What is a Surgical Technician?
Assisting in surgical operations, a Surgical Technician, also known as an operating room technician or surgical tech, works under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, and other surgical personnel. They wear scrubs, which are sterile clothing, when they are in the operating room. They might assist in moving patients or lifting medical supply trays. Surgical Technicians are typically on their feet for long periods of time since they are helping in the operating room.
Medical Assistant vs Surgical Technician – What’s the Difference?
Both a medical assistant and a surgical technician provide services support patients. A medical assisted are allied health professionals. They provide numerous clinical duties, as well as some administrative services, in some type of medical facility. These professionals help with tasks such as checking patients in and scheduling their appointments. They also file insurance forms and track care through medical records. Medical assistance also collect lab samples. They may talk to patients to gather medical histories. They can also provide medications to a patient if a physician orders those medications.
A surgical technician is a bit different. These individuals provide care during a surgical procedure. This may include services beyond the actual surgery as well. This may include helping with surgery prep and education. It may include handling tasks during the surgery as well. Surgical technicians also provide post-surgery support. They may handle preparation of equipment prior to procedures. They help prepare patients as well. These technicians do not perform the procedure itself. They do provide assistance, such as handing equipment and tools, to the surgeon.
The educational requirements are sometimes different. Many employers require medical assistants to have certification. Surgical technicians typically have completed a specialized surgical tech program.
The skills in both areas are different. The type of work done is also different. What does not differ is providing high quality care to patients and working directly with patients.
Top 23 Schools with Surgical Technician Programs
The surgical technician programs below are ranked according to total number of graduates reported by NCES in the 2018 school year. Salary information provided by College Scorecard.
Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting
This is a 12 month program that is designed to certify students in the field and then provide the opportunity to continue on to an associate’s degree.
Associate
N/A (AAS)
Madisonville Community College
This is a fully accredited program that can be completed in two years including a summer session. Graduates of this program are prepared for taking the certification exam and to enter the workforce.
Associate
$40,017 (AAS)
Ivy Tech Community College
This is a five semester program that provides students with the ability to enter the workforce in an entry level position. It takes 68 credit hours to complete.
Associate
$45,135 (AAS)
San Jacinto Community College
This program is a combination of clinical and practicum. The degree includes completing a 12 month certificate program to allow students to be certified upon graduation.
Associate
$45,852 (AAS)
American Career College-Ontario
This is a two year program that is both online and in person format. The program does prepare students to immediately enter the workforce.
Baker College
This is a two year program that requires 67 credits to complete. This program is designed to prepare students for the field of surgical technology.
Associate
Bachelor
$39,979 (AAS)
$52,941 (BS)
Gwinnett Technical College
This is a two year program designed to prepare students to pass the National Certificate Exam
Associate
$49,165 (AAS)
Carrington College-Sacramento
This is a two year program preparing students for National Certificate Exam. Students are prepared to enter the workforce upon completion of the program.
Associate
N/A (AAS)
San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia
This program can be completed in as little as fifteen months. The program will prepare students for the exam and entering the workforce.
Associate
Bachelor
$58,719(AAS)
N/A (BS)
Southern Technical College
This is a two year program that prepares students for the Surgical Technology Certification. The program provides students with the ability to start a career in the field.
American Career College-Los Angeles
This is a two year program that is both online and in person format. The program does prepare students to immediately enter the workforce.
Swedish Institute a College of Health Sciences
This is a two year program that is both online and in person format. The program does prepare students to immediately enter the workforce.
Gulf Coast State College
This is a two year program that prepares you to sit for the National Board of Surgical Technologists and Surgical Assistants (NBSTSA) surgical technology exam.
Associate
$43,240 (AAS)
Mandl School-The College of Allied Health
This is a 75 week program designed to help students prepare for the certification exam as well as for entering the work force.
Kirkwood Community College
This is a two year program designed to train and prepare students to work in this field as well as to pass the certification exam.
Associate
$43,319 (AAS)
Southern Crescent Technical College
This is a six semester program that is designed to prepare the student for the certification exam as well as getting into the field.
Associate
$41,441 (AAS)
College of DuPage
This is a two year program that provides students with he ability to be prepared to enter the field immediately. The program also prepares students to pass the certification exam.
Associate
Berkeley College-Woodland Park
This is a certificate program in which students may apply their credits towards the completion of an associate’s degree.
Associate
$46,966 (AAS)
Macomb Community College
This is a two year program that prepares students to complete and pass the certification exam. The students perform class and practical work.
Associate
$37,748 (AAS)
Southeastern College-West Palm Beach
This is a two year program that is available either on campus or as a hybrid option. This program prepares students for the certification exam as well as for real world work.
Associate
$37,145 (AAS)
Tyler Junior College
Description: This is a two year program that requires the completion of 60 credit hours. This program prepares students for the certification exam as well as for work in the field.
Associate
$45,584 (AAS)
Wayne County Community College District
This is a 68-72 credit program that is designed to prepare the student to work with and aid a surgical team. This program also prepares students to pass the certification exam.
Associate
$32,925 (AAS)
Collin County Community College District
This is a two year 60 credit program designed to provide students with the ability to pass the certification exam and to work in a surgery setting.
Associate
$52,733 (AAS)
What type of job responsibilities does a Surgical Technician typically have?
Since a Surgical Technician works within operating rooms and with a variety of healthcare personnel, they have different tasks to perform like:
- Provide technical assistance to surgeons, surgical nurses, or anesthesiologists
- Wash and sterilize equipment with sterilizers and germicides
- Monitor and assess operating rooms, including patients and surgical team needs
- Count sponges, needles, and instruments to maintain a sterile environment
- Prepare operating rooms for surgery
- Prepare, care for, and dispose of tissue specimens taken for lab analysis
- Use critical thinking skills while in the operating room
- Prepare patients for surgery
Where do Surgical Technicians work?
Many Surgical Technician jobs are within hospitals and others are in outpatient care centers or doctors’ offices that perform outpatient surgery.
What Surgical Technician courses will I need to take?
In a surgical technician program, you will probably take classes similar to the ones listed below:
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Surgical Procedures
- Surgical Techniques
- Fundamentals of Surgical Technology
- Surgical Pharmacology
- Clinical Rotation
How can you pursue a career as a Surgical Technician?
If you want to enroll in Surgical Technician programs, you’ll probably need a postsecondary certificate or an associate’s degree according to the BLS. Various community colleges, vocational schools, and even some hospitals and universities offer accredited surgical technology programs. The programs may take a few months to two years to complete and you might earn a diploma, certificate, or associate’s degree after completing the program. In order to enroll in such a program, you usually need to have your high school diploma or GED.
Surgical technician programs emphasize biology, pharmacology, medical terminology, among other topics. You may want to earn certification since it could help you pursue a career as a Surgical Technician. You can pursue certification through either the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting or the National Center for Competency Testing. Both certifications require Surgical Technicians to maintain their certification by finishing continuing education.
Surgical Technician Salary Potential
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
- The 2020 annual median Surgical Tech salary is $49,710 per year.
- Job outlook from 2019-2029 is expected to grow at 7%, which is faster than average for all occupations.
This job outlook is faster than the average for all occupations, and great news for you if you’re pursuing a career in this field! And, per the BLS, states with the highest employment levels within this occupation are: Texas, California, Florida, New York, and Pennsylvania.