Surgical Technician Programs in Connecticut

Surgical Technician Training Programs in Connecticut

With the rapid growth taking place in the healthcare industry, you may be thinking that this is a great time to look into surgical tech programs and career options.

Learning a specialized set of skills, such as those taught in a surgical technician program, can help you meet the hiring qualifications of healthcare facilities across Connecticut.

Programs in this field are designed to completed in two years or less, letting you gain the knowledge you need and start preparing for a new career. If you’re ready to become a scrub tech and meet the needs of surgeons in your community, get started now by contacting surgical tech schools in Connecticut.

What Kind of Surgical Technician Training Do I Need in Connecticut?

There’s a lot that goes into picking the right surgical technology Associate of Applied Science CT program. From picking a program that lines up with your current level of education to ensuring that your degree includes enough hands-on experience, you want to get as much as possible from your training.

Keep reading to learn more about becoming a Certified Surgical Technologist and contact Connecticut schools to find out how you can earn a surgical technician certificate.

Getting Into Surgical Tech Schools in Connecticut

Admissions requirements are set by each surgical tech degree program, and you should choose a school where you easily meet or exceed the admissions requirements. Whether you’re interested in earning a surgical tech Associate degree, diploma, or certificate, you may be able to get accepted to a program fairly easily.

Surgical tech diploma programs do not require any prior college coursework or healthcare experience, so you may start studying straight out of high school or from a different career field.

Application Documents

Completed application
Application fee
References from past teachers or employers
Essay
Background check authorization form
TB test results
Drug test form
High school transcripts

To begin earning your surgical tech degree online or in person, you may just need a GPA of 2.0, proof of a high school diploma or GED, and a clean background check. In many programs, any prior felonies can bar you from entrance.

Connecticut Surgical Technology Training

When it comes to surgical tech programs, Connecticut has a variety of options for aspiring students. If you want to finish your training in one year or less, you may want to earn a certificate or diploma. These programs are nearly identical in many ways. You usually need between 30 and 45 credits to graduate.

Since these programs do not require general education courses, you can save quite a bit of time and start working toward certification sooner. You can also look into surgical tech Associate degree programs. Earning an Associate’s degree requires between 60 and 75 credits, which you may be able to finish in about two years. The additional credits come from general education courses in topics like mathematics, English, and history.

Surgical Tech Courses in Connecticut

Anatomy and Physiology (4 credits): This core classmate help you contribute more in various types of operations. It covers the different body systems and how they work. As you learn how the body works, you may also learn about the many ways in which it can work incorrectly.
Operating Room Procedures (8 credits): In this class, combine a knowledge of theory with hands-on clinical skills. You may learn about the steps in each procedure and which tools are needed in each step of the process. While progressing through this course, you may observe and even take part in surgeries at local hospitals and outpatient surgical centers.
Clinical Experience (6 credits): At this point in your education, your main priority is getting as much hands-on experience as possible and improving your skills with feedback, practice, and assessment. In two separate clinical courses, you are assigned to local operating rooms and facilities. By working with different surgeons, you can broaden your skill set and learn how to adjust to the demands of each surgeon.
Seminar in Surgery (3 credits): The content of this class changes each semester. It addresses current issues in surgery, your scope of practice as an OR tech, and what your surgical tech degree means for the future of your career.
Pathology and Pharmacology for the Surgical Technologist (3 credits): This is one of the surgical tech courses that can often be completed online in blended programs. Pathology looks at how diseases manifest and how they affect different body systems, while pharmacology looks at how medications are used before, after, and during surgery.
Concepts of Chemistry (4 credits): Students in this course learn about the fundamentals of chemistry and learn how to apply these ideas to the field of surgical technology.

What About Earning a Surgical Tech Associate’s Degree Online?

Attending traditional courses can be difficult for working adults and those with families, but there aren’t any CAAHEP-accredited surgical assistant online programs. Accredited programs are required to offer a specific amount of clinical training hours and give students the chance to participate in a set amount of surgical procedures.

Online surgical tech programs do not meet the hands-on training requirements of accredited schools. However, if flexibility is important to you, you may look into attending a blended program. Blended programs allow you to do some of your surgical tech certification online.

You can learn about the theory of surgical technology online before attending clinical and laboratory courses in person.

Paying for Surgical Tech School in Connecticut

You’ve selected a surgical tech school and you’re ready to start meeting your school’s surgical technician requirements. The next step: figuring out how you are going to pay for your education. Luckily, there are many resources available for operating room tech students.

Start by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as the FAFSA. This program is run by the Department of Education. It awards need-based aid to students based on their income, their family’s income, and the cost of their education. They use your school code to figure out how much your education should cost, how much you can contribute, and how much is needed to bridge the gap.

Consider applying for aid through the Association of Surgical Technologists, which awards numerous scholarships to student members each year. You can also do a large scholarship search with Peterson’s, which keeps important information like deadlines and requirements available for students.

Working as a Certified Surgical Technician in Connecticut

With a surgical technology Associate’s degree, diploma, or certificate, you should be on the path to a new and exciting career. By doing some research before you graduate, you can be fully prepared for the job search and know how to impress local employers. Find out what Connecticut employers look for in OR tech applicants and how you can exceed their expectations.

Connecticut Surgical Technician Requirements

Whenever you start a healthcare career, it’s important to know the certification and licensing requirements of your state. Surgical technology is still unlicensed in many states, including Connecticut.

Certification is not required to work as a scrub tech in Connecticut, but that doesn’t mean you do not need to become a Certified Surgical Technologist. Local employers often prioritize certification, since it outlines what you’ve learned, how much practice you have as a surgical tech, and what skills you bring to the table.

Certification is regulated by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting. You may want to join as a student member or join shortly after graduating; members pay a $190 testing fee, compared to a non-member testing fee of $290. Once you provide proof of graduating from a CAAHEP-accredited surgical tech school, you can take your licensing exam and apply for certification.

After you receive your initial license, make sure you complete 60 hours of continuing education every four years. You must apply for renewal every four years to meet the surgical technician requirements of the NBSTSA.

Where are the Best Surgical Tech Jobs in Connecticut?

Throughout Connecticut, you can find hundreds of hospitals and outpatient surgery centers that rely on surgical technician program graduates to keep everything running smoothly. As an operating room tech, be ready to work long shifts. Many hospitals run on a 12-hour shift schedule, rather than an 8-hour shift schedule. Overtime is generally available, if not outright required. Since emergency surgery may be ordered at any time, you may have to work nights, weekends, and holidays to keep your operating room fully staffed.

Take some time to look at job postings while you’re earning your surgical technology Associate’s degree. Doing so can help you get the necessary skills and references to apply for local jobs.

Surgical Tech Programs: Connecticut Hiring Standards and Requirements

Current certification as a CST
Strong knowledge of medical terminology
Knowledge of patient privacy standards and laws
Clinical experience in hospitals and surgical centers
Availability to work a variety of shifts
Physical strength that allows you to stand, bend, lift, and carry for long shifts

Common Surgical Technician Job Duties in Connecticut

While there may be slight differences in job duties between Connecticut employers, the field of surgical technology is pretty narrow. As a result, you can look forward to a consistent set of job duties and requirements wherever you go.

Regardless of where you end up accepting a job, you must know what your scope of practice is as a surgical technician. Surgical tech diploma programs generally cover this in lots of detail, so you should know exactly where your responsibilities end and what you can do without stepping over your boundaries. In Connecticut, the agency that determines a CST’s scope of practice is the Connecticut State Assembly.

Job Duties for Surgical Tech School Graduates

Count tools and equipment before and after each surgery
Carry out proper sterilizing techniques to prepare instruments for surgery
Communicate with surgical staff to make sure you have each operating room ready when it is needed
Be present during surgeries to hold tools, position patients, and call for help
Observe patient status during surgical procedures
Complete documentation during and after surgical procedures
Count sponges and instruments before closure of a surgical site to verify that everything is accounted for
Ensure that tools are sterilized and put away properly after each surgery

Connecticut Surgical Tech Salaries

You may be able to earn a competitive salary with your surgical technology certificate. This is particularly true in areas that have a growing shortage of healthcare professionals. In Connecticut, the average salary for a surgical technologist is $53,380 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2017).

In Hartford, the average salary is slightly higher at $56,830 per year (BLS, 2017). In the Norwich area, the mean salary for a surgical technologist is $55,920 annually (BLS, 2017). After graduating from operating room assistant programs, Connecticut graduates may look forward to a solid job outlook. By the year 2024, job openings for surgical technicians are expected to increase 15% in the United States (BLS, 2017).

Surgical Technology Resources in Connecticut

While you earn your surgical technology Associate’s degree, you should make time for networking and building a professional network. Healthcare is a constantly changing field that can be very mentally demanding. When you work with other healthcare professionals and surgical assistants, you can learn how to work more efficiently and maintain your focus on the job.

Connecticut and National Resources for Surgical Tech Graduates

Now that you know what you can learn in surgical tech programs and how you can use your education, you’re ready to get going.

With the list of Connecticut surgical tech schools, you can reach out to schools that interest you, get more information on admissions requirements, and even observe classes to find a school that suits you. The work you do as a surgical technician benefits surgeons, nurses, and patients by streamlining surgical procedures and saving time.