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How to Become a Surgical Technologist: What You Need to Know
Find your path to a new healthcare career offering an excellent potential starting salary and ample opportunity for future career advancement.
Find your new calling as a surgical tech
A surgical technologist, also known as a surgical tech or surg or scrub tech, is an important member of the operating room team. They are responsible for preparing the room, assisting the surgeon during procedures, and maintaining a sterile environment.
Undergoing an operation is important for people recovering from illnesses, injuries, or health complications. As a surgical tech, you can help change someone’s life for the better. Here’s what you need to know about how to become a surgical technologist.
- Duties and responsibilities
- Education requirements
- Certifications
- Salary and job outlook
- Where you may work
- Career pathway
1. Surgical tech duties and responsibilities
As a surgical technologist, you’ll spend a lot of time in the operating room before, during and after surgeries. Your primary responsibilities involve supporting the surgical team—including surgeons, nurses, and other specialists—in a variety of ways. You’ll set up equipment and instruments, assist patients before surgery, and pass tools and supplies to the surgeon during procedures. Once the surgery is complete, you’ll aid in post-operative care, including applying dressings, disposing of medical waste, and sterilizing equipment.
Key surgical technologist responsibilities are:
Prior to surgery
- Preparing the operating room by setting up sterile equipment and instruments
- Ensuring all necessary supplies are available
- Preparing the patient for surgery, including positioning and draping
During surgery
- Passing instruments and supplies to the surgeon
- Anticipating the surgeon's needs
- Maintaining a sterile field
- Assisting with patient positioning and draping
After surgery
- Cleaning and disinfecting the operating room
- Accounting for all instruments and supplies
- Assisting with patient transfer to the recovery room
Advanced surgical technologist roles
Surgical technologists can advance their careers through additional training and focusing on a specific surgical area, such as neurosurgery or open-heart surgery. Certified surgical techs may also take on the role of a surgical first assistant or circulator.
- A surgical first assistant assists the surgeon during the procedure, providing support with tasks like exposure, hemostasis, and other technical functions.
- A circulating technologist is the "unsterile" member of the surgical team. (“Unsterile” team members are allowed to move only in the non-sterile zone and handle equipment that is not considered sterile.) Their responsibilities include pre-operative patient preparation, assisting with anesthesia, managing supplies, documenting the procedure, and answering the surgeon's questions.
Surgical technologists vs. surgical technicians: What’s the difference?
Surgical technologists and surgical technicians perform similar duties; however, there is one key difference: To become a surgical technologist, you must earn a degree from an accredited surg-tech program. This prepares you for a wider variety of and more advanced duties.
2. Education requirements
To become a surgical technologist, you typically need to complete an accredited education program, such as an Associate of Science in Surgical Technology. This can often be completed in less than two years and includes courses like anatomy and physiology, microbiology, medical terminology, and surgical procedures, principles, and practice.
Some prerequisites may be taken online. Many schools also include a set number of in-person clinical hours, where you will get hands-on experience in an operating room.
3. Certification
While not mandatory, earning a certification, such as the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) certificate, can enhance your job prospects and credibility. The CST credential demonstrates your knowledge, skills, and dedication to the field.
The National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) offers a national certifying exam. The qualifications to take the test include having a degree from an accredited surgical technology program and having experience as a surgical technologist.
The CST exam requires a deep understanding of surgical procedures, equipment, and patient safety protocols and covers three main areas:
- Patient care, including patient assessment, surgery prep, and post-operative care.
- Surgical procedures, focusing on instrument use and surgical techniques, and
- Perioperative practice, covering sterile technique, environmental safety, and professional responsibilities.
To keep your CST valid, you will need to take continuing education (CE) classes and renew your certification every two years. This helps ensure surgical technologists are up to date on new techniques and best practices.
4. Salary potential
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, surgical technologists earn an average salary of $62,250 per year ($29.93 per hour).*
If you are a CST or have experience in a specialized area, such as orthopedic surgery, cardiovascular surgery, or pediatric surgery, you may be able to make more.
The job outlook for surgical technologists is positive, with employment projected to grow 5% from 2022-2032, faster than the average for all occupations.*
5. Where surgical technologists work
Surgical technologists primarily work in hospital operating rooms, where they assist in a wide range of surgeries. However, surgical techs also work in:
- Ambulatory surgical centers or clinics: These facilities offer same-day or outpatient procedures.
- Physician offices: Surgical technologists may assist doctors who perform minor procedures in their offices.
- Military medical facilities: Surgical technologists may work in military medical facilities, where they support the troops.
6. Career pathways
Earning your degree in surgical technology can potentially prepare you not only for a good career as a surgical tech, but to grow into alternative career paths in healthcare.
Gain enough experience as a surgical tech and you can potentially pursue a bachelor’s degree in health sciences to advance your skills and qualify for jobs requiring a baccalaureate-level education. You could more aggressively target leadership positions by focusing your study in healthcare administration: we offer degree pathways at both the bachelor’s and master’s degree levels.
You can potentially even pursue nursing in the future. Transitioning from a surgical technologist to a registered nurse (RN) can offer several significant benefits. As an RN, you'll gain a broader scope of practice, allowing you to provide more comprehensive patient care. You'll also have the opportunity to develop patient relationships and create individualized care plans, promoting a deeper connection with your patients.
Take the next step toward becoming a surgical technologist
Becoming a surgical technologist is a rewarding career choice for those who enjoy fast-paced environments and a commitment to patient care.
By earning your degree in surg-tech, you can start on the path to a fulfilling career in the medical field.
Learn more about Herzing’s surgical technologist program in New Orleans
* Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics 2023 / Occupational Outlook Handbook 2022. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work and degree field, will affect career outcomes and earnings. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the average salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth.