Becoming a surgical tech can be a great career choice for people who want to work in healthcare, gain experience in a surgical environment, and a passion for patient care.
Let's explore the education, experience, and certification requirements for how to become a surgical tech to begin making a difference for medical staff and patients alike.
What Does a Surgical Tech Do?
A surgical tech is an entry-level medical professional responsible for assisting surgeons and other medical staff during surgery.
Surgical techs are responsible for helping provide a safe, sterile environment during the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases of surgery.
What are the Job Duties of a Surgical Tech?
The job duties of surgical techs may include:
- Accompanying and transferring patients to and from the operating room
- Assisting with patients' dressings or bandages
- Checking that equipment is working properly
- Cleaning and sanitizing the operating table after surgery
- Clearing the patient after surgery
- Counting tools before and after surgery
- Coordinating surgical cameras
- Monitoring equipment during surgery
- Passing operating tools to surgeons during surgery
- Preparing patients for surgery
- Preparing the operating room for surgery
- Properly disposing of leftover operating materials
- Restocking the operating room
- Sterilizing and organizing operating tools and equipment
- Using tools to hold organs in place for surgeons
- Verifying the accuracy of a patient's medical charts and records
Are there Specializations for Surgical Techs?
While most surgical techs work in general surgery, some prefer to specialize.
Specialization options for surgical techs include:
- Cardiology
- Neurosurgery
- Organ transplantation
- Orthopedic
- Pediatric surgery
- Plastic surgery
Where do Surgical Techs Work?
Depending on where they work, surgical techs may assist with a variety of surgery types.
Common places for surgical techs to work include:
- Ambulatory care centers
- Clinics
- Dental offices
- Hospitals
- Outpatient care centers
- Private physician offices
- Surgical centers
Are there Other Names for Surgical Techs?
Depending on where you work, surgical techs may go by other titles.
These alternate job titles include:
- Operating room technicians
- Scrub techs
- Surgical assistants
It's important to note that while some employers may use these terms interchangeably, some do not. For example, a surgical assistant may instead be someone who assists surgical techs.
Additionally, some employers differentiate between surgical technologists and surgical technicians, with technicians being the more advanced role of the two.
Steps to Become a Surgical Tech
While some states have specific requirements for surgical techs, most surgical techs will follow a similar career path.
We've broken down each step below.
Step 1: Check Your State Requirements
Most states do not have specific requirements for surgical techs, but a handful do. If you plan to work in one of those states, you need to ensure that you're on track to meet those requirements.
States that require certification for surgical techs include:
- Arkansas (if using the title 'Registered Surgical Technologist')
- Idaho
- Illinois (if using the title 'Registered Surgical Technologist')
- Indiana
- Massachusetts
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New York
- Oregon
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Virginia (if using the title 'Registered Surgical Technologist')
Meanwhile, some states require or give surgical techs the option to be registered through the state.
Step 2: Complete Surgical Tech Training
To become a surgical tech, you'll need to complete a surgical tech training program. This may be in the form of a certificate or associate's degree.
These are most often offered through a community college or vocational school, but you may be able to find them through more traditional colleges and universities.
Surgical tech programs provide medical education with classes on subjects like medical terminology, anatomy, and microbiology.
They also teach skills such as:
- Interpersonal communication
- Operating room procedures
- Patient care
- Surgical procedures
- Surgical techniques
When choosing a surgical tech program, look for one that's accredited. The two primary bodies that accredit these programs are the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
Your program must be certified by either the ABHES or the CAAHEP in order for you to take the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) certification test.
Step 3: Earn Certification
Even if your state doesn't require certification, many employers prefer techs who are certified, commonly with the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) certification offered by the NBSTSA.
The NBSTSA CST exam is a broad, knowledge-based exam. It's made up of 175 questions, but only 150 questions count toward your score. You must correctly answer 102 questions to pass.
Topics covered on the test include:
- Preoperative preparation
- Intraoperative procedures
- Postoperative procedures
- Administrative and personnel
- Equipment sterilization and maintenance
- Anatomy and physiology
- Microbiology
- Surgical pharmacology
Your certification must be renewed every two years. You can renew certification by earning continuing education credits or retaking the exam.
Surgical Tech Salary and Job Outlook
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average salary for surgical techs is $48,320 as of May 2021. However, pay may range up or down depending on experience and location.
The BLS expects job opportunities for surgical techs to grow by 6% between 2021 and 2031.
Become a Surgical Tech Today
Surgical techs are a vital part of surgical and medical environments. They keep things running smoothly and safely, and make a positive impact for surgeons, medical staff, and patients.
Contact Best Accredited Colleges today and learn more about the path to becoming a Surgical Tech.
