Becoming a Surgical Technologist: Education, Skills, and Career Path

Surgical technologists are integral members of the surgical team, working closely with surgeons, nurses, and anesthesia personnel. If you enjoy cleanliness and organization and work well in high-pressure situations, a career as a surgical technologist may be the path for you. They assemble and organize all the specialized instruments and equipment needed for a wide variety of surgical procedures, assisting and anticipating the surgeon's needs throughout procedures. Surgical technologists are members of the surgical team trained to work closely with surgeons, registered nurses, and other operating room personnel to prepare the operating room and assist in patient care before, during, and after surgery. They work directly at the center of life-saving and life-changing action.

What Surgical Technologists Do

Surgical technologists, also called operating room technicians, work alongside and assist surgeons, nurses, and other members of the healthcare team throughout a surgical operation. They perform important jobs like preparing patients for operation, keeping operating rooms stocked/sanitized, and providing technical support to surgeons and perioperative nurses.

Before an operation, surgical technologists prepare the operating room by setting up surgical instruments and equipment. They prepare sterile solutions and medications used in surgery and check that all surgical equipment is working properly. Surgical technologists also bring patients to the operating room and get them ready for surgery by positioning them on the table, covering them with sterile drapes, and washing and disinfecting incision sites. During an operation, surgical technologists pass the sterile instruments and supplies to surgeons and first assistants. They might hold retractors, hold internal organs in place during the procedure, or set up robotic surgical equipment. After the operation is complete, surgical technologists may apply bandages and other dressings to the incision site.

Surgical technologists help with the general functions in and around the operating room. First and foremost, surgical technologists prepare the operating room for procedures. This can range from sterilizing the equipment to making sure that all of the necessary supplies are present and well stocked. During the procedure, surgical techs pass nurses and surgeons the proper tools and ensure that everything stays sanitized. They might also connect drains and tubing, operate suction machines, or prepare specimens for analysis. Surgical technologists are trained to maintain the sterile field, preventing the risk of infection during surgery.

Education and Training Programs

Surgical assistants and technologists typically need a certificate or an associate’s degree from an accredited program. Surgical technology education includes courses such as anatomy, microbiology, and physiology. These workers also learn about the care and safety of patients, sterilization techniques, how to set up technical or robotic equipment, and preventing and controlling infections.

To become a qualified certified surgical technologist, a surgical technology associate of applied science degree is required. The Associate of Applied Science in Surgical Technology degree program gives students the tools and knowledge to be successful in a specified and specialized healthcare position. Surgical technologists may receive their higher education training in a community college, vocational school, university, hospital, or the military. Surgical technologist training programs can be as short as 12 months for a certificate or two years for a combined associate degree plus specialized training.

In a surgical technology associate degree program, students will take general education courses along with courses that teach subject matter and skills specific to the job of a surgical tech. The surgical technology associate degree program at American Career College requires students to complete over 540 hours of clinicals prior to graduation.

For those interested in joining the field as quickly as possible, certificates and diplomas are typically earned in as little as one year, thanks to coursework that focuses specifically on surgical technology without courses on general knowledge or electives. Surgical technologist programs require candidates to hold a high school diploma or GED at minimum. Some schools might require prerequisite courses ranging from biology to English, and it’s likely that you’ll need to complete a course in CPR as well.

Surgical technologist programs involve courses that give you practical, real-world experience. Many programs even go a step further by including a practicum or internship in which you’ll utilize your learned skills in a hospital setting. However, if you already have experience with surgical technology, then online options may be available. These are designed for students who have received on-the-job training as surgical technologists or who graduated from a non-accredited program.

Accreditation

Accreditation is a crucial aspect of surgical technology programs. The Surgical Technology Program at CT State Community college is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) 9355-113th St. N #7709, Seminole, FL 3373 and meets the state education requirements for “a recognized course of study in Surgical Technology” in the state of Connecticut. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), www.caahep.org, Address: 9355-113th St., N, #7709, Seminole, FL 33775, Phone: 727-210-2350. The surgical technology program at HCC Coleman College for Health Sciences is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs or CAAHEP.

CAAHEP is a programmatic postsecondary accrediting agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and carries out its accrediting activities in cooperation with 23 review Committees on Accreditation. CAAHEP currently accredits more than 2100 entry-level education programs in 30 health science professions. Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs 9355 - 113th St. Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology & Surgical Assisting 6 W.

Program Structure

The consortium agreement, between the CT State Community College Manchester Campus (MC) and Hartford Hospital, was developed in response to both a community and workforce need in Connecticut for surgical technologists. A consortium agreement is unique as it mandates the separation of curriculum with General Education Core course education and Core ST curriculum courses as required by ARC/STSA accreditation standards and guidelines. This consortium supports the Association of Surgical Technologist (AST) statements on the Associate Degree model for entry-level Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) with first year prerequisite courses taken prior to acceptance into the ST program. This includes the CT State Community College General Education component as well as science courses, including Anatomy and Physiology I and II, as baseline knowledge recommended by the AST Surgical Technology curriculum.

AST’s statement… “Logically, this prerequisite year could be developed into a sequence of courses that provide foundational preparation for sophomore surgical technology courses and comprehensive coverage of each state’s general education requirements” …aligns with the MC Hartford Hospital ST Program curriculum sequencing. This consortium agreement denotes separate and shared responsibilities for both entities involved in the education of surgical technology students. General education core courses instruction is the sole responsibility of CT State Community College faculty and core ST curriculum course instruction is provided on the Hartford Hospital campus and is the sole responsibility of Hartford Hospital qualified Surgical Technology Instructors. CT State Community College provides academic support services i.e., admission, financial aid, transcript evaluation and grants the AS degree. Hartford Hospital provides and supports all surgical technology student lab spaces, lab materials and lab instruction with all ST instructors and the consortium director being Hartford Hospital employees as per the consortium agreement. Required non-core surgical technology courses are held on the Manchester campus, and core surgical technology courses and clinical rotations are offered on the Hartford Hospital campus and within Hartford Healthcare System facilities.

For Surgical Technology students at ECC, this is a 2-year AAS certification program. Prerequisites for the program include human anatomy and physiology classes, along with a medical terminology course to understand medical terms. ECC will prepare you for this exciting career with a combination of classroom, laboratory, and clinical experiences in area hospitals. Students receive career development support, including resume writing, national certification exam preparation (on campus), and job interview skills.

Admission Requirements and Application Process

Students interested in the Surgical Technology program must apply to Ivy Tech first using the Ivy Tech general application. In this application, apply for the Healthcare Specialist program with an interest in Surgical Technology. After you've completed your prerequisite courses, you may apply for the Surgical Technology program through the online application for health science programs. The Surgical Technology program at Ivy Tech has a selective admissions process, which means not all students who apply to the program will be accepted. Details vary according to campus.

Read also: Becoming a Neonatal Nurse

Students interested in the Surgical Technology program must first submit the Ivy Tech general application and complete requirements for admission to the college. During this application, you should apply for the Healthcare Specialist program with an interest in Surgical Technology. The Surgical Technology program begins each fall. If you are not a current Ivy Tech Community College student, please Apply Now.

Gather all required or optional documentation that you will need to upload into the system. View more about requirements here. Select the programs and campuses you would like to be considered as an applicant. You can select up to three different programs and three different campuses. You must meet all of the prerequisites for a program in order to submit your application. Make sure grades in the system are accurate. Once you have submitted your application, you have the option to reopen it to make changes. Note: DO NOT USE THE “BACK” function on your computer. Students can select up to three programs and three campuses each on the application. Offers of acceptance are for a specific program and campus. Depending on their rank and offers, a student could potentially receive multiple offers. If a student fails to respond, then the offer expires. Students do have the ability to withdraw an application at any point during the admission cycle.

If you are accepted into the program-first off, congratulations!-you will be required to attend an orientation session at your local campus during the summer semester prior to beginning classes. The Surgical Technology program does not maintain a waitlist. Non-admitted applicants can reapply in the next application cycle, but we recommend that they meet with your local Surgical Technology Program Chair or advisor to begin planning and preparing for the reapplication process. The Surgical Technology program is a selective admissions program. A weighted point system is used to evaluate applicants for admission. Student applications are assigned points based on their grades in prerequisite courses. Point totals for applicants receiving admission offers will vary between campuses. Only one license or certification document can be uploaded, and only one will receive optional points, if approved, for each relevant program. When multiple course attempts are reported on applicant transcripts (including transcripts from other colleges and universities), the highest earned grade of the first three attempts will be used for the selection decision score through the application period.

Essential Skills and Qualities

The essential functions outline reasonable expectations of a student to participate and be potentially successful in the Surgical Technology Program and in the profession. The surgical technology student must be able to function in a variety of classroom, lab and/or clinical situations while maintaining the essential competencies of surgical technologists.

Gross and Fine Motor Skills: ability to use hand(s) with coordination and the ability to maneuver objects with fingertips as fine as a human hair. Ability to assemble delicate equipment. Ability to grasp and control surgical equipment and instrumentation for prolonged periods of time is necessary.
Use of All Extremities: Use of both hands and both legs is necessary to insure patients’ safety when lifting, moving, and transporting patients.
Physical Strength and Endurance: The ability to stand for prolonged periods of time, possibly up to 6 or 8 hours. The ability to lift patients from gurney or wheelchair to the operating room table. The ability to maneuver heavy surgical instrumentation pans.
Auditory: A normal range of hearing (with or without corrective aids) is needed to communicate effectively, as operating room personnel wear surgical masks.
Adaptability: The ability to accurately and safely perform assigned tasks in an orderly manner under extremely stressful situations. A professional demeanor is necessary to handle emergency situations that may arise. Certainty and emotional stability is needed to maintain a therapeutic relationship with patients, family, and health care members.
Temperature Requirements: The temperature in an operating room can range from 65-75 degrees. During some cases, the temperature may be increased to maintain a normal temperature of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit for the patient. The surgical technologist must be able to work in these conditions while wearing a surgical gown.
Cognitive: Ability to recall information that is taught, said, and demonstrated by the instructor, preceptor, and surgeon. Student will be able to maintain and recall information without cognitive deficit consistently.

Individuals interested in becoming surgical technologists must be detail-oriented. The work of a surgical technologist is incredibly important to ensure a sterile and well-organized environment in the operating room. They need to make sure that all tools are present for the surgery and accounted for after the surgery is done. Attention to detail is essential to success in this role, and errors could be life-threatening.

The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties: communication, detail-oriented, dexterity, integrity, listening skills, physical stamina, and stress-management skills. Working in an operating room can be stressful.

Student Work Policy

All student activities associated with the curriculum, especially while students are completing clinical rotations, will be educational in nature. The goal of this program is to provide students with the opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to gain employment as entry-level surgical technologists and become contributing members of the health care team in accordance with the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA) required minimum expectation statement for surgical technology programs “to prepare competent, entry-level surgical technologists in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.” This will be accomplished by preparing competent graduates through didactic coursework in the cognitive learning domain and through clinical scrub experience in the psychomotor and affective learning domains.

Students are expected to attend all course meetings. Attendance is necessary to maximize student-learning opportunities. Students who are absent are responsible for missed material. Clinical courses require that the student be present to effectively evaluate successful achievement of clinical course objectives and concepts, as clinical course objectives cannot be accomplished or evaluated outside the clinical setting. Students will be required to provide their own transportation to and from clinical sites. Schedules vary based on campus. This program requires enrollment in summer coursework.

Certification and Licensure

Certification may be beneficial for finding a job, and some employers may require it. Certification typically requires completing an accredited formal education program or military training program and passing an exam. In addition, many jobs require that surgical assistants and technologists become certified in CPR or basic life support (BLS), or both. Some states have regulations governing the work of surgical assistants and technologists.

Gaining certification is a great way to distinguish that you have the practical skills and knowledge that’s necessary to perform entry-level job duties. Some states are now requiring surgical technologists to earn their certification before becoming eligible for employment. So, what exactly is the CST exam? Administered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA), the exam consists of 175-questions, out of which 150 are scored. You need to earn a score of roughly 70% in order to pass. Once you have your certification, it’s necessary to renew it every few years. As of 2019, the renewal cycle for CSTs is every four years, with candidates being required to complete 60 hours of continuing education (CE) credits within each cycle.

The national Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) Exam administered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) can help to formally demonstrate your knowledge and skill within your field. If you want to become a CST, you will need to complete a program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and/or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). You could also choose an alternative certification option such as certification through the National Center for Competency Testing. This certification gives you the title of “Tech in Surgery - Certified” or TS-C. time of your enrollment. CAAHEP accreditation. The format of the Certified Surgical Technologist Exam consists of 175 questions, of which 150 are scored. Choosing whether or not to pursue certification is a personal choice that each individual must determine based on their own goals and circumstances.

Certification/Licensure Disclosure Statement

Federal Regulation, 34 CFR 668.43-Institutional Information for Disclosure for Licensure Program requires the institution to disclose whether completion of a covered licensure program would be sufficient to meet licensure requirements in a State for that occupation. The Surgical Technology Program at CT State Community college is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) 9355-113th St. N #7709, Seminole, FL 3373 and meets the state education requirements for “a recognized course of study in Surgical Technology” in the state of Connecticut. Territory, or the District of Columbia. The licensure boards in each state are responsible for establishing the requirements for licensure/certification for their state. Students who intend to seek certification/licensure in any state other than Connecticut need to consult with the state professional licensing board.

Work Environment and Job Outlook

Surgical technologists work in the operating room with surgeons, anesthesiologists, and nurses. They spend much of their working day in the operating room, preparing for, assisting with, and cleaning up after surgeries. It can become quite warm working under surgical lights in the operating room, especially when wearing sterile surgical gowns and gloves.

As you read above, the majority-around 43%-of surgical technologists work in hospitals. But while that may be the most popular place of employment, it’s not the only work environment available. When you begin your job search, you can check the openings for these various settings in your area. While many surgical technologists work in general surgery or between a variety of areas, some choose to work specifically in a surgical specialty area. Surgical technologists work in hospital operating rooms, outpatient centers, and doctors’ offices.

Surgical assistants and technologists wear scrubs and sterile gowns, gloves, caps, and masks while they are in the operating room. Their work may be physically demanding, requiring them to be on their feet for long periods. Surgical technologists also may need to help move patients or lift heavy trays of medical supplies. Surgical technologists have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. Injuries may occur due to incidents such as slips, falls, and overexertion.

Most surgical assistants and technologists work full time. Surgical assistants and technologists employed in hospitals may work or be on call during nights, weekends, and holidays. Surgical assistants and technologists work as members of a healthcare team alongside physicians and surgeons, registered nurses, and other healthcare workers.

The employment outlook for surgical technologists is excellent. Overall employment of surgical assistants and technologists is projected to grow 6 percent from 2023 to 2033, faster than the average for all occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the employment of surgical technologists will continue to grow at an average pace. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. The aging population is expected to increase the demand for surgical procedures, which should result in a greater need for surgical assistants and technologists. Heightened demand for these workers is expected in outpatient settings, such as ambulatory surgery centers.

Salary and Advancement

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, surgical technologists report earning a median annual salary of $62,830 per year. The median annual wage for surgical technologists was $62,830 in May 2024. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. Surgical assistants held about 25,300 jobs in 2024. Surgical technologists held about 115,600 jobs in 2024. Keep in mind that potential wages vary by state, work environment, and seniority.

With additional experience and education, some surgical technologists become first surgical assistants or registered nurses. Others advance by specializing in a particular area of surgery. Some technologists manage central supply departments in hospitals or take positions with insurance companies, sterile supply services, and surgical equipment firms. Surgical assistants and technologists may choose to advance to other healthcare occupations, such as registered nurse. Advancement to other healthcare occupations usually requires additional education, training, and/or certifications or licenses.

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