Surgical Technologist Careers - Opportunities Are Abundant
For those who are looking for a job with good prospects for growth, it would be wise to look into the opportunities for surgical technologist careers. This field has a much faster than average rate of growth in the number of opportunities available. The career training period isn't all that long so it is good for people who want to get started working in their new field as soon as possible. In order to qualify for any of the many Surgical Technologist jobs available you first need to get the proper training. You should always be sure that you choose an accredited program for your training. The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accredits surgical technologist/technician programs in this field. The majority of the programs available take two years or less to complete, with some being as short as nine months. After completion of the training program you will receive either a certificate, diploma, or associates degree, depending on which program you have chosen. There are over 400 accredited programs to choose from, including some that have distance education options for those who do not live near an accredited program. Most employers looking to fill Surgical Technologist/Technician jobs prefer to hire certified surgical technologists. There are two organizations that certify professionals in this field, the Liaison Council on Certification for the Surgical Technologist, which gives the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) designation, and the National Center for Competency Testing, which gives the Tech in Surgery - Certified (TS-C) designation. Both require you to have completed an accredited training program and then pass an exam. The CST certification must be renewed every four years, and the TS-C certification must be renewed every five years. Renewal can be achieved through continuing education or re-examination. Surgical Technologist careers are mainly located in hospitals, with the technologists working in operating and delivery rooms for the most part. Technologists help to prepare the room and the patient for operating, and assist the surgeon during the operation by handing him or her the necessary surgical instruments and helping to keep track of the instruments and sponges to make sure that they are all accounted for at the end of the surgery. The mean annual wage for surgical tech jobs is $38,800, with the highest paid ten percent of techs making over $52,550 and the lowest paid ten percent of techs making less than $26,650 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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