How To Become A Surgical Tech: The Three (3) Proven Steps

Are you anxious about how to become a surgical tech to assist physicians with operations? After becoming a surgical technologist, you should be prepared to work in the operating room with surgeons, anesthesiologists, and nurses throughout a surgical procedure.

Surgical techs ensure that all devices are present for the surgery and accounted for afterward. Before knowing the steps to take to become a surgical tech, you should be detail-oriented.

Below are how to become a surgical tech within 12-24 months.

Step #1: Higher education requirements

Aspiring surgical techs in high schools should take biology, anatomy, and demanding sciences courses to prepare for advanced science courses. You may also receive higher education training in a community college, vocational school, university, hospital, or the military.

Step #2: Enroll in an accredited surgical tech program

After graduating from high school, you should enroll in surgical tech programs that generally last 12-24 months and are often offered at community or technical colleges. Before registering, verifying that the program is approved by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) is essential. Plus, the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). Please take an accredited program to ensure you take part in certification exams.

Step #3: The certification process

Before applying for individual state licensure, you should check the state licensing website for requirements you need to fulfill. You should take one of the national certification exams organized by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting. Hurry and get either CST or NCCT Certification since you know how to become a surgical tech.

What is the highest-paying Surgical Tech job?

Based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is a high probability that the employment of surgical technologists will continue to increase. The reason is due to the advancement of medical technology and the increase in operations to treat many types of illnesses and injuries.

As of 2021, the median pay for surgical techs was $48,510 per year or $23.32 per hour, with salary ranges from $32,680 to $96,870. However, the highest paying surgical tech job is being a Surgical Neurophysiologist, and you can earn up to $276,000 per year. Thus, you can choose this department after knowing how to become a surgical tech.

As a surgical neurophysiologist, you will test and monitor the patient during specific procedures, such as spinal, vascular, and brain surgeries. It’ll help to help prevent complications like stroke, paralysis, and hearing loss.

What is the responsibility of a surgical technologist?

A surgical tech, also known as an operating room technician, functions in three phases; before the surgical operation (preoperative), during the surgical process (intraoperative), and after the surgical technique (postoperative).

Their central role is to ensure the operating room and surgical instruments are sterile and ensure the surgeons have all the devices and materials required for the procedure. Surgical techs also aid the surgeon and surgical assistant by coordinating the camera or changing out robotic arms/instruments during endoscopic surgery.

Lastly, surgical techs are important because surgery can improve quality of life; each operating room can do without them. What are you waiting for? Since you now know how to become a surgical tech, all the best in your journey to becoming a surgical technologist.