So, you’ve been searching for employment after your surgical tech training, but you seem to be hitting a wall. When you first began your surgical tech training, this position was in high demand, but now you are wondering whether there is just too much interest in this particular part of the medical field now.

So what are your options? Do you forfeit all of the time and effort you put into surgical tech training and find a different job or do you stick it out and wait for a position to open?

The Current Demand For Those Who Have Completed Surgical Tech Training

According to the Henry Ford Community College, located at my.hffcc.edu, the demand for the certified surgical tech should continue to grow over the coming years due to the increasing number of elderly in the population. This portion of the population (today’s baby boomers) experiences a greater frequency of health care needs, allowing for a larger number of surgical techs to be employed.

However, the increasing population is not the only reason that many believe surgical tech demand will increase by 30% by 2012. There are also several other reasons.

• Less invasive surgeries that use lasers and fiber optics are much safer than open surgeries and can be performed much more quickly. This means that more surgeries will be performed each year, allowing for more open positions for those who have completed surgical tech training.

• In the old days, surgeons used to work mainly by themselves, with only the anaesthesiologist to keep them company. When surgical techs came into the picture, though, surgeons began to recognize the important role these assistants played before, during, and after surgery. Read the rest of this entry »

Surgical Tech Training – Secrets to Getting Ahead

After you’ve completed your surgical tech training and have landed a solid job…guess what? Your learning and growing has just begun. That’s right. Instead of settling in and getting comfy with your new career, if you really want to move up quickly, (and surgical tech careers are one of the few niches that have almost endless growth opportunities), you’re going to have to adopt a new mindset.

While this may sound like a cliche, a little bit of effort can go a long way in helping you earn more money in your career, achieve a higher level of success, and earn the respect of your co-workers.

Getting Started On The Fast Track After Surgical Tech Training

If you want your surgical tech training to help you achieve the career goals you have set for yourself, here are a few steps you need to take. Read the rest of this entry »

In previous years, those who had undergone surgical tech training through the military were not eligible for certification through the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA). However, a new year brings new changes. Starting January 1, 2012, the NBSTSA will begin allowing active, reserve, and even retired military personnel to obtain certification if they have received military surgical tech training.

Who Can Take the Surgical Tech Training Certification Test?

Next year, military surgical techs from the Army, Air Force, and Navy will be eligible to take the certification test from the NBSTSA. Other eligibility requirements must also be met as well, though. If you are in the military, consider the following information.

• Army surgical techs must have been enrolled in the military after July 2, 1998.

• Navy surgical techs must have been enrolled in the military after September 26, 1988.

• Air Force surgical techs must have been enrolled in the military after August 27, 1976.

• A DD214 must be presented to the NBSTSA verifying graduation from a surgical tech training program in the military or a certificate of graduation from a military surgical tech training program. Read the rest of this entry »

Surgical Tech Training & Certification FAQ

Are you just beginning to research the possibility of surgical tech training? If so, this is the perfect place to start! Our surgical tech training and certification website covers every topic from common first questions to advanced career insights.

If you are new to the idea of surgical tech training, you may assume that successfully completing your surgical tech training means you’ll be ready to begin your new surgical tech career (and be done with tests and studying). However, there’s more to the process than that. Before you make the decision to enroll in surgical tech training, read through these frequently asked questions and find out whether you are taking a positive step in the right direction or just wasting your time.

FAQ Regarding Certification After Surgical Tech Training Read the rest of this entry »

Just Starting Your Surgical Tech Career?

So, you are thinking about beginning your surgical tech training, but aren’t sure if this is the career for you. You may not even know how to get started or how to make your career successful. This career choice can be a very rewarding and exciting journey for you, if you have the right knowledge. Before you change the course of your entire life and start down this new path, let’s take a look at the five steps you will need to take to kick-start a great surgical tech career.

Steps To Your Surgical Tech Career

• Education- The first, and perhaps most important step, in your surgical career is surgical tech training. Without it, you can not hope to succeed in this field. You can earn your surgical tech certificate, diploma, or associate’s degree through several different locations, such as hospitals, the military, community colleges, universities, and even online. You will experience both classroom and clinical surgical tech training in these locations, which will help prepare you for life in the operating room.

• Certification- While many surgical techs finish their surgical tech training and go on to begin careers without certification, this is not a step you should skip. Certification can open doors for you and make you more desirable to employers. To obtain certification, attend a CAAHEP-accredited surgical tech training program, and complete the certification examination given by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) located at www.nbstsa.org. You can also obtain certification from the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) at www.ncctinc.com. Read the rest of this entry »

Surgical Tech Income Potential

When you complete your surgical tech training, you will want to find the best paying job possible. While you may not be able to obtain a high salary right out of school, there are steps you can take to increase your income. Here are some tips to help you out.

Earn More Money After Surgical Tech Training

There are several steps you can take after surgical tech training to increase your income.

• Surgical Tech Programs- There are several different types of surgical tech training available to those who wish to enter this field. A certificate, diploma, or associate’s degree can be earned. The amount of income you make will many times depend on the type of training you have completed. Your level of surgical tech training will also determine the position you obtain.

• Certification- While certification is not automatically required by employers before you can be hired, it is preferred. Also, many employers will be happy to be provide you with more income if you have certification, because it shows you are capable of performing the required duties of a surgical tech in the operating room. Read the rest of this entry »

Surgical Tech Recent Advancements

If it has been a while since you completed your surgical tech training, you may not be aware of the most recent advancements that have occurred in the field of surgical technology. While these techniques and procedures may not have been used during your surgical tech training, they play a vital role in today’s surgical procedures and are worth learning about.

After Surgical Tech Training: Advancements In Technology

Although you may come across new advancements every day in the surgical field, there are some that stand out above the rest and make a big impact on how surgeries are performed. Here are three technological advancements you may or may not have had the opportunity to see or learn about previously. Read the rest of this entry »

How to Ace Your Surgical Tech Training Externship

If you are nearing the end of your surgical tech training, there is a good chance you are experiencing a number of emotions. You may be nervous, excited, and even a little scared. Why? It may be because you are about to begin your externship. If you want to know what lies beyond surgical tech training, here is some information on your externship that may help calm your frazzled nerves.

What is Surgical Tech Training Externship?

Surgical tech training consists of two parts, coursework in the classroom and an externship. As your coursework reaches an end, you will need to be prepared for the externship. This is when you will enter a real OR to receive hands-on training. Externships help you adapt to real life situations and prepare you for the world outside of the classroom. Think of it as a stepping stone on the way to your new career.

When you begin the externship portion of your surgical tech training, you will no longer be in the classroom, and walking into a hospital’s or surgical center’s operating room can be intimidating for even the most successful students. Read the rest of this entry »

Consider the Cost of Surgical Tech Training

Before you begin your surgical tech training, have you considered what it will cost you? We’re not just talking about a passing thought, but an actual budget which will allow you to repay any loans incurred, without experiencing the crushing debt some students fresh out of medical training experience. Surgical tech training can be expensive, and the payments plus interest will begin once your education is complete. If you want to owe little to no money after you graduate, (which is best) here are some tips.

Alternatives to Student Loans for Surgical Tech Training

• Federal Grants- Federal grants, like the Federal Pell Grant, offer students the opportunity to complete surgical tech training for free. Unlike student loans, grants do not have to be paid back after a student has finished their surgical tech training. With these grants, however, come with some requirements. Students must express a real financial need for the loan. Generally, this is determined by your income and previously paid taxes. If you still live at home while you are attending surgical tech training, your parent’s income and tax information may also be needed. Along with this information, the cost of your surgical tech training, whether you are attending school part-time or full-time, and the length of your training will affect whether you qualify for a federal grant. Students who do fill out a FASFA and qualify for a Pell grant will only be able to obtain funds from one school at a time, but this grant often pays for tuition, books, and boarding. If you decide to live at home, you will be given a certain amount of money to help with rent, utilities, and gas to and from school. Read the rest of this entry »

A Look Back at Surgical Tech Training

During your surgical tech training, you will learn about the many instruments you will be required to hand to the surgeon during surgery. While these modern instruments may appear daunting to some, they have come a long way throughout centuries of surgeries.

Instruments you will Never see During Surgical Tech Training

While these old scary instruments may have been used often in centuries past, you will probably never see them during surgical tech training. Here are just a few.

• Amputation Knife- During the 18^th century, curved blades were used in the operating room to help amputate an individual’s leg. The curve of the blade was used to create a circular incision in the skin and muscle before an amputation saw was used to cut through the bone. Because this type of cut did not leave a skin flap for covering the stump, the knife is no longer used. Imagine learning about this gruesome tool during your surgical tech training!

• Amputation Saw- The amputation saws of the 1600’s were not scary looking at all. In fact, they looked quite beautiful. These saws were elegantly decorated and designed. With these saws, surgeons were able to flaunt their high class wealth. However, because of the crevices and engravings found on these saws, they were often a breeding ground for germs. Pretty or not, aren’t you glad they aren’t part of your surgical tech training today? Read the rest of this entry »