Becoming a Surgical Technician: Surgical Tech Career Information

What is a Surgical Technician?

Surgical techs, aka scrubs (amongst other terms like surg tech and O.R tech), work in operating rooms as part of the surgical team. Before surgeries, the surgical technologist will prepare the operating room by creating a sterile environment, set up the tools and equipment, and help the doctors and nurses change into their operating garments.

During active surgery, the surgical tech will handle equipment, watch the monitors, and position the patient, all while maintaining the sterile environment necessary for surgeries. After the surgery is complete, surgical technologists have to clean the operating room, replace the equipment used, store the equipment, and leave the room ready for the next operation. Technicians may also be responsible for bandaging patients post-surgery.

Surgical technicians will work with anesthesiologist, circulation nurse, registered nurses, and of course, the surgeon.

Find a surgical tech program near you.

Qualities of a Successful Surgical Tech

• Team Player: As a surgical technologist, you’re part of a team. For those surgical operations to run smoothly, you need to work effectively alongside the rest of the team.
• Calm, cool, and collected: If you are someone who remains level-headed even in stressful circumstances, you'll likely be a great asset to a team of surgeons.
• Communication skills are top notch: Operating rooms don’t allow much time for a question and answer match. You need to be able to communicate, as well as comprehend, and respond effectively.
• Composure: Operating rooms regularly involve blood, and invasive procedures. If you are someone who is not bothered by blood and can remain level-headed, you might have a competitive edge in the hiring market.
• Can deal well with the unexpected: Day to day, a surgical technologist has vastly different experiences. You need to be able to adapt as circumstances change, think quickly, adjust accordingly, and perform with or without instruction.
• Eager to learn: You’re working with surgeons and nurses who have a bit more experience than you (most often but not always), take those opportunities to learn from them and apply that information daily.
• Work ethic: There are a lot of people relying on your presence in the operating room. To succeed as a surgical technologist, you must have a love of your job and a strong work ethic.

How to Become a Surgical Tech

High school students who are contemplating a career as a surgical technologist can get a head start by focusing on science classes such as chemistry and biology, computer technology courses, and basic math like algebra and geometry. Having an in-depth background in those classes will prepare you for the college or trade school curriculum, and also for the actual career.

To be accepted into any surgical technologist program, you must be 18 and have your high school diploma or GED. In some instances, surgical technologist programs require a minimum of a 2.5 high school grade point average.

To work as a surgical technologist, you need either a certificate or diploma from an accredited surgical technology program through a trade school or community college. Programs should be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Enrolling in an accredited program will make you eligible for any necessary certifications later in your career.

Diploma Programs: Diploma programs take about one year to complete and have anywhere between 37-49 credit hours. Classes can either be done on campus or through an accredited online course. With a diploma program, you focus only on the courses specific to surgical technology; there are no general education requirements.

Associate Degree Programs: Associate degree programs take two years if you attend on a full-time basis. To get into an associate degree program for surgical technology, you must have a high school diploma or GED and carry a cumulative GPA of 2.5. In an associate degree program, the curriculum includes around 32 credits of general education courses, plus 60 core class credit hours.

Classes in a Surgical Tech Program

The main difference between surgical tech schools that offer diplomas and associate degree programs, aside from the time it takes to complete them, is the fact that associate degree programs include general education courses such as math, English, social studies, and other electives. Whereas, diploma programs go right to the nitty gritty and focus specifically on the courses that are relevant to surgical technology.

Both types of surgical tech programs include clinical experience which will give students the opportunity to do rotations in a variety of surgical settings. This will include experience in specialties such as dentistry, orthopedics, and vascular.

Courses Required

Surgical Tech Certifications

Certification is not a hiring requirement for surgical technologists. However, more employers are starting to look for certified candidates, so it is highly recommended to get a certification, particularly because surgical technology is becoming competitive.

Both exams must be renewed every four years, and there are continuing education requirements that must be met to be eligible for the surgical technician certification renewal.

• National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting allows students who graduated from an accredited surgical technology program to sit for the Certified Surgical Technologist exam. The fee exam varies. It is $190 for Association of Surgical Technologist (AST) members and $290 for non-members, if you are taking the certification exam for the first time. Renewing the certification will cost anywhere between $399 and $499. Membership for the AST is $45 for students and $80 for working surgical technologists. To be certified, you must graduate from a certified training program and pass the certification exam.

• National Center for Competency Testing costs between $155-$195, and applications will be valid one year after submission. This certification exam is nationally recognized. For current graduates of accredited surgical technology programs, you will need proof of high school graduation or a GED, along with a copy of your school diploma or degree, or an official school transcript.

Difference Between Surgical Tech and Surgical Assistant

When it comes to surgical tech and surgical assistant careers, there is some confusion regarding their differences. Some seem to assume surgical technology and surgical assistance are interchangeable when, in fact, they have completely different training and job requirements.

Surgical technologists, aka surgical techs, prepare the doctors, medical staff, and the operating room for surgery. They may also get the patient ready by transporting them to and from the operating room and preparing the area on the body where surgery will be performed.

Surgical assistants assist the surgeon while they are performing the surgery. A surgical assistant may hold the open the incision while the doctor operates, they suction and swab the blood to keep the surgical area clean, and they assist with sutures to close surgical incisions. The surgical assistant is part of the sterile surgical team who is prepared by the surgical technologist and is not permitted to leave the operating room before the surgery.

The surgical assistant is usually a registered nurse who has additional training in surgical assisting, which lasts 10-22 months. The minimum requirements for surgical assistant training are either an associate or bachelor’s degree in a related field, three years of experience in allied healthcare, and three years experience in the operating room.

Surgical Tech Jobs

The demand for surgical techs expected to increase 6 percent between now and 2031, which is as fast as the national average for all occupations. Surgical technology is a rapidly growing field with plenty of job prospects. But, keep in mind, as the employment outlook grows, more people will enter surgical technology fields and it will create a highly competitive job market. Job prospects tend to be greater if you earn your certification.

Surgical Tech Salary

Surgical Techs usually work full-time positions, and it’s not uncommon to be scheduled for odd hours, nights, weekends, and holidays.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for surgical technologists was $57,500 in 2022. The top 10% earned closer to $78,560 in 2022. Salary is heavily reliant on such factors as geographic location and the industry.

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