.1850,290
West Virginia17.6836,780
Wisconsin23.7649,420
Wyoming22.0545,870

Source: www.bls.gov

Salary by employer type

Below is what the average pay is at the common places of employment operating room technicians.
Outpatient Care Centers $48,900
Physicians Offices $45,980
Hospitals $45,930
Dentists Offices $44,760
Source: www.bls.gov

What does a Surgical Technician do?

Surgical technologists and technicians job duties vary from job to job. Typically they perform duties like handling surgical instruments that will be used in surgery. Other duties technicians will do during operations and surgical procedures are checking a patient’s medical chart and ensuring all necessary consent forms are available and ready to be filled out if more procedures are needed. Operating room techs work with surgeons and registered nurses in their procedures in most situations. Below is a detailed look at their specific job duties.

Assist surgeons during surgery (passing them instruments/sterile supplies)
Count surgical supplies (ie: sponges and instruments)
Maintain sterile environment
Prep operating rooms for surgery
Prep patients for surgery, (washing/disinfecting incision sites)
Sterilize surgical equipment (gather adequate supplies for surgery)