Alternative Certification for Surgical Technologists
Surgical assistants are part of an operation room team, assisting surgeons, nurses and other operating room medical professionals by preparing the room, the equipment and the patient for surgery. They also work by handing instruments and supplies to the surgeon during operations, and transporting the patient to the recovery room following surgery.
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Process
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To become a surgical tech you have to complete a program leading either to a certificate or a degree. Most programs take nine months to two years to complete. To become certified you need to complete a program accredited by either the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs or CAAHEP or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools or ABHES.
Requirements
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To take a certification exam for surgical technology you must have proof of graduation from either a CAAHEP or ABHES accredited program and pay the fee of $190 for Association of Surgical Technologists members or $290 for nonmembers. The test is computer-based, takes approximately four hours and takers find out if they passed or failed within five minutes of finishing the certification exam.
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Alternatives
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Another route to certification is through the National Center for Competency Testing or NCCT. To become certified through NCCT you must follow one of the following three paths: complete an accredited training program, complete a two year on-the-job training program through a hospital, or have seven years of job experience as a surgical tech.
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References
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Surgical Technologists
- All Allied Health Schools: Certified Surgical Technologist
- National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting: Exams
- National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting: FAQ
- Association of Surgical Technologists: About the Profession
- Photo Credit laparoscopic surgery image by Grzegorz Kwolek from Fotolia.com
