

Regardless of the type of surgical tech degree you pursue, it will likely include classroom instruction, whether online or on campus, and hands-on training and internship or work shadowing opportunities. Diploma or certificate programs require fewer credits and take less time to complete. Courses in Surgical Tech ProgramsĪn associate degree in surgical technology typically consists of 60-64 credits and takes two year of full-time enrollment to complete. This requires several more years of schooling but can pay off â nurse anesthetists earned an average annual salary of $189,190 in 2020. You could even continue to nursing school and work in ORs as a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA). If you decide to pursue a career that requires a bachelor's degree, many bachelor of applied science programs will accept credit hours earned in an associate program.

Review the four steps below to guide you in your surgical tech career. Steps to Become a Surgical TechĪfter you graduate from your program, you enter a robust job market with skills, education, and experience that employers value. Knowing the basics of the profession can help you take the first steps toward becoming a surgical tech. That's faster than the average growth rate for all other professions. Compare that to the average cost of earning a degree at a four-year institution, which is on average $28,123 per year, according to National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) data from 2019.Īccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average salary for surgical techs in May 2020 was $51,510, and these jobs will grow 7% by 2029. They can also bring in an above-average paycheck without a bachelor's degree.īecoming a surgical tech requires a certificate, diploma, or associate degree, which range in price from about $5,000 to $15,000. People in these roles prepare the room for surgery, sterilize equipment, and keep tools organized and accounted for. Surgical technologists (or surgical techs) help everything in the operating room (OR) run smoothly.
