| Becoming a surgical technician is not that simple. In | | | | foundational medical training, detailed training on |
| fact, it is moderately challenging as it requires a lot of | | | | surgical procedures and the technical proficiency |
| training, persistence, and hard work. The payoff | | | | needed in the operating room. |
| however, will be worth the time and effort put into | | | | The time frame to complete a degree in surgical |
| it. This job is booming as surgical technicians are in | | | | technology range from nine months to two years as |
| high demand and in addition, they earn very good | | | | this differs by school. Degree programs are offered |
| salaries. | | | | by community colleges, vocational institutions and |
| Don't just jump into becoming a surgical technologist | | | | universities. |
| because it is one of the quickest ways to work in | | | | The certification process involves passing a computer |
| the medical field. You have to do research to find out | | | | given multiple choice test. Successful completion of |
| what surgical technologists do and what is expected | | | | the test means that the candidate is a certified |
| of them. Yes the job pays well but you should know | | | | surgical technologist. Becoming certified can happen in |
| that the environment they work in can be very | | | | two ways. If you receive the certification from |
| stressful, involve long hours of standing and requires | | | | National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical |
| exposure to the sights and smells of surgeries, | | | | Assisting, then you are referred to as a certified |
| including blood. Therefore, the first step in becoming | | | | surgical technologist (CST). If however, you decide |
| a surgical technician is to learn about the field with | | | | to take the exam issued by the National Center for |
| adequate research and ask yourself if this career | | | | Competency Training, then your certification makes |
| path is right for you. | | | | you a Tech in Surgery (TS-C). Either title is highly |
| The Association of Surgical Technologists state that | | | | valued. The prerequisites for attaining the TS-C |
| most employers lean towards hiring certified surgical | | | | though means you would have had to possess a |
| technologists. In order to become certified, you | | | | degree from an accredited institution, and/or |
| should check out a two year degree program after | | | | complete a two year hospital training program and/or |
| which you must pass the certification exam. | | | | garner seven years of experience in surgical |
| You must ensure of course that the program | | | | technology. |
| offered is from an accredited institution. Most | | | | After the certification process, you have to maintain |
| accredited schools provide the theoretical and | | | | it by either taking continuing education classes or |
| practical knowledge necessary to go into the work | | | | re-doing the certification exam every 4 years. The |
| world. They use academic training in combination with | | | | point is to keep you up-to-date with what is |
| hands-on training. Programs may entail courses such | | | | happening in the field. The certification credential is |
| as anatomy, medical terminology in conjunction with | | | | essential to a professional who seeks to remain |
| internships and clinical training under the supervision of | | | | competitive in the job market as it gives the upper |
| qualified individuals. This will give the graduate a | | | | hand as it relates to salary and job advancements as |
| competitive edge when the time comes to find a job | | | | compared to non-certified surgical technologists. |
| as they would have received the necessary | | | | |