By A. B. Kelsey
Overview
A surgical technician, also known as a surgical technologist or surgery tech, is a valuable member of a surgical health care team. Typical job duties of a surgical technician include sterilizing and prepping the operating room (OR) for surgery, handing surgical instruments to the attending surgeon, stitching incisions and delivering patients to and from the operating room. Read on to learn how to become a surgical technician.
Step 1
Find a surgical technician training program and apply for admission. Make sure the program is accredited by either the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) or the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Surgical technician educational programs are offered at colleges, vocational schools and universities. Your training program should provide you with the educational requirements needed to obtain a certified surgical tech (CST) designation.
Step 2
Complete your surgical technician training program. These programs run from 9 months for a certificate to 2 years for an associate's degree. Most surgery tech training programs combine classroom lectures with supervised clinical experience in an operating room. Typical courses include human anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, microbiology, surgical procedures, sterilization techniques and surgical pathology.
Step 3
Register to take the certification exam offered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA). Although this test not legally required, most employers prefer to hire surgical technicians who have earned certification.
Step 4
Pass your certification exam. Be at the testing center at least 30 minutes early. Have your photo identification and Authorization to Test (ATT) number handy.
Step 5
Continue your training. You will need to renew your certification with NBSTSA every 4 years, so keep an eye out for continuing education programs designed for surgical technicians.
How to Become a Surgical Technician by theonlineprofessional.com