Surgical Technician Training Programs in Hawaii

With healthcare changing and evolving all the time, this industry constantly needs well-trained professionals who can keep up with new standards, techniques, and procedures. Getting specialized training in one specific area of healthcare may help you expand your reach in this field and put your natural talents to work.

A surgical tech Associate degree may be the ideal choice for you if you have an eye for detail, excellent focus, and the ability to work in stressful situations.

Curious and ready to learn more?

Get in touch with surgical tech diploma programs today to find out what it takes to earn your scrub tech certification.

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

When you earn your surgical technician certificate, you can work on the skills that are needed in surgical centers, physicians’ offices, hospitals, and more. One of the benefits of studying this subject is the wide variety of training options available to new students.

Selecting the right surgical tech degree can help you get more from your classroom time, laboratory training, and clinical practice. Reach out to surgical technologist schools in Hawaii to compare your options.

Getting Into Surgical Tech Schools in Hawaii

Admissions requirements vary between Hawaii’s schools, a fact that may help you narrow down your list of potential surgical tech programs right away. If you are still in high school, you may get accepted to a surgical tech school before graduating, but you cannot begin your courses until you have a high school diploma or GED.

Each school requires a set of health screenings that check your physical fitness, immunization status, and drug use. By checking out admissions requirements for each surgical tech Associate program before you start applying, you can gather all of your materials ahead of time and move through the application process quickly.

Health Screenings

Drug test
TB skin test (two-step at most schools)
Physical fitness exam
Immunization records or titers

Application Documents

Required fee
References from teachers, guidance counselors, and employers
Authorization for a background check
High school and college transcripts

Hawaii Surgical Technology Training

The schooling process for a surgical technician certificate is decided by which type of program you opt to attend. If you choose a diploma or certificate program, you may move right into surgical technology courses.

Surgical tech diploma programs and certificate options have few or no general education requirements, which is why they can often be completed in 18 months or less. If you enroll in a surgical technology Associates degree program, you can anticipate earning at least 60 credits over a period of two years.

In addition to your surgical tech courses, you also have to take general education classes. These courses cover a broad range of subjects, including mathematics, English, history, social sciences, and physical sciences.

This is the main difference between Hawaii surgical tech programs. In most other ways, these degrees are very similar. To apply for certification as an operating room tech, you need to scrub in for at least 120 surgical procedures. Of those 120 procedures, you must be first assistant on at least 80. Before you get to this point, your school develops your skills through laboratory courses, clinical, and other hands-on courses.

Surgical Tech Courses in Hawaii

Anatomy and Physiology (4 credits): Some programs require this as a prerequisite, while others include it in the surgical technician program curriculum. By the time you finish, you should have a comprehensive understanding of the human body, how each part of it works, and the many ways in which it can malfunction.
Microbiology (3 credits): This course gives an introduction to germ theory, infection, and the spread of disease, reinforcing the importance of sterilization and aseptic techniques in the operating room.
Medical Terminology (2 credits): Learn about the vocabulary and phrases used in operating rooms, exam rooms, and medical documents.
Surgical Techniques (3 credits): This is considered a key course in your curriculum, since it introduces you to the techniques used by surgeons. Each technique uses specific tools and instruments. By getting familiar with surgical techniques, you can learn how to anticipate the needs of your supervising surgeon and provide the tools that he or she needs.
Surgical Instruments, Tools, and Equipment (3 credits): Students learn about the surgical tools used in common and uncommon surgical procedures. You may also learn how to properly sterilize and put away each type of equipment.
Surgical Procedures (3 credits): In this class, study the types of surgical procedures you may assist with and what your role is in the operating room.

Online Surgical Tech Programs

While some healthcare degrees do have online distance learning options, there are currently no accredited surgical assistant online programs that prepare you for certification.

Becoming certified is the final goal for most students, and without participating in at least 120 surgeries, you cannot become certified. On top of that, laboratory time is an extremely important part of your education. Without it, you cannot learn how to properly use aseptic techniques to maintain a sterile environment and clean surgical tools.

Can I Complete Some of My Surgical Tech Associate’s Degree Online?

There are some courses you can take to start earning your surgical tech degree online. If your program has prerequisite courses and general education requirements, you can often complete those online. In laboratory and clinical courses, you may be able to complete the theory components of your courses online.

Paying for Surgical Tech School in Hawaii

You may want to start applying for financial aid as soon as you have chosen a surgical technician program. Scholarship deadlines are set by each organization, so it is easy to accidentally miss a deadline if you do not plan ahead.

Get started by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This application uses many different factors to decide whether or not you qualify for federal subsidized loans, unsubsidized loans, or grants. There are many different filing options, so take some time to compare these and figure out which one is most convenient for you.

You can also use a large scholarship search engine like Peterson’s to look for grants in your field of study, your city, or your state. Their listings make it easy to stay on top of deadlines. Through the Hawaii State Assembly of the Association of Surgical Technologists, student members can apply for scholarships each year.

Working as a Certified Surgical Technician in Hawaii

You’ve spent one to two years earning your surgical technology Associate’s degree, so what’s the next step? It is time to become a Certified Surgical Technologist and begin applying for jobs at healthcare facilities in your community.

Hawaii Surgical Technician Requirements

Hawaii follows the trend set by most other states. There are no state or federal laws requiring licensure or certification of surgical technologists. Technically, this means that you can work as a scrub tech without any prior experience or education.

In practice, you may find that almost every Hawaii healthcare institution requires national certification for job applicants. National certification is regulated by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting. You must submit your application, proof of graduation from an approved program, and a testing fee of $190 if you’re a member and $290 if you’re not a member.

After you meet their initial surgical technician requirements, you have a license that is good for four years. During each four-year renewal cycle, you must earn 60 continuing education credits.

Where are the Best Surgical Tech Jobs in Hawaii?

Finding an OR tech job in Hawaii is a bit different from the hiring process in other states, due to Hawaii’s island layout. If you live in one of the state’s larger cities, such as Maui or Honolulu, there may be dozens of surgical centers and hospitals that hire surgical technologists.

If you live in a more remote part of Hawaii, you may need to travel more for work. However, working in a rural area has its advantages. The demand for healthcare providers is very high in many rural communities, so you may have the chance to make a real difference by deciding to stay in a rural part of Hawaii.

In the healthcare environment, you should be ready for busy days. Every surgical unit has downtime, during which there are few emergencies and few scheduled surgeries. On the flip side, every unit has days with back-to-back surgeries and emergencies that require everyone to do their part.

Depending on what your surgical team needs, you may spend most of your time cleaning equipment, maintaining a sterile environment, positioning patients, or providing assistance during surgical procedures.

Operating Room Tech Hiring Requirements

Surgical tech degree, certificate, or diploma from an accredited school
Current national certification
Flexible schedule availability
Up-to-date immunizations
Ability to meet physical demands of a surgical tech position

Common Surgical Technician Job Duties in Hawaii

The only way to truly know what it’s like to work as a Certified Surgical Technologist in a specific healthcare institution is to accept the position and start working. While there may be slight differences in your schedule and responsibilities at each place, all Hawaii health care facilities follow the same scope of practice limits.

The Hawaii State Assembly outlines exactly what you are allowed to do as a surgical technologist, what is outside your scope of practice, and what the consequences are for working outside your scope of practice. At most surgical assistant programs in Hawaii, this topic is covered in great detail, so you should be comfortable about your ability to work within your scope by the time you start your career.

Daily Job Tasks and Responsibilities

Checking stockrooms and surgical prep rooms for supplies, equipment, and instruments
Stocking each OR with the instruments needed for the day’s surgeries
Staying on top of the day’s scheduled surgeries
Sterilizing and setting out instruments in anticipation of each procedure
Creating a sterile environment before surgery and maintaining it throughout a procedure
Cleaning the surgical site and preparing the patient
Providing easy access to surgical tools and instruments throughout a procedure
Sterilizing, sanitizing, and putting away equipment after each surgery

Hawaii Surgical Tech Salaries

In Hawaii, salaries tend to be significantly higher than they are in other states. The average salary for an OR tech in Hawaii is $54,440 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2017). In Honolulu, surgical technologists report an average annual income of $55,140 (BLS, 2017).

Job growth has increased steadily in this field for several years, and you may see this trend continue for many years to come. From 2014 through 2024, the Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates a 15% increase in job openings throughout the United States (2017).

Surgical Technology Resources in Hawaii

There are many professional resources available for surgical technology students, recent graduates, and experienced care providers. While attending a Hawaii surgical tech program, you should devote some time to connecting with other surgical professionals, learning about seminars and training opportunities, and studying changes in surgical tech program requirements in Hawaii.

Making this part of your routine while you are still a student can help you become an established part of the surgical technology community in Hawaii.

State and National Resources

Now that you know how to earn a surgical technology certificate and how you can use your education in this field, it’s your turn to act. With the list of surgical technologist schools in Hawaii, you can compare your training options, request more information from schools in your area, and start to work toward a career you love.

Programs often start twice per year, so reach out to local schools now to find out more about their start dates and admissions requirements. With the right training and education, you may have what it takes to start a rewarding career in the field of surgical technology.