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.