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Surgical Technologist Schools, Programs & Certification

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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 2022), a surge of 2 million healthcare careers will be needed in the coming decade between 2021 and 2031. In addition, the BLS projects surgical technologist careers to grow by 6 percent in the same period (BLS 2022). This rate is slightly faster than the national average (5 percent) and equates to 6,500 new jobs.

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 Created6,500
Projected Job Growth6 percent
Average Salary$53,590
Low Salary$36,930
High Salary$75,940
Entry-Level EDU Certification
Sourced from

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.

MedCerts
Surgical Technician Certification Training (TS-C)
sponsored

Although there are many surgical technologist schools, choosing accredited programs 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 to take 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 of the 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 degree 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
  • Estimated Tuition: Arizona: $41,938 (total); California: $44,210 (total)

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
  • Estimated Tuition: In-district ($140 per credit); out-of-district ($285 per credit)

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
  • Estimated Tuition: $2,400 per semester

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
  • Estimated Tuition: $12,807.50

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
  • Estimated Tuition: $700 per credit

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
  • Estimated Tuition: In-district resident ($209 per credit); non-resident ($397 per credit)

NYU Langone Health

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
  • Estimated Tuition: $16,500

SELECT * FROM `mts_online_offline_data` WHERE `page_url` = '/surgical-technologist' AND ( `table_type` = 'Offline' OR `table_type` = 'BOTH (Online + Offline)' ) ORDER BY `grads` DESC

List of Surgical Technologist Schools

Filter by state :
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
2017-2018 School Data from IPEDS (Sourced in November, 2019)

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.

MedCerts
Surgical Technician Certification Training (TS-C)
sponsored

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
  • Estimated Tuition: $25,200

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
  • Estimated Tuition: $8,829

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
  • Estimated Tuition: Resident ($76 per credit); non-resident ($268 per credit)

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 for $149. 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
  • Estimated Tuition: $279 per credit

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 2021, 96 percent of surgical technology graduates from SCC were employed locally upon graduation, and 86 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
  • Estimated Tuition: $10,763.50

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
  • Estimated Tuition: $890 per credit
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
2017-2018 School Data from IPEDS (Sourced in November, 2019)

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 by 13 percent between 2021 and 2031, with surgical technology positions expected to increase by 6 percent (BLS 2022). The growth rate for surgical techs is slightly faster than the national average for all occupations (5 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.

Career Facts Surgical Technologist
Related CareersRadiation Therapist, Endoscopy Technician, Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, Nuclear Medicine Technologist
Common Job TitlesSurgical Technologist, Certified Surgical Technologist
Technology & EquipmentElectrocautery Equipment, Surgical Saws And Drills, Surgical Vacuums, Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirators
Sourced from BLS, May 2021

Surgical Tech Work Environments

In May 2021, 110,700 surgical techs were employed in the following work environments (BLS May 2021):

  • Hospitals: state, local, and private: 72 percent
  • Offices of physicians: 11 percent
  • Outpatient care centers: 11 percent
  • Offices of dentists: 2 percent
  • Administrative and support services: 1 percent

Surgical Tech Salaries

The BLS (May 2021) shows the average annual salary for surgical technologists is $53,590, slightly less than the national average for all occupations ($58,260).

The salary percentiles for the 109,060 working surgical techs in the United States are:

  • 10th percentile: $36,930
  • 25th percentile: $46,440
  • 50th percentile (median): $48,530
  • 75th percentile: $60,780
  • 90th percentile: $75,940

The highest-paid surgical techs work for specialty hospitals with annual average salaries of $59,180.

The state with the highest average salary for surgical technologists is California, at $68,410 per year. Other top-paying states include Alaska ($65,690), the District of Columbia ($65,250), Connecticut ($65,190), and Nevada ($65,180).

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.

Rachel Drummond
Rachel Drummond Writer

Rachel Drummond is a freelance writer, educator, and yogini from Oregon. She’s taught English to international university students in the United States and Japan for more than a decade and has a master’s degree in education from the University of Oregon. A dedicated Ashtanga yoga practitioner, Rachel is interested in exploring the nuanced philosophical aspects of contemplative physical practices and how they apply in daily life. She writes about this topic among others on her blog (Instagram: @racheldrummondyoga).

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