Train to be a Surgical Technologist

Learn how you can become a Surgical Technologist working alongside surgeons, physicians, anesthesiologists, registered nurses and other healthcare professionals.

What is a Surgical Technologist?

Surgical Technologists (also called surgical techs, operating room technicians and OR techs) assist in surgical operations, preparing operating rooms and assisting surgeons, nurses and physicians before and during surgical procedures.

Trained surgical technologists routinely find jobs working in hospitals, outpatient surgery centers, dental offices, physician's offices and other specialty surgical facilities. Common job tasks include sterilizing surgical equipment, preparing operating rooms for surgery, draping and preparing patients, washing and disinfecting incision sites and passing instruments and supplies to surgeons during surgery.

Train to be a Surgical Technologist at Newbridge College

The Surgical Technologist program is available at Newbridge College Santa Ana in Orange County and Newbridge College Long Beach near Los Angeles.

Surgical Technologist Program Description

The Surgical Technologist program at Newbridge College is a career-focused program that teaches technical skills and provides the hands-on training experience required to begin working with surgeons, anesthesiologists, certified registered nurse anesthetists, registered nurses and other surgical personnel as a member of a surgical team.

This program is accredited by CAAHEP and provides students with a balanced education in both didactic and clinical settings.

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will receive a Surgical Technologist Diploma and are eligible to take the national certifying examination, administered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA).

Accredited by CAAHEP

The Surgical Tech program at Newbridge College is accredited by the Commisison on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), the largest programmatic accreditor in the health sciences field. For more information on CAAHEP, please visit their web site at www.caahep.org.

Classes Included in this Program:

• Anatomy, physiology and medical terminology, as it relates to the surgical environment
• Surgical safety standards, sterile techniques and general surgical patient care
• Surgical procedures, diagnostic procedures and surgical case management
• Hands-on training in a laboratory/preclinical environment

Surgical Technologist Externship

Following the completion of all classroom and lab training, students in the Surgical Technologist program participate in a non-paid externship program where they gain real-world hands-on work experience working under the supervision of a surgeon or other qualified healthcare professional. Students must complete their externship training to fulfill graduation requirements.

Program Length

• Day Classes: 64 weeks
• Evening Classes: 88 weeks

Program Admission Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent (GED)
• Command of English language
• Surgical Technologist (Surgical Tech) students are required to sign a statement of general health
• Health screening examinations, pathology tests (if applicable), background check and/or immunizations for the Surgical Tech students are required prior to clinical assignments; no Surgical Tech student will be sent to an externship site prior to completing their immunization requirements and may be withdrawn from the program
• Drug screens could be required depending on the facility

Schools Offering Surgical Technologist Training

• Newbridge College - Long Beach
• Newbridge College - Santa Ana

Occupation and Job Outlook

Job growth in the health care industry continues to expand to meet the needs of a growing and aging population in the United States. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of Surgical Technologists and OR Technicians is expected to grow much faster than average, and the number of new job openings is expected to grow 25% through 2018.*

More information, including median wages and the job outlook for Surgical Technologists in California can be found in the California Occupational Guide, published by the Employment Development Department.

Work Environment

Surgical technologists work in clean, well-lighted, cool environments. They must stand for long periods and remain alert during operations. At times, they may be exposed to communicable diseases and unpleasant sights, odors, and materials.

Accredited Surgical Technologist Career Training

Newbridge College Santa Ana and Newbridge College Long Beach are accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a private, non-profit, independent accrediting agency dedicated to ensuring a quality education for more than 250,000 students who annually pursue career education at 800 accredited institutions.

The Surgical Tech program at Newbridge College is also accredited by the Commisison on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), the largest programmatic accreditor in the health sciences field.

Newbridge College is recognized by the State of California Employment Development Department as a registered provider of Surgical Technology/Technologist training in California.

About Newbridge College

Newbridge College is a career college and vocational school with three campuses in Southern California providing traditional classroom and Online distance education. Newbridge College is dedicated to helping students succeed by providing training for health care and business careers with a strong outlook for future growth and employment.

Newbridge College health care training programs include Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (Ultrasound), Medical Assistant, Surgical Tech, Pharmacy Technician, Clinical Laboratory Assistant, Dental Assistant, Medical Billing and Coding / Office Management and Certified Phlebotomy Technician.

For more information about our certificate programs, including graduation rates, gainful employment information, median debt of students who completed the programs, and other important information, please visit www.newbridgecollege.edu/disclosures.htm.

 

*Growth figures represent a ten-year period ending 2018. Source: "National Industry-Occupation Employment Matrix," a publication of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. For more information, please visit the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.