Surgical technicians, or surgical techs, play a critical support role in hospitals and surgical centers. They sterilize medical equipment and prepare patients for surgical procedures. In the operating room, they pass surgical tools to surgeons and assist in surgical tasks. Surgical techs also safely manage medical sharps and follow sterile environment procedures after surgery.
Demand for surgical techs is surging in Tennessee. Attending a Tennessee surgical tech program can prepare graduates for careers in this growing healthcare field.
What Is a Surgical Tech Program?
A surgical tech program prepares graduates to become certified surgical techs, operating room techs, or surgical scrub techs. These careers require specialized knowledge and skills, which surgical technology programs emphasize in the classroom and through hands-on training.
Programs for surgical techs typically offer an associate degree. Graduates of this two-year degree meet the educational requirements to enter the field for entry-level surgical tech positions.
Associate of Science Degree
Prospective surgical techs can earn an Associate of Science in Surgical Technology degree to enter the field. Accredited surgical tech programs in Tennessee provide instruction in human anatomy, physiology, and microbiology. Programs also incorporate classes in safety procedures, surgical instrument sterilization, and infection control. Supervised clinical requirements strengthen skills for the operating room.
Clinical training introduces students to different surgical settings, including instrument rooms and decontamination rooms. Learners also practice procedures to manage hazardous materials in the operating room.
Surgical tech students also explore surgical subspecialties. For example, degree seekers learn about cardiovascular surgical tech responsibilities, including assisting surgeons during open-heart surgery. They also learn about obstetrics and gynecology roles in which surgical techs assist with labor and delivery by prepping patients for cesarean sections. Other specialties include orthopedic surgery and trauma care.
Surgical Tech Training Program Requirements in Tennessee
Training programs for surgical techs emphasize the medical knowledge and hands-on skills needed for certification and entry-level careers. Becoming a surgical tech typically takes two years.
How do Tennessee surgical tech programs prepare graduates for the workforce? While the specific requirements vary, accredited surgical tech programs help graduates meet the requirements to work in Tennessee operating rooms.
Admissions Requirements
Applying to a surgical tech program is the first step toward a career as a surgical tech. Applicants typically need a high school diploma or the equivalent. Some programs require prerequisite courses, while others integrate introductory courses into the program.
Prospective applicants who want more information about programs can reach out to admissions advisors or schedule a tour of the surgical training facilities.
Unlike at some other educational institutions, the Surgical Technology program at the two Fortis Institute campuses in Tennessee does not require any prerequisite courses in order to enroll in the programs.
Graduation Requirements
Surgical tech programs combine classroom and clinical education to strengthen career-ready skills. While the graduation requirements differ depending on the school, most programs require coursework in surgical technology, patient care, medical terminology, and surgical microbiology.
Clinical externships or practicums allow students to apply their classroom knowledge in healthcare settings. These clinical experiences emphasize surgical procedures and infection prevention. Meeting the coursework and externship requirements typically takes two academic years for full-time students. Students who complete the graduation requirements earn an associate degree in surgical technology.
Licensure and Certification Requirements
In Tennessee, surgical techs do not need a state-issued license. However, to practice in the state, surgical techs must comply with Tennessee’s surgical tech laws and regulations.
Tennessee law requires that surgical techs meet one of the following requirements:
Obtain an active Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) credential from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA).
Graduate from a surgical technology program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
Complete a military surgical technology program.
Pass the NBSTSA certification exam.
Professional certification helps surgical techs meet the legal requirements to practice, and certification can mean more job opportunities for surgical techs, since some employers prefer or require certification. An associate degree from an accredited surgical tech program in Tennessee prepares graduates for NBSTSA certification.
The NBSTSA awards the CST credential to graduates of accredited surgical tech programs who pass a national certification exam. The CST exam tests surgical techs on preoperative preparation, intraoperative procedures, and postoperative procedures. Exam questions also cover equipment sterilization, microbiology, and surgical pharmacology. Test-takers must correctly answer a minimum of 98 questions out of 150 scored questions to pass the exam.
Surgical Tech Job Outlook in Tennessee
As demand for surgical procedures continues to grow, hospitals and surgical centers will need to hire more surgical techs. In particular, surgical techs are expected to see strong demand in outpatient settings, including ambulatory surgery centers.
Tennessee reports a positive job outlook for surgical techs, with much faster projected job growth than the national average. Nationally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 5% job growth for surgical techs from 2022 to 2032. In Tennessee, surgical techs are projected to see around a 10% increase in employment during the same period, according to Projections Central.
Accredited surgical tech programs in Tennessee can help meet the state’s high demand for qualified surgical techs.
Become a Surgical Tech in Tennessee
Want to launch your career as a surgical tech in Tennessee? The Surgical Technology programs at the Fortis Institute Cookeville and Fortis Institute Nashville campuses are CAAHEP-accredited and meet the requirements to practice in Tennessee.
At Fortis, surgical technology students learn how to work closely with surgeons, registered nurses, and other members of the surgical team. Graduates pursue careers in surgical centers, hospitals, delivery rooms, and medical clinics. If you are considering a career in this high-demand field, contact Fortis today to learn more about our programs.
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Surgical Tech: Job Description, Requirements, and Outlook
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