Surgical Technologist
Find resources, professional associations, and information to prepare for your future as a Surgical Technologist.
🛑Important Program Requirement: Clinical / Employer Sponsorship
A secured employer or clinical site is required before a student may enroll in the Surgical Technologist program.
What Does a Surgical Technologist Do?
Surgical Technologists are critical members of the surgical team who support patient safety before, during, and after surgical procedures. They prepare operating rooms, ensure surgical instruments and equipment are sterile and functioning properly, and assist surgeons throughout operations.
Surgical Technologists may interact with patients during the pre‑operative, intra‑operative, and post‑operative phases of care.
Responsibilities commonly include:
- Preparing operating rooms and arranging surgical equipment
- Ensuring instruments and devices are sterile and in proper working order
- Positioning, draping, and preparing patients for surgery
- Passing sterile instruments and supplies to surgeons during procedures
- Maintaining sterile operative fields and aseptic technique
- Anticipating the needs of the surgical team
- Assisting with retractors or robotic surgical equipment
- Dressing incision sites and transporting patients to recovery
- Restocking operating rooms with supplies and equipment
Tech in Surgery – Certified (TS‑C) Certification
The Tech in Surgery – Certified (TS‑C) credential, offered through the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT), recognizes individuals who have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and hands‑on experience required to work safely and effectively as a Surgical Technologist.
Surgical Technologists play a vital role in patient safety by supporting surgical teams and maintaining sterile environments throughout surgical procedures.
Certification Requirements
To earn TS‑C certification, candidates must:
- Complete the NCCT Critical Skill Competency Form
- Pass the NCCT Tech in Surgery – Certified (TS‑C) exam
Hands‑On Experience (Clinical Sites)
Surgical case experience is typically completed in:
- Hospitals
- Surgery centers
- Specialty practices
Clinical sites determine whether they can accommodate a student and meet the certification requirements
