How To Become A Surgical Tech: A Complete Guide (2024)

In many medical TV shows and movies, surgeons are superheroes, relying on adrenaline to help their patients ward off death and live better lives. They often seem like idealists and lone wolves, Atlas-type figures who carry the world’s weight and their profession’s high stakes on their shoulders.

In reality, surgeons rely on support teams so they can complete their jobs efficiently and precisely. Surgical technologists and technologists, often called surgical techs, are among the most crucial behind-the-scenes workers in operating rooms. These professionals sterilize surgical tools, pass instruments to surgeons and perform the final cleaning of the operating room. In short, surgical techs take care of small details that help save lives.

If you are cool under pressure and want to work in a fast-paced environment, you may thrive as a surgical technologist. Use this guide to learn more about how to become a surgical tech.

What Is a Surgical Technologist?

Surgical technologists play a crucial role assisting surgeons with operation room functions. They typically spend long hours on their feet and need significant mental and physical stamina. These professionals must pay attention to small details, as even tiny mistakes in the operating room can make the difference between life and death.

As such, the work environment for a surgical tech can prove challenging. These professionals must be strong communicators who are detail-oriented and comfortable working in high-stress environments. You can develop the hard skills you need to succeed as a surgical tech during a certificate or associate degree program.

Surgical techs carry out several key responsibilities during various stages of surgeries, such as:

Pre-operation:

• Sterilize surgery tools and clean operating room
• Help prepare patients for surgery
• Organize tools per surgeon’s instructions

During the operation:

• Ensure operating room remains sterile
• Provide tools to surgeons as needed
• Apply dressings to and extract tissues from patients

Post-operation:

• Discard gauze, needles and other operation supplies
• Manage the final cleaning of operating room
• Perform inventory of surgical tools
• Take patients to their rooms

How To Become a Surgical Technologist

Follow the below steps to become a surgical tech.

Earn a Relevant Diploma, Certificate or Associate Degree

Minimum education requirements for surgical technologists vary by employer. Some hospitals require a diploma or certificate, while others prefer an associate degree. Most states do not oversee licensure or certification for surgical technologists, so there is no standard minimum education requirement. A typical associate degree requires two years of full-time study, but some accelerated associate programs allow students to graduate in 17 to 18 months.

Make sure prospective schools hold appropriate accreditation. Surgical tech programs can receive accreditation from the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) or the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting, an accrediting body operating on behalf of the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

Gain Experience and Consider a Specialization

Many programs allow students to gain hands-on experience in the field through internships. Some schools partner with local employers or their own affiliated hospitals for these experiences. Clinical experiences can also help future surgical techs determine whether they want to work in general surgery or specialize in a specific field after graduating. Possible specialization options include cardiac surgery and neurosurgery.

According to the Administration for Children and Families, a governmental agency under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, surgical techs who specialize in neurosurgery, open heart surgery and vascular surgery earn higher average wages than nonspecialized surgical techs.

Get Certified

Many states do not require surgical technologists to earn licensure or certification. However, completing professional certification can help surgical techs stand out during the job search and qualify them for more openings. Organizations like the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) and the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) administer professional certification for surgical technologists.

To earn the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) credential from NBSTSA, candidates must complete an ABHES- or CAAHEP-accredited program. The certification exam consists of 175 questions, 150 of which are scored. To pass, test-takers must answer at least 102 questions correctly. The exam costs $190 for Association of Surgical Technologists (AST) members and $290 for nonmembers. Professionals with this credential must complete continuing education credits or periodically retest to maintain certification.

The Tech in Surgery certification from NCCT also requires surgical techs to hold an appropriate diploma or degree, pass an exam and pay a $199 fee.

Broaden Your Skill Set and Advance Your Career

Specializing in a subfield is one way surgical technologists can advance their careers. Another path is becoming a Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA). NBSTSA administers the CSFA credential, which allows certified professionals to act as the main surgical tech during operations and perform more advanced tasks in the operating room. CSFA applicants must have graduated from a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited program.

Like the CST exam, the CSFA exam consists of 175 questions, 150 of which are scored. Candidates must correctly answer 97 questions to earn the CSFA designation. The exam costs $190 for AST members and $290 for nonmembers.

Surgical techs can also advance to central supply supervisor roles by completing additional training and gaining professional experience. These professionals take on a supervisory role for surgical tools and supplies in the operating room.

According to ACF, both central supply supervisors and first assistants earn higher wages than regular surgical technologists on average.

Surgical Technologist Salary and Job Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), surgical technologists earned a median annual wage of $55,960 in 2022, exceeding the median annual salary for all occupations by more than $9,000. Between 2022 and 2032, the BLS projects a 5% job growth for surgical assistants and technologists—faster than the average projected growth rate for all careers during that period.

Surgical tech pay varies based on location, experience and specialization. 2022 BLS data reveals the top 10% of earners in the field made more than $78,560 annually, while the lowest 10% of earners made less than $38,860. Medical and diagnostic laboratories offered the highest average wage for surgical techs—$71,430 in 2022.

Surgical Technologist Specializations

Surgical technologists are often generalists, assisting different types of surgeons with many varieties of operations. However, some professionals specialize in a specific field or surgery, such as one of the following:

• Cardiac surgery
• Neurosurgery
• Orthopedic surgery
• Plastic surgery
• Organ transplants
• Urology

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Becoming a Surgical Tech