Surgical Technologist Schools
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Being a life-saving member of a surgical team is a noble goal, but completing the years of training that a surgeon must complete is a commitment that not many can stomach. Luckily, becoming a surgical technologist allows for those who are passionate about healthcare to participate in surgical procedures without becoming surgeons. Not only is this an exciting and rewarding job, but the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2019) projects that it is also one that’s growing quite quickly. Between 2018 and 2028, need in this area is expected to rise by 9 percent, which is nearly double that of all other fields (5 percent).
Still, even though becoming a surgical technologist does not require as much education as becoming a doctor or surgeon, it does require completion of a rigorous program that can take between one and a half and two years to complete. Students will learn basic anatomy and medical terminology, understand the differences between various surgical procedures, and learn how to best assist both doctors and patients in preparing for surgeries.
One of the main components of a surgical technology program is the practicum. The practicum is a hands-on clinical rotation that allows students to apply their academic learning in a real-world setting and is one of the vital requirements to become certified to practice as a surgical technologist.
Although there are many surgical technologist schools from which to choose, matriculation alone may not qualify graduates to enter the workforce, since some states require surgical techs to be board-certified through the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA). For this reason, it is safest and generally best to seek out appropriately accredited programs that help prepare students for board certification.
Surgical Technologist fast facts | |
---|---|
Projected Jobs Created | 9,700 |
Projected Job Growth | 9% |
Average Salary | $47,300 |
Low Salary | $32,870 |
High Salary | $69,170 |
Entry-Level EDU | Certification |
Sourced from BLS, June 2018 |
Degree & certification Programs
Most surgical technologist schools culminate in an associate’s in science (AS) or associate in applied science (AAS) degree. There are, however, a handful of schools that offer a certificate program or a bachelor’s of science (BS) degree in health sciences with a surgical specialty. Associate degree programs usually take between one and two years, while an accelerated certificate program can be completed in nine months.
Students pursuing a BS in surgical technology can expect to spend between four and five years completing their degree, although they may be in a better position to continue health education or take on administrative responsibilities upon graduation.
- South Plains College (Certificate, AAS) – A very versatile program, South Plains College in Levelland, Texas provides options for both new healthcare students and seasoned healthcare professionals to study surgical technology with an AAS and a certificate of proficiency track. While both options allow the student to sit for the national board exam, only the AAS option includes a practicum as a part of the coursework. The certificate program, which includes a capstone experience in lieu of a practicum, is available to students who are already working as surgical technologists and want to qualify for board certification.
- New England Institute of Technology (AS) – Students who graduate from the New England Institute of Technology (NEIT), located in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, have a reputation for finding jobs quickly, often in the New England area where they do their practicum experiences. Prior to completing the practicum, students at NEIT will complete 160 hours of intensive, surgical simulation. Graduates of this 18-month program finish their AS degree with the opportunity to be board certified.
- Carrington College (Certificate, AS) – With campuses in both CItrus Heights and San Jose, California, Carrington College offers both a certificate and associate’s degree program for surgical technologists. Students graduating from this school have the option to become board certified. The Carrington program requires students to complete 120 surgical cases before they graduate, to ensure its graduates are properly prepared to join the workforce right away.
- Southeast Community College (AAS) – Southeast Community College (SCC), with three campuses in Nebraska, offers a surgical technology program that is one of the most flexible as well, providing an excellent online cohort in conjunction with a local clinical practicum. In 2017, 88 percent of surgical technology graduates from SCC were employed locally upon graduation, which is certainly an encouraging statistic.
- Kingsborough Community College (AAS) – Located in the hustle and bustle of Brooklyn, New York, Kingsborough Community College (KCC) offers a surgical technology program that requires 64 credits to complete. After the initial semester, students must register for practicum hours for every subsequent semester in order to gain the necessary clinical experience. But that experience pays off, with 100 percent of 2017 graduates passing the certified surgical technologist (CST) exam.
List of Surgical Technologist Schools
School | City | State | Website | grads (2018) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Madisonville Community College | Madisonville | Kentucky | madisonville.kctcs.edu | 121 |
Ivy Tech Community College | Indianapolis | Indiana | www.ivytech.edu | 117 |
Baker College | Flint | Michigan | www.baker.edu | 102 |
San Jacinto Community College | Pasadena | Texas | www.sanjac.edu | 97 |
Gwinnett Technical College | Lawrenceville | Georgia | www.gwinnetttech.edu | 70 |
Wayne County Community College District | Detroit | Michigan | www.wcccd.edu | 69 |
EDIC College | Caguas | Puerto Rico | www.ediccollege.edu | 66 |
Glendale Career College | Glendale | California | www.success.edu | 66 |
Antilles School of Technical Careers | San Juan | Puerto Rico | www.antillespr.edu | 55 |
Berkeley College-Woodland Park | Woodland Park | New Jersey | www.berkeleycollege.edu | 53 |
American Career College-Los Angeles | Los Angeles | California | americancareercollege.edu | 51 |
Macomb Community College | Warren | Michigan | www.macomb.edu | 51 |
Concorde Career College-Memphis | Memphis | Tennessee | www.concorde.edu/campus/memphis-tennessee | 49 |
American Career College-Ontario | Ontario | California | americancareercollege.edu | 47 |
Swedish Institute a College of Health Sciences | New York | New York | www.swedishinstitute.edu | 47 |
Mandl School-The College of Allied Health | New York | New York | www.mandl.edu | 46 |
College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn | Illinois | www.cod.edu | 45 |
Tyler Junior College | Tyler | Texas | www.tjc.edu | 45 |
Savannah Technical College | Savannah | Georgia | www.savannahtech.edu | 43 |
Southern Crescent Technical College | Griffin | Georgia | www.sctech.edu | 43 |
Southern Technical College | Fort Myers | Florida | www.southerntech.edu | 43 |
Brookline College-Tempe | Tempe | Arizona | brooklinecollege.edu | 42 |
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College | Green Bay | Wisconsin | www.nwtc.edu | 42 |
Amarillo College | Amarillo | Texas | www.actx.edu | 41 |
CBD College | Los Angeles | California | www.cbd.edu | 41 |
Community Care College | Tulsa | Oklahoma | www.communitycarecollege.edu | 40 |
American College of Healthcare and Technology | Riverside | California | www.ach.edu | 37 |
John C Calhoun State Community College | Tanner | Alabama | calhoun.edu | 37 |
New England Institute of Technology | East Greenwich | Rhode Island | www.neit.edu | 37 |
Pittsburgh Technical College | Oakdale | Pennsylvania | www.ptcollege.edu | 37 |
Tulsa Technology Center | Tulsa | Oklahoma | tulsatech.edu | 37 |
Collin County Community College District | McKinney | Texas | www.collin.edu | 36 |
Midwestern Career College | Chicago | Illinois | www.mccollege.edu | 36 |
Nashville State Community College | Nashville | Tennessee | www.nscc.edu | 36 |
Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey Campus | San Juan | Puerto Rico | umet.suagm.edu | 36 |
Bunker Hill Community College | Boston | Massachusetts | www.bhcc.mass.edu | 35 |
Ogeechee Technical College | Statesboro | Georgia | www.ogeecheetech.edu | 35 |
South Plains College | Levelland | Texas | www.southplainscollege.edu | 35 |
Kirkwood Community College | Cedar Rapids | Iowa | www.kirkwood.edu | 34 |
Premiere Career College | Irwindale | California | www.premierecollege.edu | 34 |
Columbus State Community College | Columbus | Ohio | www.cscc.edu | 33 |
Baptist Health College Little Rock | Little Rock | Arkansas | www.bhclr.edu | 32 |
Carrington College-San Jose | San Jose | California | carrington.edu | 32 |
Concorde Career College-North Hollywood | North Hollywood | California | www.concorde.edu/campus/north-hollywood-california | 32 |
Concorde Career College-San Diego | San Diego | California | www.concorde.edu/campus/san-diego-california | 32 |
Southeastern College-West Palm Beach | West Palm Beach | Florida | www.sec.edu | 32 |
Gulf Coast State College | Panama City | Florida | www.gulfcoast.edu | 31 |
Central New Mexico Community College | Albuquerque | New Mexico | www.cnm.edu | 31 |
Concorde Career College-Grand Prairie | Grand Prairie | Texas | www.concorde.edu/campus/grand-prairie-texas | 31 |
Eastwick College-Ramsey | Ramsey | New Jersey | www.eastwickcollege.edu | 31 |
Salt Lake Community College | Salt Lake City | Utah | www.slcc.edu | 31 |
American Career College-Anaheim | Anaheim | California | americancareercollege.edu | 30 |
Austin Community College District | Austin | Texas | www.austincc.edu | 30 |
Central Ohio Technical College | Newark | Ohio | www.cotc.edu | 30 |
Concorde Career College-San Antonio | San Antonio | Texas | www.concorde.edu/campus/san-antonio-texas | 30 |
Ozarks Technical Community College | Springfield | Missouri | www.otc.edu | 30 |
Parkland College | Champaign | Illinois | www.parkland.edu | 30 |
College of Western Idaho | Nampa | Idaho | cwi.edu | 29 |
Anoka Technical College | Anoka | Minnesota | www.anokatech.edu | 29 |
Carrington College-Citrus Heights | Citrus Heights | California | carrington.edu | 29 |
Contra Costa Medical Career College | Antioch | California | www.ccmcc.edu | 29 |
East Valley Institute of Technology | Mesa | Arizona | www.evit.com | 29 |
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville | Knoxville | Tennessee | tcatknoxville.edu | 28 |
Augusta Technical College | Augusta | Georgia | www.augustatech.edu | 28 |
Concorde Career College-Dallas | Dallas | Texas | www.concorde.edu/campus/dallas-texas | 28 |
Davis Technical College | Kaysville | Utah | www.davistech.edu | 28 |
Georgia Northwestern Technical College | Rome | Georgia | www.gntc.edu | 28 |
Houston Community College | Houston | Texas | www.hccs.edu | 28 |
Pittsburgh Career Institute | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | www.pci.edu | 28 |
Skyline College | San Bruno | California | skylinecollege.edu | 28 |
Delta College | University Center | Michigan | www.delta.edu | 27 |
Florida State College at Jacksonville | Jacksonville | Florida | www.fscj.edu | 27 |
Herzing University-Kenner | Kenner | Louisiana | www.herzing.edu | 27 |
Renton Technical College | Renton | Washington | www.rtc.edu | 27 |
San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia | Visalia | California | www.sjvc.edu | 27 |
The College of Health Care Professions-San Antonio | San Antonio | Texas | chcp.edu | 26 |
Trocaire College | Buffalo | New York | trocaire.edu | 25 |
Arkansas State University-Newport | Newport | Arkansas | www.asun.edu | 25 |
Erwin Technical College | Tampa | Florida | www.erwin.edu | 25 |
Guilford Technical Community College | Jamestown | North Carolina | www.gtcc.edu | 25 |
Nassau Community College | Garden City | New York | www.ncc.edu | 25 |
Gadsden State Community College | Gadsden | Alabama | www.gadsdenstate.edu | 24 |
Hutchinson Community College | Hutchinson | Kansas | www.hutchcc.edu | 24 |
City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College | Chicago | Illinois | www.ccc.edu/colleges/malcolm-x | 23 |
Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale | Fort Lauderdale | Florida | www.keiseruniversity.edu | 23 |
Niagara County Community College | Sanborn | New York | www.niagaracc.suny.edu | 23 |
University of Cincinnati-Clermont College | Batavia | Ohio | www.ucclermont.edu | 23 |
Coastal Pines Technical College | Waycross | Georgia | www.coastalpines.edu | 22 |
Columbus Technical College | Columbus | Georgia | www.columbustech.edu | 22 |
Concorde Career College-Portland | Portland | Oregon | www.concorde.edu/campus/portland-oregon | 22 |
EHOVE Career Center | Milan | Ohio | www.ehove.net | 22 |
Fayetteville Technical Community College | Fayetteville | North Carolina | www.faytechcc.edu | 22 |
Lansing Community College | Lansing | Michigan | www.lcc.edu | 22 |
Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City | Kansas City | Missouri | www.mcckc.edu | 22 |
Rochester Community and Technical College | Rochester | Minnesota | www.rctc.edu | 22 |
Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology | Wichita | Kansas | www.wsutech.edu | 22 |
Atenas College | Manati | Puerto Rico | www.atenascollege.edu | 21 |
Bergen Community College | Paramus | New Jersey | www.bergen.edu | 21 |
Columbia Basin College | Pasco | Washington | www.columbiabasin.edu | 21 |
Concorde Career Institute-Jacksonville | Jacksonville | Florida | www.concorde.edu/campus/jacksonville-florida | 21 |
ECPI University | Virginia Beach | Virginia | www.ecpi.edu | 21 |
Great Lakes Institute of Technology | Erie | Pennsylvania | www.glit.edu | 21 |
Northwest Mississippi Community College | Senatobia | Mississippi | www.northwestms.edu | 21 |
Northwest Technical Institute | Springdale | Arkansas | www.nwti.edu | 21 |
Southern Regional Technical College | Thomasville | Georgia | southernregional.edu | 21 |
The University of Montana | Missoula | Montana | www.umt.edu | 21 |
York Technical College | Rock Hill | South Carolina | www.yorktech.edu | 21 |
Bevill State Community College | Jasper | Alabama | www.bscc.edu | 20 |
Career Networks Institute | Orange | California | www.cnicollege.edu | 20 |
Frederick Community College | Frederick | Maryland | www.frederick.edu | 20 |
Horry-Georgetown Technical College | Conway | South Carolina | www.hgtc.edu | 20 |
Illinois Central College | East Peoria | Illinois | icc.edu | 20 |
Jefferson Community and Technical College | Louisville | Kentucky | jefferson.kctcs.edu | 20 |
Madison Area Technical College | Madison | Wisconsin | madisoncollege.edu | 20 |
Massachusetts Bay Community College | Wellesley Hills | Massachusetts | www.massbay.edu | 20 |
Medical Career Institute | Ocean | New Jersey | www.mcinj.edu | 20 |
Platt College-McCann-Monroe | Monroe | Louisiana | www.mccann.edu | 20 |
Platt College-Miller-Motte Technical-Chattanooga | Chattanooga | Tennessee | www.miller-motte.edu | 20 |
Ponce Paramedical College Inc | Ponce | Puerto Rico | www.popac.edu | 20 |
Spartanburg Community College | Spartanburg | South Carolina | www.sccsc.edu | 20 |
The College of Health Care Professions-Northwest | Houston | Texas | www.chcp.edu | 20 |
Vernon College | Vernon | Texas | www.vernoncollege.edu | 20 |
Clover Park Technical College | Lakewood | Washington | www.cptc.edu | 19 |
East Central Community College | Decatur | Mississippi | www.eccc.edu | 19 |
Elgin Community College | Elgin | Illinois | www.elgin.edu | 19 |
Harris School of Business-Voorhees Campus | Voorhees | New Jersey | www.harrisschool.edu | 19 |
Mountainland Technical College | Lehi | Utah | mtec.edu | 19 |
North-West College-West Covina | West Covina | California | www.north-westcollege.edu | 19 |
Northern Michigan University | Marquette | Michigan | www.nmu.edu | 19 |
O C Collins Career Center | Chesapeake | Ohio | www.collins-cc.edu | 19 |
Palm Beach State College | Lake Worth | Florida | www.palmbeachstate.edu | 19 |
South Central Louisiana Technical College | Morgan City | Louisiana | www.scl.edu | 19 |
Western Dakota Technical Institute | Rapid City | South Dakota | www.wdt.edu | 19 |
Fortis Institute-Houston | Houston | Texas | www.fortis.edu | 18 |
Bluegrass Community and Technical College | Lexington | Kentucky | bluegrass.kctcs.edu | 18 |
Choffin Career and Technical Center | Youngstown | Ohio | www.choffinctc.com/adult-education | 18 |
Community College of Allegheny County | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | www.ccac.edu | 18 |
Concorde Career Institute-Orlando | Orlando | Florida | www.concorde.edu/campus/orlando-florida | 18 |
Hinds Community College | Raymond | Mississippi | www.hindscc.edu | 18 |
Hudson Valley Community College | Troy | New York | www.hvcc.edu | 18 |
Midwest Institute | Fenton | Missouri | midwestinstitute.com | 18 |
Nevada Career Institute | Las Vegas | Nevada | www.nevadacareerinstitute.com | 18 |
North Central Texas College | Gainesville | Texas | www.nctc.edu | 18 |
Platt College-McCann-Lewisburg | Lewisburg | Pennsylvania | www.mccann.edu | 18 |
Platt College-Miller-Motte-Wilmington | Wilmington | North Carolina | www.miller-motte.edu | 18 |
Southeast Community College Area | Lincoln | Nebraska | www.southeast.edu | 18 |
Stautzenberger College-Brecksville | Brecksville | Ohio | www.sctoday.edu | 18 |
West Virginia Northern Community College | Wheeling | West Virginia | www.wvncc.edu | 18 |
Albany Technical College | Albany | Georgia | www.albanytech.edu | 17 |
Delgado Community College | New Orleans | Louisiana | www.dcc.edu | 17 |
Indian River State College | Fort Pierce | Florida | www.irsc.edu | 17 |
Lone Star College System | The Woodlands | Texas | www.lonestar.edu | 17 |
North-West College-Long Beach | Long Beach | California | www.nw.edu | 17 |
Rockingham Community College | Wentworth | North Carolina | www.rockinghamcc.edu | 17 |
Saint Louis Community College | Bridgeton | Missouri | www.stlcc.edu | 17 |
Sandhills Community College | Pinehurst | North Carolina | www.sandhills.edu | 17 |
Sinclair Community College | Dayton | Ohio | www.sinclair.edu | 17 |
Tarrant County College District | Fort Worth | Texas | www.tccd.edu | 17 |
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hohenwald | Hohenwald | Tennessee | www.tcathohenwald.edu | 17 |
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Murfreesboro | Murfreesboro | Tennessee | www.tcatmurfreesboro.edu | 17 |
Ulster BOCES School of Practical Nursing | Lake Katrine | New York | www.ulsterboces.org | 17 |
Athens Technical College | Athens | Georgia | www.athenstech.edu | 16 |
Colegio Universitario de San Juan | San Juan | Puerto Rico | www.cunisanjuan.edu | 16 |
El Centro College | Dallas | Texas | www.elcentrocollege.edu | 16 |
Florence-Darlington Technical College | Florence | South Carolina | www.fdtc.edu | 16 |
Great Plains Technology Center | Lawton | Oklahoma | www.greatplains.edu | 16 |
Harris School of Business-Dover Campus | Dover | Delaware | www.harrisschool.edu | 16 |
Mohawk Valley Community College | Utica | New York | www.mvcc.edu | 16 |
Monroe Community College | Rochester | New York | www.monroecc.edu | 16 |
Moore Norman Technology Center | Norman | Oklahoma | www.mntc.edu | 16 |
Piedmont Technical College | Greenwood | South Carolina | www.ptc.edu | 16 |
Seattle Central College | Seattle | Washington | www.seattlecentral.edu | 16 |
Southwestern College | Chula Vista | California | www.swccd.edu | 16 |
St Cloud Technical and Community College | Saint Cloud | Minnesota | www.sctcc.edu | 16 |
Traviss Technical College | Lakeland | Florida | www.traviss.edu | 16 |
Triton College | River Grove | Illinois | www.triton.edu | 16 |
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | Fort Smith | Arkansas | uafs.edu | 16 |
Western Suffolk BOCES | Northport | New York | www.wilsontech.org | 15 |
Camden County College | Blackwood | New Jersey | www.camdencc.edu | 15 |
Concorde Career College-Aurora | Aurora | Colorado | www.concorde.edu/campus/aurora-colorado | 15 |
Daytona State College | Daytona Beach | Florida | www.daytonastate.edu | 15 |
Del Mar College | Corpus Christi | Texas | www.delmar.edu | 15 |
Greenville Technical College | Greenville | South Carolina | www.gvltec.edu | 15 |
Herzing University-Toledo | Toledo | Ohio | www.herzing.edu | 15 |
Itawamba Community College | Fulton | Mississippi | www.iccms.edu | 15 |
Lamar State College-Port Arthur | Port Arthur | Texas | www.lamarpa.edu | 15 |
Lanier Technical College | Gainesville | Georgia | www.laniertech.edu | 15 |
Manatee Technical College | Bradenton | Florida | manateetech.edu | 15 |
Mercy College of Health Sciences | Des Moines | Iowa | www.mchs.edu | 15 |
Mt Hood Community College | Gresham | Oregon | www.mhcc.edu | 15 |
Pennsylvania College of Technology | Williamsport | Pennsylvania | www.pct.edu | 15 |
Platt College-Miller-Motte Technical-Charleston | Charleston | South Carolina | miller-motte.edu | 15 |
Pueblo Community College | Pueblo | Colorado | www.pueblocc.edu | 15 |
Quincy College | Quincy | Massachusetts | www.quincycollege.edu | 15 |
Robert Morris University Illinois | Chicago | Illinois | robertmorris.edu | 15 |
San Juan College | Farmington | New Mexico | www.sanjuancollege.edu | 15 |
Sheridan Technical College | Hollywood | Florida | www.sheridantechnicalcollege.edu | 15 |
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences | Concord | North Carolina | atriumhealth.org/education/cabarrus-college-of-health-sciences | 14 |
Educational Technical College-Recinto de Bayamon | BAYAMON | Puerto Rico | www.edutecpr.com | 14 |
American National University-Lexington | Lexington | Kentucky | www.an.edu/locations | 14 |
Central Carolina Technical College | Sumter | South Carolina | www.cctech.edu | 14 |
Central Georgia Technical College | Warner Robins | Georgia | www.centralgatech.edu | 14 |
College of Lake County | Grayslake | Illinois | www.clcillinois.edu | 14 |
Eastern Iowa Community College District | Davenport | Iowa | www.eicc.edu | 14 |
Fortis Institute-Nashville | Nashville | Tennessee | www.fortis.edu | 14 |
Kirtland Community College | Roscommon | Michigan | www.kirtland.edu | 14 |
Lenoir Community College | Kinston | North Carolina | www.lenoircc.edu | 14 |
Metro Technology Centers | Oklahoma City | Oklahoma | www.metrotech.edu | 14 |
Minnesota State Community and Technical College | Fergus Falls | Minnesota | www.minnesota.edu | 14 |
Orange Technical College-Orlando Campus | Orlando | Florida | www.orangetechcollege.net | 14 |
Owens Community College | Perrysburg | Ohio | www.owens.edu | 14 |
Southern Union State Community College | Wadley | Alabama | www.suscc.edu | 14 |
Temple College | Temple | Texas | www.templejc.edu | 14 |
Texas State Technical College | Waco | Texas | www.tstc.edu | 14 |
Washington County Career Center-Adult Technical Training | Marietta | Ohio | www.mycareerschool.com | 14 |
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College | Valdosta | Georgia | www.wiregrass.edu | 14 |
Atlanta Technical College | Atlanta | Georgia | atlantatech.edu | 13 |
Columbia Area Career Center | Columbia | Missouri | career-center.org/pce | 13 |
Lorenzo Walker Technical College | Naples | Florida | www.lwtc.edu | 13 |
Atlantic Cape Community College | Mays Landing | New Jersey | www.atlantic.edu | 13 |
Canadian Valley Technology Center | El Reno | Oklahoma | www.cvtech.edu | 13 |
Carolinas College of Health Sciences | Charlotte | North Carolina | www.carolinascollege.edu | 13 |
Catawba Valley Community College | Hickory | North Carolina | www.cvcc.edu | 13 |
Concorde Career College-San Bernardino | San Bernardino | California | www.concorde.edu/campus/san-bernardino-california | 13 |
Delaware County Community College | Media | Pennsylvania | www.dccc.edu | 13 |
Iowa Western Community College | Council Bluffs | Iowa | www.iwcc.edu | 13 |
Kilgore College | Kilgore | Texas | www.kilgore.edu | 13 |
Lincoln Land Community College | Springfield | Illinois | www.llcc.edu | 13 |
Monongalia County Technical Education Center | Morgantown | West Virginia | mtec.mono.k12.wv.us | 13 |
Montgomery College | Rockville | Maryland | www.montgomerycollege.edu | 13 |
North Shore Community College | Danvers | Massachusetts | www.northshore.edu | 13 |
Northland Community and Technical College | Thief River Falls | Minnesota | www.northlandcollege.edu | 13 |
Oakland Community College | Bloomfield Hills | Michigan | www.oaklandcc.edu | 13 |
Pearl River Community College | Poplarville | Mississippi | www.prcc.edu | 13 |
Pinellas Technical College-St. Petersburg | Saint Petersburg | Florida | www.myptc.edu | 13 |
Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College | Cumberland | Kentucky | southeast.kctcs.edu | 13 |
Spokane Community College | Spokane | Washington | scc.spokane.edu | 13 |
Springfield Technical Community College | Springfield | Massachusetts | www.stcc.edu | 13 |
Tallahassee Community College | Tallahassee | Florida | www.tcc.fl.edu | 13 |
Technical College of the Lowcountry | Beaufort | South Carolina | www.tcl.edu | 13 |
University of Akron Main Campus | Akron | Ohio | www.uakron.edu | 13 |
Washburn Institute of Technology | Topeka | Kansas | www.washburntech.edu | 13 |
Aims Community College | Greeley | Colorado | www.aims.edu | 12 |
Central Technology Center | Drumright | Oklahoma | www.centraltech.edu | 12 |
College of Central Florida | Ocala | Florida | www.cf.edu | 12 |
College of Eastern Idaho | Idaho Falls | Idaho | www.cei.edu | 12 |
Concorde Career Institute-Tampa | Tampa | Florida | www.concorde.edu/campus/tampa-florida | 12 |
Edgecombe Community College | Tarboro | North Carolina | www.edgecombe.edu | 12 |
Fortis College-Columbus | Westerville | Ohio | www.fortiscollege.edu | 12 |
Fortis College-Houston | Houston | Texas | www.fortiscollege.edu | 12 |
Lurleen B Wallace Community College | Andalusia | Alabama | www.lbwcc.edu | 12 |
Midlands Technical College | West Columbia | South Carolina | www.midlandstech.edu | 12 |
Mt. Diablo Adult Education-Mt. Diablo USD | Concord | California | mdae.mdusd.org | 12 |
North-West College-Riverside | Riverside | California | www.north-westcollege.edu | 12 |
Pensacola State College | Pensacola | Florida | www.pensacolastate.edu | 12 |
Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences | Reading | Pennsylvania | www.readinghealth.org | 12 |
Somerset Community College | Somerset | Kentucky | somerset.kctcs.edu | 12 |
South Central Career Center | West Plains | Missouri | www.scccwp.org | 12 |
St Philip's College | San Antonio | Texas | www.alamo.edu/spc | 12 |
Stevens-Henager College | West Haven | Utah | www.stevenshenager.edu | 12 |
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | Little Rock | Arkansas | www.uams.edu | 12 |
University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne | Fort Wayne | Indiana | www.sf.edu | 12 |
West Georgia Technical College | Waco | Georgia | www.westgatech.edu | 12 |
Wharton County Junior College | Wharton | Texas | www.wcjc.edu | 12 |
American Institute of Medical Sciences & Education | Piscataway | New Jersey | www.aimseducation.edu | 11 |
Ashland Community and Technical College | Ashland | Kentucky | ashland.kctcs.edu | 11 |
Concorde Career Institute-Miramar | Miramar | Florida | www.concorde.edu/campus/miramar-florida | 11 |
CUNY Kingsborough Community College | Brooklyn | New York | www.kbcc.cuny.edu | 11 |
Durham Technical Community College | Durham | North Carolina | www.durhamtech.edu | 11 |
Eastern Maine Community College | Bangor | Maine | www.emcc.edu | 11 |
Franklin Technology-MSSU | Joplin | Missouri | www.franklintechnologycenter.com | 11 |
Henry Ford College | Dearborn | Michigan | www.hfcc.edu | 11 |
Lake Superior College | Duluth | Minnesota | www.lsc.edu | 11 |
Lord Fairfax Community College | Middletown | Virginia | www.lfcc.edu | 11 |
Mid-State Technical College | Wisconsin Rapids | Wisconsin | www.mstc.edu | 11 |
Mohave Community College | Kingman | Arizona | www.mohave.edu | 11 |
Onondaga Community College | Syracuse | New York | www.sunyocc.edu | 11 |
Pasco-Hernando State College | New Port Richey | Florida | www.phsc.edu | 11 |
Platt College-Miller-Motte-Cary | Cary | North Carolina | www.miller-motte.edu | 11 |
Sentara College of Health Sciences | Chesapeake | Virginia | www.sentara.edu | 11 |
Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College | Mount Gay | West Virginia | www.southernwv.edu | 11 |
Stark State College | North Canton | Ohio | www.starkstate.edu | 11 |
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Crossville | Crossville | Tennessee | www.tcatcrossville.edu | 11 |
Trinity Valley Community College | Athens | Texas | www.tvcc.edu | 11 |
Waukesha County Technical College | Pewaukee | Wisconsin | www.wctc.edu | 11 |
Aiken Technical College | Graniteville | South Carolina | www.atc.edu | 10 |
Baton Rouge Community College | Baton Rouge | Louisiana | www.mybrcc.edu | 10 |
Bellingham Technical College | Bellingham | Washington | www.btc.edu | 10 |
Bossier Parish Community College | Bossier City | Louisiana | www.bpcc.edu | 10 |
Cape Coral Technical College | Cape Coral | Florida | capecoraltech.edu | 10 |
Cape Fear Community College | Wilmington | North Carolina | www.cfcc.edu | 10 |
Central Piedmont Community College | Charlotte | North Carolina | www.cpcc.edu | 10 |
Chattahoochee Technical College | Marietta | Georgia | www.chattahoocheetech.edu | 10 |
Cisco College | Cisco | Texas | www.cisco.edu | 10 |
Coastal Carolina Community College | Jacksonville | North Carolina | www.coastalcarolina.edu | 10 |
El Paso Community College | El Paso | Texas | www.epcc.edu | 10 |
Fortis College-Orange Park | Orange Park | Florida | fortis.edu | 10 |
Great Falls College Montana State University | Great Falls | Montana | www.gfcmsu.edu | 10 |
Indian Capital Technology Center-Muskogee | Muskogee | Oklahoma | www.ictctech.com | 10 |
Laramie County Community College | Cheyenne | Wyoming | www.lccc.wy.edu | 10 |
Lorain County Community College | Elyria | Ohio | www.lorainccc.edu | 10 |
Luzerne County Community College | Nanticoke | Pennsylvania | www.luzerne.edu | 10 |
McLennan Community College | Waco | Texas | www.mclennan.edu | 10 |
MiraCosta College | Oceanside | California | www.miracosta.edu | 10 |
Moraine Park Technical College | Fond du Lac | Wisconsin | www.morainepark.edu | 10 |
North Arkansas College | Harrison | Arkansas | www.northark.edu | 10 |
Piedmont Virginia Community College | Charlottesville | Virginia | www.pvcc.edu | 10 |
Rolla Technical Institute/Center | Rolla | Missouri | rolla.k12.mo.us | 10 |
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jackson | Jackson | Tennessee | www.tcatjackson.edu | 10 |
Milwaukee Area Technical College | Milwaukee | Wisconsin | matc.edu | 9 |
Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences | Lancaster | Pennsylvania | www.pacollege.edu | 9 |
Pima Medical Institute-Denver | Denver | Colorado | pmi.edu | 9 |
Yakima Valley College | Yakima | Washington | www.yvcc.edu | 9 |
Academy of Careers and Technology | Beckley | West Virginia | www.wvact.net | 9 |
Angelina College | Lufkin | Texas | www.angelina.edu | 9 |
Carver Career Center | Charleston | West Virginia | www.carvercareercenter.edu | 9 |
City College-Altamonte Springs | Altamonte Springs | Florida | www.citycollege.edu | 9 |
City College-Fort Lauderdale | Fort Lauderdale | Florida | www.citycollege.edu | 9 |
College of the Albemarle | Elizabeth City | North Carolina | www.albemarle.edu | 9 |
Delaware Technical Community College-Terry | Dover | Delaware | www.dtcc.edu | 9 |
Dixie State University | Saint George | Utah | dixie.edu | 9 |
Fortis Institute-Baltimore | Baltimore | Maryland | www.fortis.edu | 9 |
Galveston College | Galveston | Texas | www.gc.edu | 9 |
Hillyard Technical Center | Saint Joseph | Missouri | www.hillyardtech.com | 9 |
Howard College | Big Spring | Texas | www.howardcollege.edu | 9 |
Jefferson College of Health Sciences | Roanoke | Virginia | www.jchs.edu | 9 |
John A Logan College | Carterville | Illinois | www.jalc.edu | 9 |
Anne Arundel Community College | Arnold | Maryland | www.aacc.edu | 8 |
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College | Asheville | North Carolina | www.abtech.edu | 8 |
California Healing Arts College | Carson | California | www.chac.edu | 8 |
Chester Career College | CHESTER | Virginia | chestercareercollege.edu | 8 |
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College | Cincinnati | Ohio | www.cincinnatistate.edu | 8 |
Cuyahoga Community College District | Cleveland | Ohio | www.tri-c.edu | 8 |
Des Moines Area Community College | Ankeny | Iowa | www.dmacc.edu | 8 |
Educational Technical College-Recinto de Coamo | Coamo | Puerto Rico | www.edutecpr.com | 8 |
Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing | Geneva | New York | www.flhcon.edu | 8 |
Front Range Community College | Westminster | Colorado | www.frontrange.edu | 8 |
Hazard Community and Technical College | Hazard | Kentucky | hazard.kctcs.edu | 8 |
Northcentral Technical College | Wausau | Wisconsin | www.ntc.edu | 8 |
Owensboro Community and Technical College | Owensboro | Kentucky | owensboro.kctcs.edu | 8 |
Scioto County Career Technical Center | Lucasville | Ohio | www.sciototech.org | 8 |
South Arkansas Community College | El Dorado | Arkansas | www.southark.edu | 8 |
South College | Knoxville | Tennessee | www.south.edu | 8 |
Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences | Cape Girardeau | Missouri | www.sehcollege.edu | 8 |
Walters State Community College | Morristown | Tennessee | www.ws.edu | 8 |
Waubonsee Community College | Sugar Grove | Illinois | www.waubonsee.edu | 8 |
Buckeye Hills Career Center | Rio Grande | Ohio | www.buckeyehills.net | 7 |
Chippewa Valley Technical College | Eau Claire | Wisconsin | www.cvtc.edu | 7 |
Cleveland Community College | Shelby | North Carolina | www.clevelandcc.edu | 7 |
College of Southern Nevada | Las Vegas | Nevada | www.csn.edu | 7 |
Fortis College-Richmond | Richmond | Virginia | www.fortis.edu | 7 |
Gateway Technical College | Kenosha | Wisconsin | www.gtc.edu | 7 |
Harrisburg Area Community College | Harrisburg | Pennsylvania | www.hacc.edu | 7 |
Meridian Community College | Meridian | Mississippi | www.meridiancc.edu | 7 |
Minnesota West Community and Technical College | Granite Falls | Minnesota | www.mnwest.edu | 7 |
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College | Perkinston | Mississippi | www.mgccc.edu | 7 |
Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health | Omaha | Nebraska | www.methodistcollege.edu | 7 |
Northwestern Michigan College | Traverse City | Michigan | www.nmc.edu | 7 |
Pima Community College | Tucson | Arizona | www.pima.edu | 7 |
Quinsigamond Community College | Worcester | Massachusetts | www.qcc.edu | 7 |
Richland Community College | Decatur | Illinois | www.richland.edu | 7 |
Riverside College of Health Careers | Newport News | Virginia | www.riverside.edu | 7 |
Rock Valley College | Rockford | Illinois | www.rockvalleycollege.edu | 7 |
Southeast Arkansas College | Pine Bluff | Arkansas | www.seark.edu | 7 |
Valley College of Medical Careers | West Hills | California | www.valleycollegeofmedicalcareers.info | 7 |
Washtenaw Community College | Ann Arbor | Michigan | www.wccnet.edu | 7 |
Western Nebraska Community College | Scottsbluff | Nebraska | www.wncc.edu | 7 |
RIVEROAK Technical College | Live Oak | Florida | rtc.suwannee.k12.fl.us | 6 |
American National University-Dayton | Kettering | Ohio | www.an.edu/locations/dayton-oh | 6 |
Autry Technology Center | Enid | Oklahoma | autrytech.edu | 6 |
Baltimore City Community College | Baltimore | Maryland | www.bccc.edu | 6 |
Fortis Institute-Cookeville | Cookeville | Tennessee | www.fortis.edu | 6 |
Milwaukee Career College | Milwaukee | Wisconsin | www.mkecc.edu | 6 |
North-West College-Santa Ana | Santa Ana | California | www.nw.edu | 6 |
Odessa College | Odessa | Texas | www.odessa.edu | 6 |
Prairie State College | Chicago Heights | Illinois | www.prairiestate.edu | 6 |
Southern University at Shreveport | Shreveport | Louisiana | www.susla.edu | 6 |
Tri-County Technical College | Pendleton | South Carolina | www.tctc.edu | 6 |
University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown | Johnstown | Pennsylvania | www.upj.pitt.edu | 6 |
Wes Watkins Technology Center | Wetumka | Oklahoma | www.wwtech.org | 6 |
West Kentucky Community and Technical College | Paducah | Kentucky | westkentucky.kctcs.edu | 6 |
Western Technical College | La Crosse | Wisconsin | www.westerntc.edu | 6 |
Alvernia University | Reading | Pennsylvania | www.alvernia.edu | 5 |
Bismarck State College | Bismarck | North Dakota | bismarckstate.edu | 5 |
Chesapeake College | Wye Mills | Maryland | www.chesapeake.edu | 5 |
Fortis College-Grand Prairie | Grand Prairie | Texas | www.fortis.edu | 5 |
Great Bay Community College | Portsmouth | New Hampshire | www.greatbay.edu | 5 |
Montgomery County Community College | Blue Bell | Pennsylvania | www.mc3.edu | 5 |
Prince George's Community College | Largo | Maryland | www.pgcc.edu | 5 |
Roane State Community College | Harriman | Tennessee | www.roanestate.edu | 5 |
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College | Bowling Green | Kentucky | southcentral.kctcs.edu | 5 |
Wilson Community College | Wilson | North Carolina | www.wilsoncc.edu | 5 |
American National University-Youngstown | Youngstown | Ohio | www.an.edu | 4 |
American College of Healthcare and Technology | Huntington Park | California | www.ach.edu | 4 |
American National University | Salem | Virginia | www.an.edu/locations | 4 |
Charles H McCann Technical School | North Adams | Massachusetts | www.mccanntech.org | 4 |
City College-Miami | Miami | Florida | www.citycollege.edu | 4 |
Flathead Valley Community College | Kalispell | Montana | www.fvcc.edu | 4 |
Iowa Lakes Community College | Estherville | Iowa | www.iowalakes.edu | 4 |
James Rumsey Technical Institute | Martinsburg | West Virginia | www.jamesrumsey.com | 4 |
John Wood Community College | Quincy | Illinois | www.jwcc.edu | 4 |
Manchester Community College | Manchester | Connecticut | www.manchestercc.edu | 4 |
Mount Aloysius College | Cresson | Pennsylvania | www.mtaloy.edu | 4 |
New Mexico State University-Carlsbad | Carlsbad | New Mexico | carlsbad.nmsu.edu | 4 |
Oklahoma City Community College | Oklahoma City | Oklahoma | www.occc.edu | 4 |
Paris Junior College | Paris | Texas | www.parisjc.edu | 4 |
University of Arkansas Community College-Hope | Hope | Arkansas | www.uacch.edu | 4 |
Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies | Springfield | Missouri | www.drury.edu/evening-and-online | 3 |
National American University-Overland Park | Overland Park | Kansas | www.national.edu | 3 |
Northern Oklahoma College | Tonkawa | Oklahoma | www.noc.edu | 3 |
Shawnee Community College | Ullin | Illinois | www.shawneecc.edu | 3 |
Southern Maine Community College | South Portland | Maine | www.smccme.edu | 3 |
Blue Ridge Community College | Flat Rock | North Carolina | www.blueridge.edu | 2 |
Colorado Mesa University | Grand Junction | Colorado | www.coloradomesa.edu | 2 |
Fortis College-Baton Rouge | Baton Rouge | Louisiana | www.fortis.edu | 2 |
GateWay Community College | Phoenix | Arizona | www.gatewaycc.edu | 2 |
McDowell Technical Community College | Marion | North Carolina | www.mcdowelltech.edu | 2 |
North Central Missouri College | Trenton | Missouri | www.ncmissouri.edu | 2 |
Abcott Institute | Southfield | Michigan | www.abcott.edu | 1 |
Davidson County Community College | Thomasville | North Carolina | www.davidsonccc.edu | 1 |
Kaskaskia College | Centralia | Illinois | www.kaskaskia.edu | 1 |
North Central Michigan College | Petoskey | Michigan | www.ncmich.edu | 1 |
Northeast Community College | Norfolk | Nebraska | www.northeast.edu | 1 |
Rend Lake College | Ina | Illinois | www.rlc.edu | 1 |
Suncoast Technical College | Sarasota | Florida | suncoast.edu | 1 |
Tulsa Community College | Tulsa | Oklahoma | www.tulsacc.edu | 1 |
Western Iowa Tech Community College | Sioux City | Iowa | www.witcc.edu | 1 |
Hybrid & online programs
Because surgical technology is such a hands-on profession, there are very few online and hybrid options from which to choose. Surgical technology programs require an extensive practicum (typically between 300-1200 hours of hands-on practice) even when the coursework is delivered entirely online. That said, there are several hybrid (face-to-face combined with distance learning) and online surgical technologist programs, including the following:
- Baptist Health System School of Health Professionals (AAS) – At one time, the Baptist Health System School of Health Professionals was the only fully online surgical technology CAAHEP-accredited university program. The 100 percent online option is an accelerated program, and students must already be employed as a surgical technologist in order to qualify to complete the program. Fortunately, this college also offers a residential and online blended option, making it one of the most flexible colleges for surgical technology training.
- Great Falls College – Montana State University (AS) – Located in Great Falls, Montana, Great Falls College – Montana State University offers a CAAHEP-accredited surgical technologist program in a hybrid format. Although classroom work can be completed online, students are required to rotate through clinical sites in Montana and therefore must be local to the area.
School | City | State | Website | grads (2018) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting | Nashville | Tennessee | www.meridian-institute.edu | 346 |
Rasmussen College-Minnesota | St. Cloud | Minnesota | rasmussen.edu | 28 |
Holmes Community College | Goodman | Mississippi | www.holmescc.edu | 22 |
Seward County Community College | Liberal | Kansas | www.sccc.edu | 20 |
Vincennes University | Vincennes | Indiana | www.vinu.edu | 20 |
Concorde Career College-Kansas City | Kansas City | Missouri | www.concorde.edu/campus/kansas-city-missouri | 19 |
College of Southern Idaho | Twin Falls | Idaho | www.csi.edu | 18 |
Siena Heights University | Adrian | Michigan | www.sienaheights.edu | 17 |
Santa Fe College | Gainesville | Florida | www.sfcollege.edu | 16 |
Rasmussen College-Illinois | Rockford | Illinois | rasmussen.edu | 11 |
Baptist Health System School of Health Professions | San Antonio | Texas | www.bshp.edu | 6 |
Rasmussen College-North Dakota | Fargo | North Dakota | rasmussen.edu | 3 |
Linn-Benton Community College | Albany | Oregon | www.linnbenton.edu | 2 |
Core & Elective Courses
To complete most surgical tech programs, students must get a grade of B or higher in both core classes and specialty surgical tech courses. Many of these courses are shared with other health care degrees – like medical ethics and anatomy and physiology. Still, there are a few courses that are specific to surgical tech schools, and which are integral to those programs.
- Medical terminology – This is a vital course for many health care professionals, and is particularly important for surgical technologists. In this course, students will learn the root words, suffixes, and prefixes by which all other medical terms are created. In addition, they will learn the names of each part of the human body, in addition to the most common illnesses and physical impairments.
- Surgical procedures – The purpose of this course is to teach students the theory and practices that should be used with various types of surgeries. Typical surgeries covered include gynecological, orthopedic, genitourinary, and many others. The course emphasizes procedures, technology, and tools that should be used in each independent surgery.
- Pharmacology for surgical technology – In this course, students are introduced to different types of pharmaceuticals that may be used during the course of a surgical procedure. In addition, students learn specific drug interactions, systems and regulations for administration, and calculation of dosages. Drugs that might be used before and after a procedure are also introduced.
- Clinical practicum or externship – This is a vital course for all surgical technologists. In this course, students complete rotations in a working hospital or medical facility where surgeries are regularly performed. Under the tutelage of a senior surgical technologist, they are able to use the knowledge they have learned in hands-on practice to assist during surgical procedures.
Accreditation
In order to practice as a surgical technologist, students need to complete a surgical technology program at a school accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). CAAHEP, in tandem with the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA), evaluates surgical technologist programs to ensure that the coursework and health education practices are in compliance with national standards. The Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) is also qualified to accredit appropriate surgical tech schools.
During the ARC/STSA accreditation process, professional surgical technologists and healthcare educators look carefully at the program objectives and outcomes to determine whether a program is eligible for CAAHEP accreditation. Each clinical cohort is also evaluated to make sure that the technology and healthcare procedures used are at the current healthcare standard. Finally, the ARC/STSA does thorough investigations on all of the professors to ensure their professional abilities and background.
Additionally, colleges should be accredited by one of the regional or national accrediting bodies approved by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Typical regional accrediting bodies include the Accrediting Commission for Schools Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS-WASC), the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools – Commission on Colleges (SACS/COC), and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
Career Outlook
The aging baby boomer generation will lead to an increase in need for many health care operations and surgical technologists are no exception. General health care jobs are expected to increase by 14 percent by the year 2026 with surgical technology positions expected to increase by a similar 12 percent. The expected growth rate for surgical technology jobs is nearly double the national average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
The BLS (2017) reports that this increased need for surgical technologists is driven by two main factors. Firstly, as the baby boomer generation ages, they will require more surgeries to maintain their standard of living. Secondly, access to better healthcare will make day-to-day surgeries (like sports-related surgeries) more feasible for the general population.
Another reason surgical technologists will likely remain in such high demand is that they are a cost-effective investment for hospitals. Surgical technologists are much less expensive to hire than registered nurses, but often can assist in the same types of procedures.
According to the BLS (2017), a majority of surgical technologists work in hospitals and surgical centers. Still, the most highly-paid workers in this field work for medical and diagnostic laboratories. The state with the most surgical technologists is California, and the average wage in this state is over $61,000 – more than $10,000 over than the national average of $48,060. Other top-paying states include Hawaii, Nevada, Washington, DC, and Alaska.
Career Facts | Surgical Technologist |
---|---|
Related Careers | Radiation Therapist, Endoscopy Technician, Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, Nuclear Medicine Technologist |
Common Job Titles | Surgical Technologist, Certified Surgical Technologist |
Technology & Equipment | Electrocautery Equipment, Surgical Saws And Drills, Surgical Vacuums, Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirators |
Sourced from BLS, June 2018 |
Licensing & Certification
Surgical technologists who desire to be board certified must complete CAAHEP accredited program, with review by the ARC/STSA . A list of accredited surgical tech schools is available on the CAAHEP website.
In addition to completing a program at one of the accredited surgical tech schools, certified students must also complete a certification exam. This exam is provided through the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA).
Finally, students seeking board certification must have completed the appropriate coursework and clinical hours. Depending on the degree program, a student may complete between 300 and 1200 clinical hours to complete the university’s requirements. These clinical hours are necessary to be licensed as a surgical technologist.
Although it is not legally required for surgical technologists to be board certified at this time, it may be a better career decision. Completing a surgical tech degree from a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited school is the only way to earn this designation and sit for the national test. This makes students who earn this designation much more employable and more likely to find positions in the highest-earning bracket for this field of study.