Surgical Technologist Pathway

Surgical technologists assist surgeons and nurses during life-saving operations, help care for and transfer patients, and—most importantly—ensure the surgical field is sterile before, during, and after procedures. The Surgical Technology Pathway Program is designed to prepare you with foundational knowledge in health sciences and fundamental professional skills for assisting during surgical procedures.

The Importance of Surgical Technologists

Surgical technologists spend the day preparing operating rooms and assisting during surgical procedures. The primary duties of a surgical technologist include:

  • Preparing operating rooms for surgery and maintaining a sterile field to prevent infection.
  • Sterilizing equipment and stocking instrument trays for use during surgery.
  • Performing pre-operative care for patients, including washing incision areas.
  • Helping surgeons and nurses don gowns and other sterile protective equipment.
  • Passing instruments and other sterile supplies to surgeons or nurses during procedures.
  • Gathering and preparing laboratory samples for processing.

Why become a Surgical Technologist?

 

  • The surgical technologist job market is expected to grow by 11.7% between 2016 and 2026.*
  • With experience and depending on the region, technicians can earn as much as $56 per hour.

*Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Program Locations & Dates

Find your region below and click to expand to find out about program length, prerequisites and more:

Northern California

Provider: Silicon Valley Surgi-Tech Institute

CST Certification Exam Eligibility

Program Length: 12 months for Certificate Program, 16 months for A.A.S. Degree Program

Prerequisites: High School Diploma or GED for A.A.S. Degree Program. Associate Degree for Certificate Program.

Southern California

Provider: Premiere Career College

Associate’s Degree in Occupational Science in Surgical Technology
NBSTSA Certification Exam Eligibility

Program Length: 14 months

Prerequisites: High School Diploma or GED

 

Provider: Concorde Career College

Surgical Technology Associate Degree

Program Length: 18 months

Prerequisites: High School Diploma or GED

Oregon & Washington

Provider: Concorde Career College

Surgical Technology Associate Degree

Program Length: 18 months

Prerequisites: High School Diploma or GED

Nevada

Provider: College of Southern Nevada

Associate’s Degree in Surgical Technology

Program Length: 2 years

Prerequisite: Some courses required before attending orientation

Colorado

Provider: Pima Medical Institutes

Surgical Technology Associate Degree

Program Length: 18 months

Prerequisites: None

 

Provider: Concorde Career College

Surgical Technology Associate Degree

Program Length: 18 months

Prerequisites: High School Diploma or GED

Program status

We appreciate your interest in the Education Fund’s programs and services. We have received a tremendous response to our education and training programs and have reached our enrollment limit for many of our current programs. As a result, we are not accepting applications for this Education Fund program. (We may have limited availability for members in the Northwest, Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico and we encourage you to login to MyEdFund to check availability.)

We anticipate a high level of interest and limited availability again in 2023, and we encourage you to create an individualized educational plan for 2023 with your Career Counselor/Regional Coordinator. You can make an appointment via MyEdFund, our secure, online member portal.