Surgical Technician & Technologist Schools
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“Most people don’t know that a surgical technologist is the right hand of the doctor.”
David Reyes, Surgical Tech, Keck Medicine of USC
Being a member of a life-saving surgical team is a noble goal, but not everyone can commit to multiple years of education and training to become a surgeon. However, becoming a surgical technologist is a great career option for those who want to work in an operating room without investing the time and education required to become a surgeon.
Careers in healthcare are poised for growth in the coming years. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2024), a surge of nearly two million healthcare careers will be needed in the coming decade between 2023 and 2033. In addition, the BLS projects surgical technologist careers to grow by 6 percent in the same period (BLS 2024). This rate is slightly faster than the national average (4 percent) and equates to 7,900 new jobs in the coming decade.
Even though becoming a surgical technologist does not require as much education as becoming a doctor or surgeon, it requires a rigorous education program that can take one and a half and two years to complete. In surgical technologist schools, students learn basic anatomy and medical terminology, sterilize and prepare an operating room, and learn techniques to assist doctors and patients before, during, and after surgery.
One of the most critical components of a surgical technology program is the practical hands-on experience. A practicum is an in-person clinical rotation that requires students to apply their academic learning in a real-world setting. Having real-world training in an operating room is vital to becoming certified to practice as a surgical technologist.
Read on to learn more about surgical technologist schools, certifications, salary, and detailed career outlook data for this growing profession.
| Surgical Technologist fast facts | |
|---|---|
| Projected Jobs Created | 7,900 |
| Projected Job Growth | 6 percent |
| Average Salary | $50,110 |
| Low Salary | $33,420 |
| High Salary | $71,400 |
| Entry-Level EDU | Certification |
| Sourced From BLS May 2023 | |
Meet the Expert: David Reyes, CST
David Reyes has been practicing surgical technology for seven years and currently works full-time with Keck Medicine of USC as a member of the Open Heart Team. As a former volunteer for the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA), he gained experience in surgical technology beyond the operating room, including item writing and question reviewing.
Committed to supporting and educating others in the field, Reyes now serves as the secretary for the California State Assembly of the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST). In this role, he is responsible for collecting minutes, submitting records, and organizing events.
MedicalTechnologySchools.com: What is something most people don’t know about being a surgical technologist?
Reyes: Most people don’t know that a surgical technologist is the right hand of the doctor. We are the first to start collecting supplies and instruments for the surgery. Once the sterile field is created, we quality-check instruments before they are used to ensure sterility and function. As the operation progresses, the surgical technologist anticipates the doctor’s moves by having those supplies and instruments ready before they are needed. After the surgery, we collect our instruments and dispose of our sharps. From beginning to end, we learn about doctors’ preferences.
MedicalTechnologySchools.com: What is one piece of advice you would give to someone aspiring to be a surgical technologist?
Reyes: I advise aspiring surgical technologists to stay true to themselves and remain open to learning. When I was younger, my mom and I often went for runs, casually saying, “Cardio?” as an invitation. At the time, I had no idea what the term meant until I took an anatomy class, which sparked my interest in the medical field. By the time I learned about surgical technology, the course had already ended, but my curiosity continued to grow. Today, I am part of a cardiovascular surgical team, achieving a goal I set for myself.
However, I took every other specialty seriously before specializing in cardiac surgery. Surgical technology offers a wide range of specialties, and it’s important not to limit oneself to just one area. A well-rounded understanding of various procedures is essential, as most surgical technologists are expected to be knowledgeable in multiple types of surgeries. This versatility is often the key to long-term success in the field.
Surgical Tech Degree & Certification Programs
Most surgical technologist schools confer two degrees: an associate’s in science (AS) or an associate’s in applied science (AAS). However, a handful of schools offer a certificate program or a bachelor 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.
Although there are many surgical technologist schools, choosing an accredited program is crucial for employment after graduation. Many states require surgical techs to be board-certified through the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA).
To qualify for the surgical technologist exams offered by the NBSTSA, students must graduate from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). All surgical technologist programs featured here are accredited by CAAHEP, meaning their curriculum and high academic standards will prepare students for national surgical tech certification.
Below are accredited surgical technology degrees and certification programs.
Carrington College (Certificate, AS)
With campuses throughout Phoenix, AZ, and San Jose, CA, Carrington College offers an associate’s degree program to become a surgical technologist. Required courses in this program include microbiology, anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and surgical procedures.
Students graduating from this school have the option to become board certified. The Carrington program requires students to complete 120 surgical cases before graduation, to ensure its graduates are adequately prepared to join the workforce immediately.
This 60-credit program includes courses such as introduction to surgical technology; surgical case management; basic surgical procedures; advanced surgical procedures; anatomy & physiology with medical terminology; principles of mathematics; and introduction to psychology.
- Location: Phoenix, AZ; San Jose, CA
- Accreditation: CAAHEP
- Expected Time to Completion: 15 months
College of Southern Idaho (AAS)
Located in Twin Falls, ID, the College of Southern Idaho offers a two-year degree program in surgical technology. The program instructs students in several aspects of surgery including instrumentation, aseptic technique, anatomy, microbiology, and procedures. In addition, this curriculum enables graduates to sit for national certification testing in surgical technology.
This 60-credit program includes courses such as central sterile processing; surgical concepts; surgical practice and procedures; human anatomy and disease; surgical pharmacology; anesthesia; advanced surgical procedures; and wound closure techniques.
- Location: Twin Falls, ID
- Accreditation: CAAHEP
- Expected Time to Completion: Six semesters
Kingsborough Community College (AAS)
Located in the hustle and bustle of Brooklyn, NY, 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 every subsequent semester to gain the necessary clinical experience. But that experience pays off, with 75 percent of 2020 graduates passing the certified surgical technologist (CST) exam. After the first semester, students are enrolled in practical experiences in operating rooms in various clinics for the remaining five semesters.
- Location: Brooklyn, NY
- Accreditation: CAAHEP
- Expected Time to Completion: 2.5 years
Mt. Hood Community College (AAS)
Offering the only regionally-accredited associate of applied science in surgical technology in Oregon, graduates from the MHCC program can complete their degree in six quarters. The courses in this program follow the Association of Surgical Technologists Core Curriculum and include clinical experiences with local area hospitals.
Students in this program are admitted into a cohort of 20 every fall term and must have a minimum 2.5 GPA. In addition, graduates from this program who want to pursue a bachelor of science can transfer credits to the Oregon Institute of Technology’s allied health management online degree program.
This 92-credit program includes courses such as surgical technology – ophthalmologic and neurosurgery; surgical technology – thoracic, cardiovascular, and vascular surgery; surgical technology – orthopedic surgery; surgical technology – general and pediatric surgery; surgical technology – obstetric, gynecologic, and genitourinary surgery; and surgical technology – otorhino- laryngologic, oromaxillofacial, plastic and burn surgery, among others.
- Location: Gresham, OR
- Accreditation: CAAHEP
- Expected Time to Completion: Two years
New England Institute of Technology (AS)
The New England Institute of Technology (NEIT), located in East Greenwich, RI, offers an AS degree in surgical technology. Graduates from this program have a reputation for finding surgical jobs in the New England area, where they do their practicum experiences.
Before the practicum, students at NEIT will complete 160 hours of intensive surgical simulations, including endovascular and laparoscopic equipment. The program also includes a 20-week clinical externship in the field. Graduates of this 18-month program finish their AS degrees with the opportunity to be board certified.
Made up of 101 credits, the program includes courses such as introduction to surgical technology; surgical instrumentation; surgical procedures; pathophysiology; advanced topics in surgical technology; introduction to medical ethics and bioethics; advanced applications of surgical technology; and operating room laboratory.
- Location: East Greenwich, RI
- Accreditation: CAAHEP
- Expected Time to Completion: 18 months
South Plains College (AAS)
A very versatile program, South Plains College in Lubbock, TX, provides options for new healthcare students and seasoned healthcare professionals to study surgical technology with an associate of applied science degree program. This AAS program includes a practicum as a part of the coursework.
In addition, the last two semesters of the program have hands-on clinical experiences in six area hospitals to prepare graduates for the national and Texas state certification exams.
As part of the program, students will delve into topics such as introduction to surgical technology; fundamentals of perioperative concepts and techniques; surgical procedures; pharmacology for health professions; technological sciences for the surgical technologist; general psychology; and special topics in surgical/operating room technician.
- Location: Lubbock, TX
- Accreditation: CAAHEP
- Expected Time to Completion: 15 months
NYU Langone Health, an academic medical center in New York City, NY, offers a surgical technology program that prepares qualified students to be surgical technologists. This one-year program is divided into two 6-month semesters, with courses starting in September and March. The first semester includes study in basic surgical procedures and aseptic technique fundamentals of operating room technology, while the second semester is spent in the clinical area.
The curriculum includes courses such as introduction and orientation to surgical technology; anatomy and physiology; patient care and safety; principles of operating room technique; surgical procedures; microbiology and pharmacology; and two clinical practices. Students also participate in clinical rotations.
Upon successful completion, graduates are awarded a certificate of completion. This qualifies them to sit for the national certifying examination administered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA).
- Location: New York, NY
- Accreditation: CAAHEP
- Expected Time to Completion: 12 months
List of Surgical Technologist Schools
| School | City | State | Website | GRADS ('21) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madisonville Community College | Madisonville | Kentucky | https://madisonville.kctcs.edu | 125 |
| Ivy Tech Community College | Indianapolis | Indiana | https://www.ivytech.edu | 112 |
| San Jacinto Community College | Pasadena | Texas | https://www.sanjac.edu | 87 |
| Elgin Community College | Elgin | Illinois | https://www.elgin.edu | 76 |
| John C Calhoun State Community College | Tanner | Alabama | https://calhoun.edu | 55 |
| Mandl School-The College of Allied Health | New York | New York | https://mandl.edu | 55 |
| Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology | Wichita | Kansas | https://wsutech.edu | 55 |
| Tulsa Technology Center | Tulsa | Oklahoma | https://tulsatech.edu | 53 |
| Gulf Coast State College | Panama City | Florida | https://www.gulfcoast.edu | 52 |
| Community Care College | Tulsa | Oklahoma | https://communitycarecollege.edu | 51 |
| Southeast Community College Area | Lincoln | Nebraska | https://www.southeast.edu | 50 |
| Glendale Career College | Glendale | California | https://www.success.edu | 48 |
| Jefferson Community and Technical College | Louisville | Kentucky | https://jefferson.kctcs.edu | 48 |
| Collin County Community College District | McKinney | Texas | https://www.collin.edu | 45 |
| Nashville State Community College | Nashville | Tennessee | https://www.nscc.edu | 45 |
| Southern Crescent Technical College | Griffin | Georgia | https://www.sctech.edu | 44 |
| Wayne County Community College District | Detroit | Michigan | https://www.wcccd.edu | 44 |
| Nevada Career Institute | Las Vegas | Nevada | https://www.nevadacareerinstitute.com | 43 |
| Brookline College-Tempe | Tempe | Arizona | https://www.brooklinecollege.edu | 42 |
| Eastwick College-Ramsey | Ramsey | New Jersey | https://eastwick.edu | 42 |
| Southeastern College-West Palm Beach | West Palm Beach | Florida | https://www.sec.edu | 42 |
| College of Southern Idaho | Twin Falls | Idaho | https://www.csi.edu | 41 |
| American Career College-Anaheim | Anaheim | California | https://americancareercollege.edu | 40 |
| Concorde Career College-Grand Prairie | Grand Prairie | Texas | https://www.concorde.edu/campus/grand-prairie-texas | 39 |
| Salt Lake Community College | Salt Lake City | Utah | https://www.slcc.edu | 39 |
| Southern Technical College | Fort Myers | Florida | https://www.southerntech.edu | 38 |
| Central Ohio Technical College | Newark | Ohio | https://www.cotc.edu | 37 |
| Georgia Northwestern Technical College | Rome | Georgia | https://www.gntc.edu | 37 |
| Macomb Community College | Warren | Michigan | https://www.macomb.edu | 37 |
| St Cloud Technical and Community College | Saint Cloud | Minnesota | https://sctcc.edu | 37 |
| Arkansas State University-Newport | Newport | Arkansas | https://www.asun.edu | 35 |
| San Juan College | Farmington | New Mexico | https://www.sanjuancollege.edu | 35 |
| Northeast Wisconsin Technical College | Green Bay | Wisconsin | https://www.nwtc.edu | 34 |
| Pima Medical Institute-Phoenix | Phoenix | Arizona | https://pmi.edu | 34 |
| Renton Technical College | Renton | Washington | https://www.rtc.edu | 34 |
| American Career College-Ontario | Ontario | California | https://americancareercollege.edu | 33 |
| GateWay Community College | Phoenix | Arizona | https://www.gatewaycc.edu | 33 |
| Amarillo College | Amarillo | Texas | https://www.actx.edu | 32 |
| Austin Community College District | Austin | Texas | https://www.austincc.edu | 32 |
| Tyler Junior College | Tyler | Texas | https://www.tjc.edu | 32 |
| American Career College-Los Angeles | Los Angeles | California | https://americancareercollege.edu | 31 |
| Atlanta Technical College | Atlanta | Georgia | https://atlantatech.edu | 31 |
| College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn | Illinois | https://www.cod.edu | 31 |
| Pima Medical Institute-Denver | Denver | Colorado | https://pmi.edu | 31 |
| Baptist Health College Little Rock | Little Rock | Arkansas | https://www.bhclr.edu | 30 |
| Chattahoochee Technical College | Marietta | Georgia | https://www.chattahoocheetech.edu | 30 |
| Columbia Basin College | Pasco | Washington | https://www.columbiabasin.edu | 30 |
| Concorde Career College-San Antonio | San Antonio | Texas | https://www.concorde.edu/campus/san-antonio-texas | 30 |
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey Campus | San Juan | Puerto Rico | https://uagm.edu/es | 30 |
| Baker College | Owosso | Michigan | https://www.baker.edu | 29 |
| Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City | Kansas City | Missouri | https://www.mcckc.edu | 29 |
| New England Institute of Technology | East Greenwich | Rhode Island | https://www.neit.edu | 29 |
| Seattle Central College | Seattle | Washington | https://seattlecentral.edu | 29 |
| Southeast Technical College | Sioux Falls | South Dakota | https://www.southeasttech.edu | 29 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College | Chicago | Illinois | https://www.ccc.edu/colleges/malcolm-x | 28 |
| College of Western Idaho | Nampa | Idaho | https://cwi.edu | 28 |
| Houston Community College | Houston | Texas | https://www.hccs.edu | 28 |
| Lansing Community College | Lansing | Michigan | https://www.lcc.edu | 28 |
| Texas State Technical College | Waco | Texas | https://www.tstc.edu | 28 |
| University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College | North Little Rock | Arkansas | https://uaptc.edu | 28 |
| Gwinnett Technical College | Lawrenceville | Georgia | https://gwinnetttech.edu | 27 |
| Quincy College | Quincy | Massachusetts | https://www.quincycollege.edu | 27 |
| Saint Paul College | Saint Paul | Minnesota | https://www.saintpaul.edu | 27 |
| Contra Costa Medical Career College | Antioch | California | https://www.ccmcc.edu | 26 |
| Milwaukee Area Technical College | Milwaukee | Wisconsin | https://www.matc.edu | 26 |
| Neosho County Community College | Chanute | Kansas | https://www.neosho.edu | 26 |
| Aims Community College | Greeley | Colorado | https://www.aims.edu | 25 |
| Bellingham Technical College | Bellingham | Washington | https://www.btc.edu | 25 |
| Bunker Hill Community College | Boston | Massachusetts | https://www.bhcc.mass.edu | 25 |
| Guilford Technical Community College | Jamestown | North Carolina | https://www.gtcc.edu | 25 |
| Pittsburgh Technical College | Oakdale | Pennsylvania | https://ptcollege.edu | 25 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville | Knoxville | Tennessee | https://tcatknoxville.edu | 25 |
| Coastal Alabama Community College | Bay Minette | Alabama | https://www.coastalalabama.edu | 24 |
| Concorde Career Institute-Tampa | Tampa | Florida | https://www.concorde.edu/campus/tampa-florida | 24 |
| Paris Junior College | Paris | Texas | https://www.parisjc.edu | 24 |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Fresno | Fresno | California | https://www.sjvc.edu | 24 |
| Wiregrass Georgia Technical College | Valdosta | Georgia | https://www.wiregrass.edu | 24 |
| Central Georgia Technical College | Warner Robins | Georgia | https://www.centralgatech.edu | 23 |
| Concorde Career College-Aurora | Aurora | Colorado | https://www.concorde.edu/campus/aurora-colorado | 23 |
| Concorde Career Institute-Orlando | Orlando | Florida | https://www.concorde.edu/campus/orlando-florida | 23 |
| ECPI University | Virginia Beach | Virginia | https://www.ecpi.edu | 23 |
| Kirkwood Community College | Cedar Rapids | Iowa | https://www.kirkwood.edu | 23 |
| Lone Star College System | The Woodlands | Texas | https://www.lonestar.edu | 23 |
| Nassau Community College | Garden City | New York | https://www.ncc.edu | 23 |
| Rasmussen University-Illinois | Rockford | Illinois | https://www.rasmussen.edu | 23 |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield | Bakersfield | California | https://www.sjvc.edu | 23 |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova | Rancho Cordova | California | https://www.sjvc.edu | 23 |
| Stautzenberger College-Brecksville | Brecksville | Ohio | https://www.sctoday.edu | 23 |
| Suncoast Technical College | Sarasota | Florida | https://www.sarasotacountyschools.net/suncoasttechnicalcollege | 23 |
| Concorde Career College-Portland | Portland | Oregon | https://www.concorde.edu/campus/portland-oregon | 22 |
| Gadsden State Community College | Gadsden | Alabama | https://www.gadsdenstate.edu | 22 |
| Hudson Valley Community College | Troy | New York | https://www.hvcc.edu | 22 |
| Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale | Fort Lauderdale | Florida | https://www.keiseruniversity.edu | 22 |
| Metro Technology Centers | Oklahoma City | Oklahoma | https://www.metrotech.edu | 22 |
| Mount Aloysius College | Cresson | Pennsylvania | https://www.mtaloy.edu | 22 |
| Niagara County Community College | Sanborn | New York | https://www.niagaracc.suny.edu | 22 |
| Northwest Mississippi Community College | Senatobia | Mississippi | https://www.northwestms.edu | 22 |
| Rasmussen University-Minnesota | St. Cloud | Minnesota | https://www.rasmussen.edu | 22 |
| Southeast Arkansas College | Pine Bluff | Arkansas | https://www.seark.edu | 22 |
| CBD College | Los Angeles | California | https://www.cbd.edu | 21 |
| City College-Altamonte Springs | Altamonte Springs | Florida | https://www.citycollege.edu | 21 |
| Frederick Community College | Frederick | Maryland | https://www.frederick.edu | 21 |
| Indian River State College | Fort Pierce | Florida | https://irsc.edu | 21 |
| Owens Community College | Perrysburg | Ohio | https://www.owens.edu | 21 |
| Augusta Technical College | Augusta | Georgia | https://www.augustatech.edu | 20 |
| Bluegrass Community and Technical College | Lexington | Kentucky | https://bluegrass.kctcs.edu | 20 |
| Central Oklahoma College | Oklahoma City | Oklahoma | https://centraloc.edu | 20 |
| Great Falls College Montana State University | Great Falls | Montana | https://www.gfcmsu.edu | 20 |
| Lorain County Community College | Elyria | Ohio | https://www.lorainccc.edu | 20 |
| Northland Community and Technical College | Thief River Falls | Minnesota | https://www.northlandcollege.edu | 20 |
| Orange Technical College-Orlando Campus | Orlando | Florida | https://www.orangetechcollege.net | 20 |
| Pearl River Community College | Poplarville | Mississippi | https://prcc.edu | 20 |
| Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences | Lancaster | Pennsylvania | https://www.pacollege.edu | 20 |
| Sinclair Community College | Dayton | Ohio | https://www.sinclair.edu | 20 |
| Tarrant County College District | Fort Worth | Texas | https://www.tccd.edu | 20 |
| Delgado Community College | New Orleans | Louisiana | https://www.dcc.edu | 19 |
| Greenville Technical College | Greenville | South Carolina | https://www.gvltec.edu | 19 |
| Hutchinson Community College | Hutchinson | Kansas | https://www.hutchcc.edu | 19 |
| Medical Career Institute | Ocean | New Jersey | https://www.mcinj.edu | 19 |
| Moore Norman Technology Center | Norman | Oklahoma | https://www.mntc.edu | 19 |
| North-West College-Long Beach | Long Beach | California | https://www.nw.edu | 19 |
| O C Collins Career Center | Chesapeake | Ohio | https://www.collins-cc.edu | 19 |
| Savannah Technical College | Savannah | Georgia | https://www.savannahtech.edu | 19 |
| Southern Regional Technical College | Thomasville | Georgia | https://southernregional.edu | 19 |
| Spartanburg Community College | Spartanburg | South Carolina | https://www.sccsc.edu | 19 |
| Stark State College | North Canton | Ohio | https://www.starkstate.edu | 19 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Murfreesboro | Murfreesboro | Tennessee | https://tcatmurfreesboro.edu | 19 |
| Ulster BOCES-School of Practical Nursing | Port Ewen | New York | https://www.ulsterboces.org | 19 |
| American Institute of Medical Sciences & Education | Piscataway | New Jersey | https://aimseducation.edu | 18 |
| Pittsburgh Career Institute | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | https://www.pci.edu | 18 |
| Saint Louis Community College | Bridgeton | Missouri | https://stlcc.edu | 18 |
| Scioto County Career Technical Center | Lucasville | Ohio | https://www.sciototech.org | 18 |
| Sheridan Technical College | Hollywood | Florida | https://www.sheridantechnicalcollege.edu | 18 |
| South Plains College | Levelland | Texas | https://www.southplainscollege.edu | 18 |
| Spokane Community College | Spokane | Washington | https://scc.spokane.edu | 18 |
| Central Piedmont Community College | Charlotte | North Carolina | https://www.cpcc.edu | 17 |
| Clover Park Technical College | Lakewood | Washington | https://www.cptc.edu | 17 |
| Davis Technical College | Kaysville | Utah | https://www.davistech.edu | 17 |
| EHOVE Career Center | Milan | Ohio | https://www.ehove.net | 17 |
| Front Range Community College | Westminster | Colorado | https://www.frontrange.edu | 17 |
| Illinois Central College | East Peoria | Illinois | https://icc.edu | 17 |
| Kirtland Community College | Grayling | Michigan | https://www.kirtland.edu | 17 |
| Lamar State College-Port Arthur | Port Arthur | Texas | https://www.lamarpa.edu | 17 |
| Laurel Ridge Community College | Middletown | Virginia | https://laurelridge.edu | 17 |
| Luzerne County Community College | Nanticoke | Pennsylvania | https://www.luzerne.edu | 17 |
| Mid-State Technical College | Wisconsin Rapids | Wisconsin | https://www.mstc.edu | 17 |
| Midwest Institute | Fenton | Missouri | https://www.midwestinstitute.edu | 17 |
| Miller-Motte College-Charleston | Charleston | South Carolina | https://www.miller-motte.edu | 17 |
| Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga | Chattanooga | Tennessee | https://www.miller-motte.edu | 17 |
| Mountainland Technical College | Lehi | Utah | https://mtec.edu | 17 |
| Rochester Community and Technical College | Rochester | Minnesota | https://www.rctc.edu | 17 |
| Rockingham Community College | Wentworth | North Carolina | https://www.rockinghamcc.edu | 17 |
| Trocaire College | Buffalo | New York | https://trocaire.edu | 17 |
| Housatonic Community College | Bridgeport | Connecticut | https://housatonic.edu | 16 |
| Linn-Benton Community College | Albany | Oregon | https://www.linnbenton.edu | 16 |
| Madison Area Technical College | Madison | Wisconsin | https://madisoncollege.edu | 16 |
| Miller-Motte College-McCann-Monroe | Monroe | Louisiana | https://www.mccann.edu | 16 |
| Northwest Technical Institute | Springdale | Arkansas | https://nwti.edu | 16 |
| Piedmont Technical College | Greenwood | South Carolina | https://www.ptc.edu | 16 |
| Pueblo Community College | Pueblo | Colorado | https://pueblocc.edu | 16 |
| Southern Union State Community College | Wadley | Alabama | https://www.suscc.edu | 16 |
| Springfield Technical Community College | Springfield | Massachusetts | https://www.stcc.edu | 16 |
| University of Cincinnati-Clermont College | Batavia | Ohio | https://www.ucclermont.edu | 16 |
| West Virginia University at Parkersburg | Parkersburg | West Virginia | https://www.wvup.edu | 16 |
| Baton Rouge Community College | Baton Rouge | Louisiana | https://www.mybrcc.edu | 15 |
| Buckeye Hills Career Center | Rio Grande | Ohio | https://www.buckeyehills.net | 15 |
| Center for Allied Health Education | Brooklyn | New York | https://www.cahe.edu | 15 |
| Concorde Career Institute-Miramar | Miramar | Florida | https://www.concorde.edu/campus/miramar-florida | 15 |
| Delta College | University Center | Michigan | https://www.delta.edu | 15 |
| Fortis Institute-Nashville | Nashville | Tennessee | https://www.fortis.edu | 15 |
| Lenoir Community College | Kinston | North Carolina | https://www.lenoircc.edu | 15 |
| Monroe Community College | Rochester | New York | https://www.monroecc.edu | 15 |
| North Central Texas College | Gainesville | Texas | https://www.nctc.edu | 15 |
| Pinellas Technical College-St. Petersburg | Saint Petersburg | Florida | https://www.pcsb.org/myptc | 15 |
| Riveroak Technical College | Live Oak | Florida | https://rtc.suwannee.k12.fl.us | 15 |
| Tallahassee Community College | Tallahassee | Florida | https://www.tcc.fl.edu | 15 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Hohenwald | Hohenwald | Tennessee | https://tcathohenwald.edu | 15 |
| University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | Fort Smith | Arkansas | https://uafs.edu | 15 |
| Walters State Community College | Morristown | Tennessee | https://www.ws.edu | 15 |
| Career Networks Institute | Santa Ana | California | https://cnicollege.edu | 14 |
| Catawba Valley Community College | Hickory | North Carolina | https://www.cvcc.edu | 14 |
| Community College of Allegheny County | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | https://www.ccac.edu | 14 |
| Concorde Career College-San Bernardino | San Bernardino | California | https://www.concorde.edu/campus/san-bernardino-california | 14 |
| Concorde Career Institute-Jacksonville | Jacksonville | Florida | https://www.concorde.edu/campus/jacksonville-florida | 14 |
| Cuyahoga Community College District | Cleveland | Ohio | https://www.tri-c.edu | 14 |
| East Mississippi Community College | Scooba | Mississippi | https://www.eastms.edu | 14 |
| El Paso Community College | El Paso | Texas | https://www.epcc.edu | 14 |
| Great Lakes Institute of Technology | Erie | Pennsylvania | https://glit.edu | 14 |
| Great Plains Technology Center | Lawton | Oklahoma | https://www.greatplains.edu | 14 |
| Itawamba Community College | Fulton | Mississippi | https://www.iccms.edu | 14 |
| Lorenzo Walker Technical College | Naples | Florida | https://www.collierschools.com/lwtc | 14 |
| Manchester Community College | Manchester | Connecticut | https://www.manchestercc.edu | 14 |
| North Arkansas College | Harrison | Arkansas | https://www.northark.edu | 14 |
| Northeast State Community College | Blountville | Tennessee | https://www.northeaststate.edu | 14 |
| Parkland College | Champaign | Illinois | https://www.parkland.edu | 14 |
| St Philip's College | San Antonio | Texas | https://www.alamo.edu/spc | 14 |
| The College of Health Care Professions-Northwest | Houston | Texas | https://www.chcp.edu | 14 |
| The College of Health Care Professions-San Antonio | San Antonio | Texas | https://www.chcp.edu | 14 |
| Triton College | River Grove | Illinois | https://www.triton.edu | 14 |
| University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne | Fort Wayne | Indiana | https://www.sf.edu | 14 |
| Choffin Career and Technical Center | Youngstown | Ohio | https://choffinctc.com/adult-education | 13 |
| Cleveland Community College | Shelby | North Carolina | https://clevelandcc.edu | 13 |
| Delaware County Community College | Media | Pennsylvania | https://www.dccc.edu | 13 |
| Eastern Iowa Community College District | Davenport | Iowa | https://eicc.edu | 13 |
| Gateway Community College | New Haven | Connecticut | https://www.gatewayct.edu | 13 |
| Herzing University-New Orleans | Metairie | Louisiana | https://www.herzing.edu | 13 |
| Horry-Georgetown Technical College | Conway | South Carolina | https://www.hgtc.edu | 13 |
| Palm Beach State College | Lake Worth | Florida | https://www.palmbeachstate.edu | 13 |
| Premiere Career College | Irwindale | California | https://www.premierecollege.education | 13 |
| South College | Knoxville | Tennessee | https://www.south.edu | 13 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jackson | Jackson | Tennessee | https://tcatjackson.edu | 13 |
| Vincennes University | Vincennes | Indiana | https://www.vinu.edu | 13 |
| Yakima Valley College | Yakima | Washington | https://www.yvcc.edu | 13 |
| Anoka Technical College | Anoka | Minnesota | https://www.anokatech.edu | 12 |
| Bergen Community College | Paramus | New Jersey | https://bergen.edu | 12 |
| Bevill State Community College | Jasper | Alabama | https://www.bscc.edu | 12 |
| Concorde Career College-Dallas | Dallas | Texas | https://www.concorde.edu/campus/dallas-texas | 12 |
| CUNY Kingsborough Community College | Brooklyn | New York | https://www.kbcc.cuny.edu | 12 |
| Durham Technical Community College | Durham | North Carolina | https://www.durhamtech.edu | 12 |
| East Central Community College | Decatur | Mississippi | https://www.eccc.edu | 12 |
| Fortis College-Orange Park | Orange Park | Florida | https://www.fortis.edu | 12 |
| Harrisburg Area Community College | Harrisburg | Pennsylvania | https://www.hacc.edu | 12 |
| Hinds Community College | Raymond | Mississippi | https://www.hindscc.edu | 12 |
| Miller-Motte College-McCann-Lewisburg | Lewisburg | Pennsylvania | https://www.mccann.edu | 12 |
| Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College | Perkinston | Mississippi | https://mgccc.edu | 12 |
| Monongalia County Technical Education Center | Morgantown | West Virginia | https://mtec.mono.k12.wv.us | 12 |
| Mt. Diablo Adult Education-Mt. Diablo USD | Concord | California | https://mdae.mdusd.org | 12 |
| Onondaga Community College | Syracuse | New York | https://www.sunyocc.edu | 12 |
| Pensacola State College | Pensacola | Florida | https://www.pensacolastate.edu | 12 |
| Pima Medical Institute-Chula Vista | Chula Vista | California | https://pmi.edu | 12 |
| Robeson Community College | Lumberton | North Carolina | https://www.robeson.edu | 12 |
| Temple College | Temple | Texas | https://www.templejc.edu | 12 |
| Vernon College | Vernon | Texas | https://www.vernoncollege.edu | 12 |
| Washington County Career Center-Adult Technical Training | Marietta | Ohio | https://www.thecareercenter.net | 12 |
| West Virginia Northern Community College | Wheeling | West Virginia | https://www.wvncc.edu | 12 |
| Western Dakota Technical College | Rapid City | South Dakota | https://www.wdt.edu | 12 |
| Angelina College | Lufkin | Texas | https://www.angelina.edu | 11 |
| Cincinnati State Technical and Community College | Cincinnati | Ohio | https://www.cincinnatistate.edu | 11 |
| College of Lake County | Grayslake | Illinois | https://www.clcillinois.edu | 11 |
| College of Southern Nevada | Las Vegas | Nevada | https://www.csn.edu | 11 |
| Columbus State Community College | Columbus | Ohio | https://www.cscc.edu | 11 |
| Columbus Technical College | Columbus | Georgia | https://www.columbustech.edu | 11 |
| Concorde Career College-Memphis | Memphis | Tennessee | https://www.concorde.edu/campus/memphis-tennessee | 11 |
| Davidson-Davie Community College | Thomasville | North Carolina | https://www.davidsondavie.edu | 11 |
| Des Moines Area Community College | Ankeny | Iowa | https://www.dmacc.edu | 11 |
| Fayetteville Technical Community College | Fayetteville | North Carolina | https://www.faytechcc.edu | 11 |
| McLennan Community College | Waco | Texas | https://www.mclennan.edu | 11 |
| Minnesota State Community and Technical College | Fergus Falls | Minnesota | https://www.minnesota.edu | 11 |
| Northern Michigan University | Marquette | Michigan | https://nmu.edu | 11 |
| Pikes Peak Community College | Colorado Springs | Colorado | https://www.pikespeak.edu | 11 |
| Quinsigamond Community College | Worcester | Massachusetts | https://www.qcc.edu | 11 |
| Rolla Technical Institute/Center | Rolla | Missouri | https://rtirtc.rolla31.org | 11 |
| Sandhills Community College | Pinehurst | North Carolina | https://www.sandhills.edu | 11 |
| Seward County Community College | Liberal | Kansas | https://sccc.edu | 11 |
| Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College | Cumberland | Kentucky | https://southeast.kctcs.edu | 11 |
| Sullivan University | Louisville | Kentucky | https://www.sullivan.edu | 11 |
| The University of Montana | Missoula | Montana | https://www.umt.edu | 11 |
| Trinity Valley Community College | Athens | Texas | https://www.tvcc.edu | 11 |
| Waubonsee Community College | Sugar Grove | Illinois | https://www.waubonsee.edu | 11 |
| American College of Healthcare and Technology | Riverside | California | https://www.ach.edu | 10 |
| Atenas College | Manati | Puerto Rico | https://www.atenascollege.edu | 10 |
| Black Hawk College | Moline | Illinois | https://www.bhc.edu | 10 |
| Cabarrus College of Health Sciences | Concord | North Carolina | https://cabarruscollege.edu | 10 |
| Central Carolina Technical College | Sumter | South Carolina | https://www.cctech.edu | 10 |
| Chesapeake College | Wye Mills | Maryland | https://www.chesapeake.edu | 10 |
| College of Central Florida | Ocala | Florida | https://www.cf.edu | 10 |
| Del Mar College | Corpus Christi | Texas | https://www.delmar.edu | 10 |
| Dixie State University | Saint George | Utah | https://utahtech.edu | 10 |
| Fletcher Technical Community College | Schriever | Louisiana | https://www.fletcher.edu | 10 |
| Fortis College-Baton Rouge | Baton Rouge | Louisiana | https://www.fortis.edu | 10 |
| Iowa Western Community College | Council Bluffs | Iowa | https://www.iwcc.edu | 10 |
| Massachusetts Bay Community College | Wellesley Hills | Massachusetts | https://www.massbay.edu | 10 |
| North Shore Community College | Danvers | Massachusetts | https://www.northshore.edu | 10 |
| North-West College-Riverside | Riverside | California | https://www.north-westcollege.edu | 10 |
| North-West College-West Covina | West Covina | California | https://www.north-westcollege.edu | 10 |
| Pima Community College | Tucson | Arizona | https://www.pima.edu | 10 |
| Roosevelt University | Chicago | Illinois | https://www.roosevelt.edu | 10 |
| Sentara College of Health Sciences | Chesapeake | Virginia | https://www.sentara.edu | 10 |
| Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College | Bowling Green | Kentucky | https://southcentral.kctcs.edu | 10 |
| Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College | Mount Gay | West Virginia | https://www.southernwv.edu | 10 |
| Traviss Technical College | Lakeland | Florida | http://www.polkedpathways.com/traviss-technical-college | 10 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown | Johnstown | Pennsylvania | https://www.johnstown.pitt.edu | 10 |
| Washtenaw Community College | Ann Arbor | Michigan | https://www.wccnet.edu | 10 |
| Western Iowa Tech Community College | Sioux City | Iowa | https://www.witcc.edu | 10 |
| William Rainey Harper College | Palatine | Illinois | https://www.harpercollege.edu | 10 |
| York Technical College | Rock Hill | South Carolina | https://www.yorktech.edu | 10 |
| Anne Arundel Community College | Arnold | Maryland | https://www.aacc.edu | 9 |
| Athens Technical College | Athens | Georgia | https://www.athenstech.edu | 9 |
| Blackhawk Technical College | Janesville | Wisconsin | https://www.blackhawk.edu | 9 |
| Blue Ridge Community College | Flat Rock | North Carolina | https://www.blueridge.edu | 9 |
| Canadian Valley Technology Center | El Reno | Oklahoma | https://cvtech.edu | 9 |
| Coastal Carolina Community College | Jacksonville | North Carolina | https://www.coastalcarolina.edu | 9 |
| Eastern Maine Community College | Bangor | Maine | https://www.emcc.edu | 9 |
| Florence-Darlington Technical College | Florence | South Carolina | https://www.fdtc.edu | 9 |
| Fortis College-Richmond | Richmond | Virginia | https://www.fortis.edu | 9 |
| Gateway Technical College | Kenosha | Wisconsin | https://www.gtc.edu | 9 |
| Indian Capital Technology Center-Muskogee | Muskogee | Oklahoma | https://www.ictech.edu | 9 |
| Midlands Technical College | West Columbia | South Carolina | https://www.midlandstech.edu | 9 |
| Milwaukee Career College | Milwaukee | Wisconsin | https://mkecc.edu | 9 |
| Mohawk Valley Community College | Utica | New York | https://www.mvcc.edu | 9 |
| Northcentral Technical College | Wausau | Wisconsin | https://www.ntc.edu | 9 |
| South Central Career Center | West Plains | Missouri | https://www.zizzers.org | 9 |
| Southeast New Mexico College | Carlsbad | New Mexico | https://senmc.edu | 9 |
| Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College | Rockford | Illinois | https://www.rockfordcareercollege.edu | 9 |
| Swedish Institute a College of Health Sciences | New York | New York | https://www.swedishinstitute.edu | 9 |
| Washburn Institute of Technology | Topeka | Kansas | https://www.washburntech.edu | 9 |
| West Kentucky Community and Technical College | Paducah | Kentucky | https://westkentucky.kctcs.edu | 9 |
| Western Technical College | La Crosse | Wisconsin | https://www.westerntc.edu | 9 |
| Aiken Technical College | Graniteville | South Carolina | https://www.atc.edu | 8 |
| Altierus Career College-Norcross | Norcross | Georgia | https://www.altierus.edu/campus/norcross | 8 |
| Ashland Community and Technical College | Ashland | Kentucky | https://ashland.kctcs.edu | 8 |
| Central New Mexico Community College | Albuquerque | New Mexico | https://www.cnm.edu | 8 |
| Central Technology Center | Drumright | Oklahoma | https://www.centraltech.edu | 8 |
| Chippewa Valley Technical College | Eau Claire | Wisconsin | https://www.cvtc.edu | 8 |
| Cisco College | Cisco | Texas | https://www.cisco.edu | 8 |
| Coastal Pines Technical College | Waycross | Georgia | https://coastalpines.edu | 8 |
| College of the Albemarle | Elizabeth City | North Carolina | https://www.albemarle.edu | 8 |
| Colorado Mesa University | Grand Junction | Colorado | https://www.coloradomesa.edu | 8 |
| Erwin Technical College | Tampa | Florida | https://www.hillsboroughschools.org/erwin | 8 |
| Fortis College-Columbus | Westerville | Ohio | https://www.fortiscollege.edu | 8 |
| Howard College | Big Spring | Texas | https://howardcollege.edu | 8 |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo | Arecibo | Puerto Rico | https://www.arecibo.inter.edu | 8 |
| James Rumsey Technical Institute | Martinsburg | West Virginia | https://jamesrumsey.com | 8 |
| John Wood Community College | Quincy | Illinois | https://www.jwcc.edu | 8 |
| Lincoln Land Community College | Springfield | Illinois | https://www.llcc.edu | 8 |
| Meridian Community College | Meridian | Mississippi | https://www.meridiancc.edu | 8 |
| Moraine Park Technical College | Fond du Lac | Wisconsin | https://www.morainepark.edu | 8 |
| North Idaho College | Coeur d'Alene | Idaho | https://www.nic.edu | 8 |
| Oakland Community College | Bloomfield Hills | Michigan | https://www.oaklandcc.edu | 8 |
| Odessa College | Odessa | Texas | https://www.odessa.edu | 8 |
| Pennsylvania College of Technology | Williamsport | Pennsylvania | https://www.pct.edu | 8 |
| Prince George's Community College | Largo | Maryland | https://www.pgcc.edu | 8 |
| Radford University | Radford | Virginia | https://www.radford.edu | 8 |
| Rock Valley College | Rockford | Illinois | https://www.rockvalleycollege.edu | 8 |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Temecula | Temecula | California | https://www.sjvc.edu | 8 |
| Somerset Community College | Somerset | Kentucky | https://somerset.kctcs.edu/about | 8 |
| Stautzenberger College-Maumee | Maumee | Ohio | https://www.sctoday.edu | 8 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Crossville | Crossville | Tennessee | https://tcatcrossville.edu | 8 |
| Valley College of Medical Careers | West Hills | California | https://www.vcmc.edu | 8 |
| Western Suffolk BOCES | Northport | New York | https://www.wilsontech.org | 8 |
| Albany Technical College | Albany | Georgia | https://www.albanytech.edu | 7 |
| College of Eastern Idaho | Idaho Falls | Idaho | https://cei.edu | 7 |
| Community College of Denver | Denver | Colorado | https://www.ccd.edu | 7 |
| Concorde Career College-San Diego | San Diego | California | https://www.concorde.edu/campus/san-diego-california | 7 |
| Dallas College | Dallas | Texas | https://www.dallascollege.edu | 7 |
| East Valley Institute of Technology | Mesa | Arizona | https://www.evit.com | 7 |
| Edgecombe Community College | Tarboro | North Carolina | https://edgecombe.edu | 7 |
| Fortis College | Houston | Texas | https://www.fortis.edu | 7 |
| Iowa Lakes Community College | Estherville | Iowa | https://iowalakes.edu | 7 |
| Mohave Community College | Kingman | Arizona | https://www.mohave.edu | 7 |
| Ogeechee Technical College | Statesboro | Georgia | https://www.ogeecheetech.edu | 7 |
| Pasco-Hernando State College | New Port Richey | Florida | https://www.phsc.edu | 7 |
| Piedmont Virginia Community College | Charlottesville | Virginia | https://www.pvcc.edu | 7 |
| Rasmussen University-North Dakota | Fargo | North Dakota | https://www.rasmussen.edu | 7 |
| Riverside College of Health Careers | Newport News | Virginia | https://www.riverside.edu | 7 |
| Skyline College | San Bruno | California | https://skylinecollege.edu | 7 |
| South Arkansas Community College | El Dorado | Arkansas | https://www.southark.edu | 7 |
| Uintah Basin Technical College | Roosevelt | Utah | https://ubtech.edu | 7 |
| Waukesha County Technical College | Pewaukee | Wisconsin | https://www.wctc.edu | 7 |
| West Georgia Technical College | Waco | Georgia | https://www.westgatech.edu | 7 |
| Abcott Institute | Southfield | Michigan | https://abcott.edu | 6 |
| Carrington College-San Jose | San Jose | California | https://carrington.edu | 6 |
| Delaware Technical Community College-Terry | Dover | Delaware | https://www.dtcc.edu | 6 |
| Fortis Institute-Cookeville | Cookeville | Tennessee | https://www.fortis.edu | 6 |
| Hazard Community and Technical College | Hazard | Kentucky | https://hazard.kctcs.edu | 6 |
| Lackawanna College | Scranton | Pennsylvania | https://www.lackawanna.edu | 6 |
| Laramie County Community College | Cheyenne | Wyoming | https://www.lccc.wy.edu | 6 |
| Lurleen B Wallace Community College | Andalusia | Alabama | https://www.lbwcc.edu | 6 |
| Mercy College of Health Sciences | Des Moines | Iowa | https://www.mchs.edu | 6 |
| Miller-Motte College-Platt College-OKC-Memorial | Oklahoma City | Oklahoma | https://www.miller-motte.edu/campuses/oklahoma | 6 |
| North-West College-Anaheim | Anaheim | California | https://www.nw.edu | 6 |
| Northwestern Michigan College | Traverse City | Michigan | https://www.nmc.edu | 6 |
| Ozarks Technical Community College | Springfield | Missouri | https://www.otc.edu | 6 |
| Tri-County Technical College | Pendleton | South Carolina | https://www.tctc.edu | 6 |
| Wilson Community College | Wilson | North Carolina | https://www.wilsoncc.edu | 6 |
| Bismarck State College | Bismarck | North Dakota | https://bismarckstate.edu | 5 |
| Camden County College | Blackwood | New Jersey | https://www.camdencc.edu | 5 |
| Cape Fear Community College | Wilmington | North Carolina | https://cfcc.edu | 5 |
| Flathead Valley Community College | Kalispell | Montana | https://www.fvcc.edu | 5 |
| Great Bay Community College | Portsmouth | New Hampshire | https://www.greatbay.edu | 5 |
| Lakeland Community College | Kirtland | Ohio | https://www.lakelandcc.edu | 5 |
| Manatee Technical College | Bradenton | Florida | https://www.manateetech.edu | 5 |
| Montgomery County Community College | Blue Bell | Pennsylvania | https://www.mc3.edu | 5 |
| Owensboro Community and Technical College | Owensboro | Kentucky | https://owensboro.kctcs.edu | 5 |
| Prairie State College | Chicago Heights | Illinois | https://prairiestate.edu | 5 |
| Richland Community College | Decatur | Illinois | https://www.richland.edu | 5 |
| Washburn University | Topeka | Kansas | https://www.washburn.edu | 5 |
| Western Nebraska Community College | Scottsbluff | Nebraska | https://www.wncc.edu | 5 |
| Alvernia University | Reading | Pennsylvania | https://www.alvernia.edu | 4 |
| Autry Technology Center | Enid | Oklahoma | https://autrytech.edu | 4 |
| Blinn College | Brenham | Texas | https://www.blinn.edu | 4 |
| Chester Career College | CHESTER | Virginia | https://www.chestercareercollege.edu | 4 |
| George C Wallace Community College-Dothan | Dothan | Alabama | https://www.wallace.edu | 4 |
| Lanier Technical College | Gainesville | Georgia | https://www.laniertech.edu | 4 |
| Minnesota West Community and Technical College | Granite Falls | Minnesota | https://www.mnwest.edu | 4 |
| Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences | Reading | Pennsylvania | https://reading.towerhealth.org/health-sciences | 4 |
| Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences | Cape Girardeau | Missouri | https://www.sehcollege.edu | 4 |
| Southern Maine Community College | South Portland | Maine | https://www.smccme.edu | 4 |
| Southwestern College | Chula Vista | California | https://www.swccd.edu | 4 |
| Trine University | Angola | Indiana | https://www.trine.edu | 4 |
| Wes Watkins Technology Center | Wetumka | Oklahoma | https://www.wwtech.org | 4 |
| Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College | Asheville | North Carolina | https://abtech.edu | 3 |
| Baltimore City Community College | Baltimore | Maryland | https://www.bccc.edu | 3 |
| California Healing Arts College | Carson | California | https://www.chac.edu | 3 |
| Charles H McCann Technical School | North Adams | Massachusetts | https://www.mccanntech.org | 3 |
| Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies | Springfield | Missouri | https://www.drury.edu/go | 3 |
| Marion Technical College | Marion | Ohio | https://www.mtc.edu | 3 |
| Technical College of the Lowcountry | Beaufort | South Carolina | https://www.tcl.edu | 3 |
| The College of Health Care Professions-Austin | Austin | Texas | https://www.chcp.edu | 3 |
| Ben Franklin Career Center | Dunbar | West Virginia | https://bf.kana.k12.wv.us | 2 |
| Carrington College-Citrus Heights | Citrus Heights | California | https://carrington.edu | 2 |
| City College-Miami | Miami | Florida | https://www.citycollege.edu | 2 |
| Eastern Florida State College | Cocoa | Florida | https://www.easternflorida.edu | 2 |
| Florida State College at Jacksonville | Jacksonville | Florida | https://www.fscj.edu | 2 |
| Lindsey Hopkins Technical College | Miami | Florida | https://www.lindseyhopkins.edu | 2 |
| MiraCosta College | Oceanside | California | https://www.miracosta.edu | 2 |
| Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing & Allied Health | Omaha | Nebraska | https://www.methodistcollege.edu | 2 |
| North Central Missouri College | Trenton | Missouri | https://www.ncmissouri.edu | 2 |
| Shawnee Community College | Ullin | Illinois | https://www.shawneecc.edu | 2 |
| Southern University at Shreveport | Shreveport | Louisiana | https://www.susla.edu | 2 |
| Utah State University | Logan | Utah | https://www.usu.edu | 2 |
| City College-Fort Lauderdale | Fort Lauderdale | Florida | https://www.citycollege.edu | 1 |
| Fortis Institute | Houston | Texas | https://www.fortis.edu | 1 |
| Lake Superior College | Duluth | Minnesota | https://www.lsc.edu | 1 |
| Northeast Community College | Norfolk | Nebraska | https://northeast.edu | 1 |
Surgical Tech Hybrid & Online Programs
Because surgical technology is such a hands-on profession, there are very few fully online and hybrid options from which to choose. In addition, surgical technology programs require an extensive practicum (typically between 300 and 1,200 hours of hands-on practice) even when the coursework is delivered entirely online.
That said, there are several hybrids (a combination of in-person and distance learning) and online surgical technologist programs, including the following:
Baptist Health System School of Health Professionals (AS)
Located in San Antonio, TX, Baptist Health System School of Health Professionals offers an associate’s degree in surgical technology. Upon completing this program, students can take the national surgical technologist certification exam required for employment in Texas.
Courses are offered in person and online. The program’s 63-credit curriculum includes technological sciences; surgical procedures; fundamentals of perioperative technique; surgical pathophysiology; microbiology for the surgical technologist; surgical pharmacology and anesthesia; and introduction to surgical technology.
In addition, several pre-operative topics from specimen care to the application of wound dressings are included in the curriculum. Graduates find work in hospital operating rooms, central sterile processing departments, and outpatient surgical units.
- Location: San Antonio, TX
- Accreditation: CAAHEP
- Expected Time to Completion: Two years
OneMSU, Great Falls College – Montana State University (AAS)
Located in Great Falls, MT, Great Falls College – Montana State University offers a CAAHEP-accredited surgical technologist program in a hybrid format as part of its three-campus “OneMSU” distance learning network. Although students can complete classroom work online, students are required to rotate through clinical sites in Montana to complete a minimum of 120 surgical cases.
Additionally, students are required to attend lecture classes in real time via WebEx. Upon completing this 70-credit program, graduates can take national certification exams in surgical technology. The curriculum includes courses such as introduction to surgical technology; surgical pharmacology; introduction to philosophy and biomedical ethics; operating room techniques; surgical procedures; and introduction to interpersonal communication.
- Location: Great Falls, MT
- Accreditation: CAAHEP
- Expected Time to Completion: Two years
Central Piedmont Community College (AAS)
Located in Charlotte, NC, Central Piedmont Community College offers a 71-credit associate of applied science degree program in surgical technology. Students can take didactic courses on campus in a classroom/lab/clinical combination or in a hybrid format.
Students in this program can join the Surgical Technology Club to develop their professional networks and participate in the Scrub Bowl, an annual event hosted by the North Carolina Association of Surgical Technologies that helps prepare students for the national certification exam.
The curriculum includes courses such as perioperative patient care; introduction to surgical technology; surgical procedures; advanced theoretical concepts; surgical clinical supplement; and anatomy and physiology.
- Location: Charlotte, NC
- Accreditation: CAAHEP
- Expected Time to Completion: Two years
Rasmussen University (AS)
Rasmussen University offers an associate’s degree in surgical technology with campuses in Florida, Illinois, and Minnesota. On-campus and online classes are available in addition to field experience.
Students in this program can prove existing knowledge in specific courses with self-directed assessments. In addition, graduates from this program pay no additional costs to take the national surgical tech certification exam. Consisting of 92 credits, the program includes courses such as medical terminology; pathophysiology; fundamentals of surgical technology; surgical procedures; surgical pharmacology; surgical microbiology; and human anatomy and physiology.
- Location: Cities in FL, IL, MN
- Accreditation: CAAHEP
- Expected Time to Completion: 21 months
Southeast Community College (Certificate, AAS)
Southeast Community College (SCC), with three campuses in Nebraska, offers a surgical technology program that is one of the most flexible and provides an excellent online cohort in conjunction with a local clinical practicum. Three campus visits are required at the beginning and end of this program, including the last week to take the national board exam.
In 2023, 95 percent of surgical technology graduates from SCC were employed locally upon graduation, and 85 percent of graduates continued their education in Nebraska. SCC also offers a surgical first assist certificate for currently certified surgical technologists.
- Location: Lincoln, NE
- Accreditation: CAAHEP
- Expected Time to Completion: Five semesters
Berkeley College (AAS)
Berkeley College’s online surgical technology associate in applied science degree program prepares students to work as valuable members of surgical teams, which most commonly include anesthesiologists, circulating nurses, and surgeons. This surgical technology program is only offered at the Woodland Park campus; however, individuals who already possess the CST credential and who are interested in obtaining an associate degree may take this program through Berkeley College Online.
The program comprises 60 credits and includes courses such as fundamentals of surgical technology; surgical techniques; surgical specialty intervention procedures; pharmacology and anesthesiology; operating room clinical practicum; surgical technology capstone; and microbiology.
- Location: Woodland Park, NJ
- Accreditation: CAAHEP
- Expected Time to Completion: Two years
| School | City | State | Website | GRADS ('21) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting | Nashville | Tennessee | https://www.meridian-institute.edu | 486 |
| Madisonville Community College | Madisonville | Kentucky | https://madisonville.kctcs.edu | 125 |
| Glendale Career College | Glendale | California | https://www.success.edu | 48 |
| Berkeley College-Woodland Park | Woodland Park | New Jersey | https://berkeleycollege.edu | 38 |
| Houston Community College | Houston | Texas | https://www.hccs.edu | 28 |
| Holmes Community College | Goodman | Mississippi | https://holmescc.edu | 23 |
| Baptist Health System School of Health Professions | San Antonio | Texas | https://www.bshp.edu | 22 |
| North Arkansas College | Harrison | Arkansas | https://www.northark.edu | 14 |
| Santa Fe College | Gainesville | Florida | https://www.sfcollege.edu | 14 |
| Siena Heights University | Adrian | Michigan | https://www.sienaheights.edu | 14 |
| Henry Ford College | Dearborn | Michigan | https://www.hfcc.edu | 11 |
| Bossier Parish Community College | Bossier City | Louisiana | https://www.bpcc.edu | 10 |
| Roane State Community College | Harriman | Tennessee | https://www.roanestate.edu | 6 |
| Oklahoma City Community College | Oklahoma City | Oklahoma | https://www.occc.edu | 4 |
| Concorde Career College-Kansas City | Kansas City | Missouri | https://www.concorde.edu/campus/kansas-city-missouri | 3 |
Surgical Tech Core & Elective Courses
To complete most surgical tech programs, students must get a B or higher letter grade in both core classes and specialty surgical tech courses. Many of these courses are shared with other healthcare degrees – like medical ethics and anatomy and physiology. Still, a few classes specific to surgical tech schools are integral to those programs.
- Medical terminology – This course is required for many healthcare 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 and the most common illnesses and physical impairments.
- Surgical procedures – This course aims to teach students the theory and practices they should use with various surgeries. Typical surgeries covered include gynecological, orthopedic, genitourinary, and many others. The course emphasizes procedures, technology, and tools for each independent surgery.
- Pharmacology for surgical technology – In this course, students are introduced to different pharmaceuticals that may be used during a surgical procedure. In addition, students learn specific drug interactions, systems and regulations for administration, and the calculation of dosages. Drugs that might be used before and after a procedure are also introduced.
- Clinical practicum or externship – This course is required for all surgical technologists. Students complete rotations in a working hospital or medical facility where surgeries are regularly performed in this course. Under the tutelage of a senior surgical technologist, they can use the knowledge they have learned in hands-on practice to assist during surgical procedures.
Surgical Tech Accreditation
To practice as a surgical technologist, students need to complete a surgical technology program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).
These two accrediting organizations, in tandem with the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA), evaluate surgical technologist programs to ensure that the coursework and health education practices comply with national standards.
During the ARC/STSA accreditation process, professional surgical technologists and healthcare educators carefully examine the program objectives and outcomes to determine whether a program is eligible for CAAHEP or ABHES accreditation. Each clinical cohort is also evaluated to ensure that the technology and healthcare procedures used are at the current healthcare standard. Finally, the ARC/STSA thoroughly investigates all professors to ensure their professional abilities and background.
Additionally, colleges should be accredited by a regional or national accrediting body approved by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Typical regional accrediting bodies include:
- Accrediting Commission for Schools Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS-WASC)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools – Commission on Colleges (SACS/COC)
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Career Outlook
The field of healthcare is growing and not just for nurses and physicians. General healthcare jobs are expected to increase faster than the national average between 2023 and 2033, adding 1.9 million openings yearly. Surgical technology positions are expected to increase by 6 percent (BLS 2024), adding 7,900 new positions in the coming decade. The growth rate for surgical techs at 6 percent is slightly faster than the national average for all occupations (4 percent).
Two main factors drive the increased need for surgical technologists. 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 because they are a cost-effective investment for hospitals. Surgical technologists are less expensive to hire than registered nurses but can often assist in the same procedures. This enables nurses to practice in more advanced areas that suit their skill sets and helps healthcare facilities provide better care to their patients and support their staff.
Surgical Tech Work Environments
In May 2023, there were 109,000 surgical techs were employed in the following work environments (BLS May 2023):
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: 77,820 surgical technologists
- Outpatient Care Centers: 11,270
- Offices of Physicians: 11,020
- Offices of Dentists: 3,370
- Specialty Hospitals: 1,880
Surgical Tech Salaries
The BLS (May 2023) shows the average annual salary for surgical technologists is $50,110, slightly less than the national average for all occupations, which is $65,470.
The salary percentiles for the 109,000 working surgical techs in the United States are:
- 10th percentile: $33,420
- 25th percentile: $39,760
- 50th percentile (median): $48,300
- 75th percentile: $59,320
- 90th percentile: $71,400
The highest-paid surgical techs work for specialty hospitals, with an average annual salary of $54,460.
The state with the highest average salary for surgical technologists is Alaska, at $67,660 per year. Other top-paying states include Nevada ($64,050), California ($62,510), the District of Columbia ($60,740), and Minnesota ($60,090).
| 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, May 2023 | |
Licensing & Certification for Surgical Technologists
Surgical technologists who desire to be board-certified must complete a CAAHEP-accredited program. 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, board certification candidates must have completed the appropriate coursework and clinical hours. Depending on the degree program, a student may complete between 300 and 1,200 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 allied health career.
