| Training to become a surgical technician typically | | | | accredited surgical tech programs. These are at Gulf |
| means earning a 2-year associate degree with | | | | Coast Community College in Florida, Kirkwood |
| courses in microbiology, medical ethics, anatomy, | | | | Community College in Iowa, Spencerian College in |
| physiology and surgical instrument techniques. The | | | | Kentucky, Southeast Community College in Nebraska, |
| Liaison Council on Certification for the Surgical | | | | Canadian Valley Technology Center in Oklahoma, |
| Technologist offers national certification for surgical | | | | Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania, Presentation |
| technicians. Surgical technician training programs can | | | | College in South Dakota and Laramie County |
| be found in community and junior colleges, vocational | | | | Community College in Wyoming. |
| schools, four-year colleges and universities, and in | | | | The accredited training programs usually last |
| hospitals, as well as in full-fledged medical colleges. | | | | anywhere from nine months to twenty-four months |
| Surgical technician training will vary accordingly, but | | | | to complete, and result in a diploma, certificate, or |
| training programs will take nine months to two years. | | | | associates degree. In order to get accepted into |
| Surgical technician education will allow for obtaining | | | | surgical technologist programs you normally have to |
| certificates, diplomas, or associate degrees. Students | | | | have a high school degree, and it will be helpful if you |
| will need to have some background and interest in | | | | took math, biology, health and chemistry while you |
| health, biology, chemistry, and mathematics to enter | | | | were in high school, though this is not always required |
| into surgical technician training programs. | | | | to get into a program. These courses will give you a |
| Those interested in becoming a surgical tech should | | | | good background your coursework during the |
| attend and graduate from a Commission on | | | | program. |
| Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs | | | | Surgical technician programs of study will include |
| (CAAHEP) accredited education program. All of the | | | | classroom and supervised clinical experience. Students |
| schools with accredited programs are listed on the | | | | will begin their training as surgical technicians with |
| CAAHEP website, and there are currently 452 | | | | courses in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, |
| accredited surgical tech programs available. | | | | pharmacology and medical terminology. Studies will |
| CAAHEP accredited surgical technician programs are | | | | include sterilization of instruments, infection |
| available in many states, including Alabama, Arkansas, | | | | prevention and control, care and safety of patients, |
| Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, | | | | professional ethics, surgical procedures, techniques, |
| Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, | | | | and equipment for completion of the certificate, |
| Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, | | | | diploma, or degree. |
| Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, | | | | Completing one of the many accredited surgical tech |
| North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New | | | | programs is not always enough to get a job as a |
| Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New | | | | surgical tech. Many employers prefer that their |
| York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode | | | | surgical techs be certified, which requires passing an |
| Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, | | | | exam from the Liaison Council on Certification for the |
| Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, West | | | | Surgical Technologist. Certification is good for four |
| Virginia and Wyoming. | | | | years, during which you need to either complete |
| For those who do not have surgical technician | | | | some continuing education credits or retake the |
| programs near them or who want to attend a | | | | exam in order to keep your certification. |
| distance learning or online program, there are eight | | | | |