Surgical technologists (often called surgical techs) are allied health professionals who work in operating rooms to support surgeons, anesthesia providers, and nurses before, during, and after surgical procedures. Their main focus is maintaining a safe, sterile environment and managing instruments and supplies so surgeries run smoothly and safely.
Surgical techs are part of the sterile team at the operating table, not just “equipment staff.” They anticipate the surgeon’s needs, handle specialized instruments, and help protect patients from infection and other complications.
Before an operation, surgical techs:
During the procedure, surgical techs:
When the surgery is finishing, surgical techs:
Most surgical techs work in hospital operating rooms, but some work in ambulatory surgery centers, specialty clinics, or delivery suites. The role requires detailed knowledge of surgical procedures and instruments, strong focus and stamina, and excellent teamwork and communication skills in a high‑stress, time‑sensitive environment.
The future for Surgical Care Technicians is as intricate and promising as the surgeries they assist in. Here’s why:
The career outlook for surgical technologists (surgical techs) is solid, with steady growth slightly faster than the average for all occupations and consistent annual job openings driven by retirements and rising surgical volume.
| Aspect | Current outlook for surgical techs |
|---|---|
| 10-year growth rate | About 5–6% over the next decade, faster than average. |
| Openings per year | Roughly 8,700 positions annually nationwide. |
| Typical pay level | Around low–mid $60,000s on average, higher in some settings. |
| Main growth drivers | Aging population, more surgeries, outpatient shift, technology advances. |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics
Our program is designed to equip you with the skills and expertise required to excel as a Surgical Care Technician. Our training program is more than an educational journey; it’s an apprenticeship in the art and science of surgical care. With guidance from our experienced instructors, you’ll master the intricacies of surgical instrument care, sterile techniques, and operating room protocol.
Students completing this program can sit for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam administered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
In the Clinical Medical Assisting component of the training, individuals will learn how to help the physician with patient examinations, record patient histories and personal information, measure vital signs, such as blood pressure, and give patient injections of medication as directed by the physician or dictated by state law.
The Phlebotomy component prepares professionals to collect blood and other specimens from clients for laboratory analysis. During this course component, students will become familiar with all aspects related to blood collection and develop comprehensive skills to perform venipuncture methods correctly and safely.
This Electrocardiogram (EKG) component covers topics and processes critical to conducting and interpreting EKGs. To begin, you’ll review the anatomy and physiology of the heart. From there, you will explore the technology used, such as the EKG machine. Next, you’ll learn how to interpret a rhythm strip, and finally, you’ll follow this by discovering the details of myocardial infarction.
The all-inclusive program fee covers everything a student needs to successfully complete the Clinical Medical Assisting program, including:
This program qualifies for the MyCAA Tuition Assistance Program sponsored by the Department of Defense—a program designed for military spouses.
Upon completing the online training program, a student is eligible* for our optional Surgical Technician Externship. The Surgical Technician Externship is a standard 40-hour (minimum) unpaid rotation. The purpose of the Externship is two-fold: to give each student hands-on instruction and practice conducting a variety of activities and procedures with supervision and to connect each student with a potential employer in their local market.
As a participant in this Clinical Externship, you must agree to provide a resume to their assigned Externship Coordinator no less than three weeks following initial contact. Failure to provide such a resume will result in students not participating in the externship opportunity. In addition, the following terms and conditions apply to the Externship:
By participating in this process, students are entering into an unpaid volunteer clinical externship opportunity which, at no time, constitutes an employee-employer relationship. The facility is under no obligation to continue your clinical experience, nor should you maintain these expectations.
*Students who wish to participate in this course’s optional clinical externship portion must complete their program with a grade of 70% or higher on the final exam and course average, spending at least 50 hours in the course. All externship placements are subject to the availability, scheduling, and staffing needs of the externship sites.
We will coordinate an externship for each eligible student at a healthcare organization in their local area. In over eight years of providing this service, we have not had an instance where we could not do this—pandemic or no pandemic. With this said, we cannot guarantee a placement due to circumstances outside our control which include a lack of healthcare organizations located in a rural area, acts of God, situations where healthcare organizations have curtailed their operations due to a pandemic or other cause or in situations where a student chooses not to meet the outlined requirements.