| Those interested in becoming a surgical tech should | | | | anywhere from nine months to twenty-four months |
| attend and graduate from a Commission on | | | | to complete, and result in a diploma, certificate, or |
| Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs | | | | associates degree. In order to get accepted into |
| (CAAHEP) accredited education program. All of the | | | | surgical technologist programs you normally have to |
| schools with accredited programs are listed on the | | | | have a high school degree, and it will be helpful if you |
| CAAHEP website, and there are currently 452 | | | | took math, biology, health and chemistry while you |
| accredited surgical tech programs available. | | | | were in high school, though this is not always required |
| CAAHEP accredited surgical technician programs are | | | | to get into a program. These courses will give you a |
| available in many states, including Alabama, Arkansas, | | | | good background your coursework during the |
| Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, | | | | program. |
| Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, | | | | Surgical tech trainees usually learn about things like |
| Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, | | | | anatomy, care and safety of patients during surgery, |
| Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, | | | | how to handle the drugs and equipment used by |
| North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New | | | | surgical techs, medical terminology, microbiology, |
| Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New | | | | pharmacology, physiology, prevention and control of |
| York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode | | | | infection, professional ethics, sterile techniques and |
| Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, | | | | sterilization of instruments, and surgical procedures. |
| Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, West | | | | Most surgical technologist programs involve both |
| Virginia and Wyoming. | | | | classroom and clinical components so that students |
| For those who do not have surgical technician | | | | can get some experience in the different skills they |
| programs near them or who want to attend a | | | | will need to use in their profession. |
| distance learning or online program, there are eight | | | | Completing one of the many accredited surgical tech |
| accredited surgical tech programs. These are at Gulf | | | | programs is not always enough to get a job as a |
| Coast Community College in Florida, Kirkwood | | | | surgical tech. Many employers prefer that their |
| Community College in Iowa, Spencerian College in | | | | surgical techs be certified, which requires passing an |
| Kentucky, Southeast Community College in Nebraska, | | | | exam from the Liaison Council on Certification for the |
| Canadian Valley Technology Center in Oklahoma, | | | | Surgical Technologist. Certification is good for four |
| Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania, Presentation | | | | years, during which you need to either complete |
| College in South Dakota and Laramie County | | | | some continuing education credits or retake the |
| Community College in Wyoming. | | | | exam in order to keep your certification. |
| The accredited training programs usually last | | | | |