Surgical technology is a fast-paced, hands-on field that offers a wide range of career opportunities for healthcare professionals looking to make an impact on patient outcomes. And with demand for surgical technologists and assistants projected to grow 6 percent from 2023 to 2033, there’s never been a better time to map out your career journey.
In this guide, we’ll walk through each stage of a surgical technologist’s career and outlines actionable steps to help you earn a higher salary, expand your impact, and grow your career.
Remember: every career path is different. Use this guide as a starting point, but don’t be afraid to forge your own path—there are countless opportunities to grow depending on your unique interests and skills.
Kickstart Your Career: Get Certified
Your career begins with education. To practice as a surgical technologist, you’ll need to complete an accredited surgical technology training program, which typically takes 1-2 years to complete. When you finish, you’ll need to pass the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) exam to become a Certified Surgical Technician (CST).
Choose the right program for you
You must have a high school diploma or GED to enroll in a surgical technology certification program. There are multiple ways you can earn your education, depending on your timeline, work/life balance, and long-term goals.
The most common programs include:
The most efficient route to becoming a CST, certificate programs offer an efficient, hands-on learning environment ideal for those looking for quick entry into the job market. These programs are typically offered by hospitals or community colleges and are focused on gaining hands-on clinical experience to prepare you for the NBSTSA exam and your future career.
2. Diploma Program (12-18 months)
Diploma programs may take longer, but they offer more well-rounded education in addition to hands-on clinical experience. The most important distinction is that some diploma programs are eligible to transfer to continue your education with an associate’s degree down the line, making it a great choice for people who want to deepen their education and open the door to additional career opportunities. These programs are usually offered by technical and vocational schools, as well as community colleges.
3. Associate’s Degree (18-24 months)
The most common—and most comprehensive—path to becoming a CST is to earn an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) or Associate of Science (AS) degree in surgical technology. These programs can take up to two years to complete and include general education classes to give you a deeper and more broad education in the medical field. Offered by community colleges and universities, graduating with an associate’s degree makes you more competitive in the job market and is recommended for anyone who wants to pursue advanced specialization.
4. Bachelor’s Degree (4 years)
While graduating with a bachelor’s degree isn’t necessary to become a CST, it offers a deep academic foundation, including management and research-focused courses. If you know you want to advance your career as a Certified First Assistant, or even pursue further education to become a Physician Assistant, this is a great path to consider.
5. Military Programs
The U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force all offer training to become a surgical technologist through their medical corps. This path offers a fast-paced and high-quality education that costs only your commitment to military service. Note that you may need additional training to be eligible for CST certification by the NBSTSA as a military surgical technologist.
Choose an accredited program
Whichever path you choose, selecting an accredited program is the only way to ensure your education will satisfy the eligibility requirements for the CST exam. Programs should be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). You can find a list of accredited programs on the CAAHEP and ABHES websites.
Early Career: Master Core Skills & Maintain Your Credential
Once you’ve passed the CST exam, you’re eligible to start working as a surgical technologist. The first three years of your career are about mastering core skills, building confidence in the OR, and gaining a solid foundation of experience across a range of procedures.
As you learn, start reflecting on which parts of the job excite you the most. Understanding your strengths, technical interests, and soft skills early on can help guide your long-term career path.
Your early career is also an ideal time to grow your professional network. Build mentorship relationships with senior techs, attend conferences and workshops, and stay open to learning opportunities. The connections you make now can open the door to new roles, specializations, or opportunities down the line.
Maintain your credentials through continuing education
To maintain your CST credential, you’ll either need to earn a certain amount of continuing education (CE) credits or retake and pass the certification exam every two years. Most surgical techs opt to gain CE credits rather than retake the exam because it helps you grow professionally in addition to maintaining your credential. Visit the NBSTSA’s website to learn more about CST renewal and recertification requirements.
What are CE credits for surgical technologists?
Continuing education credits are earned by completing relevant professional development experiences or activities that help CSTs refresh their knowledge and learn about new advancements in the field. One credit typically equals 60 minutes of activity, and a portion of credits must be live credits, meaning they were earned by attending a live event like a conference or workshop.
CSTs must earn 30 CE credits every 2 years, while Certified Surgical First Assistants (CSFAs) must earn 38 CE credits every 2 years. All CE credits must be recognized by the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST) and submitted for approval to count toward your total.
Here are a few ways to gain CE credits as a surgical technologist:
The AST and other organizations offer webinars and virtual workshops on topics like anatomy and physiology, advancements in the field, sterilization techniques, and more. Some online courses also count as live CE credits. See a list of online modules on the AST’s website.
2. Read and complete CE articles
Medical journals like the AST’s The Surgical Technologist publish monthly CE articles with corresponding tests. Reading the articles and passing the subsequent test will earn you one CE credit per test passed.
3. Attend an in-person conference or workshop
Local and national surgical tech conferences offer in-person sessions and workshops that count toward live CE credits. They also provide all-important networking opportunities and more hands-on experience.
4. Take a college course
College-level coursework in relevant topics like microbiology or pharmacology may qualify for CE credit. Be sure to confirm with the NBSTSA that a program qualifies for CE credit before enrolling.
5. Earn additional certifications
Earning new certifications, like life support or infection control training, can sometimes qualify for CE credit. Make sure you verify with the NBSTSA that a certification qualifies before enrolling.
6. Attend vendor-sponsored trainings
Surgical tool and device companies often provide training sessions for surgical technologists who use their products in the field. Vendor trainings that can earn you CE credit typically include a testing component to qualify.
Mid-Career: Specialize and Deepen Your Skills
Once you’ve got 3-5 years of experience under your belt, you likely have a clear sense of which parts of the role you enjoy most. If you’re drawn to the technical aspects of the job, this could be the right time to specialize in a surgical area that aligns with your interests. If you’re more interested in a leadership role, now’s a great time to start exploring those opportunities and preparing yourself to take on more responsibility.
This is an exciting stage in your career where you can begin shaping your long-term career aspirations. Here are a few paths to consider:
Choose a surgical specialty
Specializing in a specific branch of surgery is a great way to deepen your expertise and unlock new career opportunities. Many specializations require (or prefer) additional training or certification, but in turn offer higher salaries and more opportunities for advancement. You’ll generally need to have a few years of general OR experience as a CST to specialize.
There are many surgical specialties to choose from, including orthopedics, neurosurgery, cardiovascular, robotics, and OB/GYN. See a list of common specialties and which one might be right for you.
While every specialization is different, here are the steps most surgical techs will take to specialize:
2. Seek cross-training opportunities. Some hospitals have formal cross-training programs, while others offer more informal mentorship opportunities. Taking the initiative to ask for these opportunities is key.
3. Find opportunities to earn CE credit in your chosen specialty. Taking CE courses in specialized instrumentation, techniques, or research will build an educational foundation to help you in any advanced certification program you may need.
4. Earn additional certifications as needed. Not all specialties require advanced certification, but doing so makes you more competitive in the job market. Some more advanced specializations require advanced training, and instrumentation-based specialties like robotics may require equipment-specific certifications. Do your research on what certifications are recommended for your chosen specialty.
5. Apply for specialty positions. Once you’ve obtained the relevant training and certification, you can start applying for roles in your chosen specialty. Be sure to highlight all relevant CE coursework, certifications, and trainings on your resume to stand out to employers. Join Incredible Health’s AI-powered job marketplace for access to thousands of specialized jobs at top employers around the country.
Pursue a team lead role
If you enjoy the variety that general surgery offers, but are looking to advance your career in other ways—particularly on the leadership and admin side—you may want to consider pursuing a team lead role on the surgical floor. Whether it’s mentoring more junior techs, managing case flow, or coordinating the surgical team, lead roles typically come with increased pay and greater responsibility.
While opportunities to gain leadership skills vary by facility, here are some of the steps you can take to begin your journey toward a leadership role:
2. Offer to support your charge tech or supervisor. Ask your team leader how you can assist with staff scheduling, supply tracking, or other admin duties. Starting to learn OR logistics builds the operational knowledge you’ll need to take on a leadership role.
Gain CE credits in soft skills like leadership, communication, and operations. Many organizations offer CE courses in leadership and other management skills. Consider taking courses in topics like conflict resolution or sterile processing leadership to broaden your skillset.
3. Consider additional certifications or education. While not always required, earning a management-related certification—like the Certified Healthcare Leader (CHL) credential from the Healthcare Sterile Processing Administration (HSPA)—can help you gain essential skills for a career in leadership. You can also pursue a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration to help you qualify for supervisor or lead roles.
4. Apply for surgical tech team lead or or coordinator roles. Soon you’ll be ready to start applying for surgical leadership positions. Make sure to highlight previous leadership experiences—both formal and informal—in your resume to set yourself apart. Join Incredible Health’s AI-powered job marketplace to explore permanent surgical tech leadership roles in hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers nationwide.
Maintain your credentials
Don’t forget that you’ll still need to earn CE credits and renew your CST certification every two years for as long as you’re a practicing surgical technologist. As you advance your career, use your CE activities as an opportunity to further deepen your expertise and expand your skillset in your chosen specialization.
Senior Level Career: Take on a Leadership Role
After several years of hands-on experience, many surgical techs start to seek advanced roles that offer greater impact, increased responsibility, and higher earning potential. Late-career advancement is an exciting opportunity to put your hard-earned expertise to use in new and meaningful ways.
Common paths at this stage include becoming a Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA), pursuing a senior leadership role, or becoming an educator. The right path for you depends on whether you’re more interested in continuing to support surgeons in the operating room, overseeing team operations and department workflows, or training and mentoring new surgical technologists.
Become a Certified Surgical First Assistant
First assistants work side-by-side with surgeons in the operating room, taking on a broader set of responsibilities that extend beyond the setup and support duties of a traditional surgical technologist. This more advanced and hands-on role offers increased earning potential and a strong foundation for techs looking to make a career pivot down the line, such as becoming a Physician Assistant or an RN First Assistant.
To apply for a CSFA program, you’ll need to have at least 3,000 hours of experience as a CST in an OR. Once you’ve reached that milestone, you can enroll in a program accredited by CAAHEP, which typically takes 12-24 months to complete.
Once you graduate from a CAAHEP-accredited program, you can take national certification examinations through the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) or National Commission for the Certification of Surgical Assistants (NCCSA).
Upon passing the exam, you’ll be certified to practice as a CSFA.
Take on a leadership role
Transitioning into a leadership role can be a rewarding next step for senior surgical technologists who have spent their career building a strong clinical foundation and advancing their leadership skills. Depending on what kind of facility you work in, there are a number of leadership roles you can pursue, from Sterile Processing Supervisor to Surgical Services Supervisor or Sterile Processing Supervisor. These positions sit on the administrative side of running an OR, overseeing essential processes like managing schedules, mentoring staff, and improving workflows.
If you’re aiming to move up in surgical leadership, it’s recommended you pursue an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in surgical services or healthcare management. Some hospitals offer tuition reimbursement to help surgical techs enroll in these programs, along with support for pursuing certifications and continuing education programs that build leadership skills. Flexible options like online or part-time programs make it possible to earn your degree while continuing to work as a CST.
When you’re ready to start applying for leadership roles, be sure to tailor your resume to highlight your leadership experience, both official and unofficial—including skills like people management, operations, and communications. Join Incredible Health to find permanent surgical leadership positions at top hospitals and surgery centers.
Become an educator
With years of clinical experience under your belt, you’re in a great position to help new surgical technologists start their careers. Becoming a surgical technology instructor or a clinical preceptor is a rewarding role where you can help shape the next generation of surgical technologists.
To become an educator, you’ll typically need at least an associate’s degree and several years of clinical experience in the OR. While not always necessary, it’s recommended that you take courses and workshops on skills like curriculum development and classroom management. Some of these courses may even help you earn CE credits to maintain your CST certification, which you’ll need even as an educator.
From there, you can begin looking for educational roles at community colleges, vocational schools, or hospitals with robust onboarding programs.
Choosing the right path for you
There’s no one-size-fits-all career path for surgical technologists. Whatever your goals, surgical technology offers countless opportunities for advancement, growth, and a meaningful career creating great patient outcomes.
Incredible Health connects surgical technologists across all levels of experience and specialties to find permanent roles and the top hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers nationwide. If you’re looking for your next surgical tech role, join Incredible Health today to start writing your next chapter.
Plus: Read our healthcare technician resume guide and surgical tech intervew guide for tips and tricks to land an interview—and then ace it.
