Surgical Tech Jobs & Employment

There aren’t many jobs on the marketplace today that offer a high salary and career security. Surgical techs enjoy both. Hospitals, physicians, dentists, and surgeons nationwide continuously demand large numbers of qualified surgical techs for work as assistants in the operating room and private offices. For every single surgeon position, there are at least 5 openings for surgical techs available for recent graduates and seasoned professionals alike, and the numbers keep on growing. Unlike with other medical professions, it is not prohibitively difficult to become a surgical technologist. It is possible to launch a new career as a surgical technologist and ensure a sound future with only a high school diploma. Whether you’re or a health care professional ready to move into a new field, training to work as a surgical technologist is a smart choice for your future.

Statistics and Pay

The statistics for surgical technologists are better than ever. Job growth for the field is projected to grow faster than average through 2014 in comparison to all other professions. The aging of the general population and advancing of medical techniques ensure an increased number of operations in the coming years. Surgeons prefer to work with trained, certified surgical technologists and require an operating room staffed with a minimum of 3 surgical techs for every surgeon. In 2006 alone, there were 86,000 positions available for surgical technologists. A large number of the positions were in hospitals, but surgical techs are also required for work in the offices of dentists and family physicians. It is possible to receive the training necessary to begin work as a surgical technologist in less than 2 years, depending on your degree program.

A large benefit to working as a surgical tech is compensation. The skill and technique needed to perform the duties of a surgical tech is well-rewarded, though the amount will depend upon experience and responsibilities. The highest paid surgical technologists collect over $40,000 a year for their services The median income is about $31,000 a year. It is possible to move into new specializations and health care positions as you gain experience and education.

Certification

After earning a degree or diploma from an accredited surgical technologist school or program, graduates may choose to sit for the national certification exam. Although you are eligible to begin working as a surgical tech straight away, there are many benefits to passing the national exam. Most surgeons prefer to work with certified surgical techs and some states are pushing legislation that will require all hospitals hire exclusively techs that have certification. Candidates with certification have the edge when competing for a surgical technologist job.

Administered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical assisting (NBSTSA), passing the exam will allow you to use the title CST – Certified Surgical Technologist. To remain certified, surgical techs must continue their education in accordance to medical advances and renew their certification every four years. You may take the exam within the last month of school or after a year of hands-on experience. Certified surgical technologists enjoy unusual flexibility in their choice of residence after passing the exam. It’s a national credential and allows you to work at any hospital or health professional’s office in the country.

You also have the option of obtaining your certification from the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) instead of the NBSTSA. The NCCT has somewhat looser requirements for the exam and does not expect a degree from an accredited school. You are eligible to take the exam if you have participated in a 2-year work program offered by a hospital or have 7 years prior experience. After passing, you may use the title TS-C – Tech in Surgery-Certified.

Both certifications are similarly prestigious and demonstrate a mastery of surgical technology.

Searching For Work

Things are looking up for surgical technologists in the job market, but it can still be tricky finding employment if you don’t know where to start looking. Once you’ve graduated from an accredited school, you are ready to start working right away. If you’ve participated in an externship, hands-on work experience in a local surgical room supervised by a qualified instructor, the hospital may have positions available to you. Many employers prefer to choose from a pool of candidates they have previously worked with. Most schools also have career centers that can assist you in finding an open position at a local hospital. Speak to a career counselor or a professor for more employment ideas. You might also check online: the popularity of the surgical technologist career path means that most major employment search engines will have a myriad of open positions for you to peruse.