Surgical Technician Training Programs in Indiana

You are considering building a career in healthcare. What are you looking for in your future career path? Are you looking for a challenging role that allows you to work alongside medical professionals of different specialties? Are you interested in furthering your education throughout your career and giving back to your community?

If this describes you, this may be the right time to earn a surgical technology Associate’s degree and put your skills to work in the operating room.

Indiana technical schools and community colleges have a wide range of surgical tech diploma programs that help students develop their healthcare knowledge and build their practical skills.

Learn more about training options near you by contacting surgical tech programs.

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

Before you step into the operating room and work as a scrub tech, you want to feel confident that you have the necessary knowledge and practical skills. In a surgical technician program, you can work toward this goal.

Keep reading to learn more about becoming an OR tech, choosing a surgical tech school, and taking control of your education.

Getting Into Surgical Tech Schools in Indiana

It’s important to make the most of your time when choosing a surgical technician certificate program, particularly if you want to apply for financial aid and arrange your work schedule. Before applying to Indiana programs, compare their admissions requirements to ensure that you meet all of them.

One core requirement is a high school diploma or GED. Many programs have GPA requirements, but these requirements are usually more relaxed than they are in Bachelor’s-level programs. Typically, you do not need any healthcare experience, making this an appealing option for students who are new to this industry.

Admissions Standards and Required Documents

Minimum Accuplacer, ACT, or SAT scores
No history of felony convictions
Up-to-date on immunizations
Physical health exam and drug screening
Liability insurance for surgical tech students
Admissions essay on your goals in this field

Indiana Surgical Technology Training

No matter which healthcare career you decide to work toward, your journey starts with the right training. A surgical tech degree, diploma, or certificate program can meet the national certification standards of the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting.

Whether you choose a one-year certificate program, a diploma program, or a two-year surgical tech Associate degree program, your training must meet national standards if you want to become certified. This means that you have to scrub in for at least 120 surgeries. You must be lead surgical assistant on at least 80 surgeries. This role requires you to work independently and pull your weight in the operating room.

This may seem like a lot to take on, but surgical tech degree programs in Indiana are designed to assist you in meeting and even exceeding these standards. Surgical tech diploma programs set learning goals and outcomes.

To succeed in your chosen program, you should be able to demonstrate that you excel in all of the given program goals. These outcomes may look at your ability to communicate with healthcare professionals in an operating room, your knowledge of medical terminology, your ability to maintain a sterile environment, and your knowledge of surgical instruments and equipment. The courses you take should all help you make progress on one or more of these learning outcomes.

Surgical Tech Courses in Indiana

Medical Terminology (2 credits): In this core class, discover what vocabulary you are expected to understand and use as part of a surgical team.
Microbiology (3 credits): The study of microbiology looks at tiny organisms like bacteria and germs. As a scrub tech, one of your main goals is to prevent the spread of infection in the operating room. A basic understanding of microbiology is extremely helpful in this area.
Hazards, Laws, and Ethics (3 credits): This course looks at healthcare in general. You should learn about the risks that professionals and patients take on in the operating room, what laws govern your daily work, and what ethical principles say about tough decisions in operating room work.
Basic Surgical Skills (4 credits): In this class, you should start to build your practical skills in real work settings. You may spend time in the laboratory and in clinical rotations, working with surgical tools and collaborating with healthcare teams. The feedback you get in these courses may give you the opportunity to perfect your techniques and communication skills.
Human Anatomy and Physiology (3 credits): Upon completion of this course, you should have a thorough knowledge of human body systems, how they work alone and together, and how they may malfunction.
Surgical Procedures (9 credits): An extensive knowledge of surgical techniques and procedures is necessary in any surgical career path. Even though your role as an operating room tech may limit what you can do in each surgical procedure, you should understand how each procedure works and what tools are used.
General Surgical Techniques (4 credits): In this class, built on your knowledge of basic surgical skills and learn to identify common surgical techniques. You should also look at different surgical tools and equipment to see how they streamline surgical processes.

How Can I Earn a Surgical Tech Degree Online?

Surgical tech courses require a lot of laboratory work and clinical experience, neither of which can be completed online. Since these requirements are a cornerstone of the field of surgical technology, you cannot earn your surgical tech certification 100% online.

Are There Any Certified Surgical Assistant Online Programs?

To be certified, a program must require that students participate in 120 surgical procedures. This is the main reason that there are no certified programs that let you earn your surgical tech Associate’s degree online.

What Options Are Available for Those Who Need Flexible Scheduling?

Some surgical tech programs are a bit more flexible for working students and students with families. Look for schools with blended programs.

Blended programs combine in-person clinical work with online theory study, minimizing the amount of time spent on campus. You may also start your certified surgical tech program online with general education courses and theory courses.

Paying for Surgical Tech School in Indiana

After selecting an Indiana surgical technology program, you can go full steam ahead on your financial aid applications. You can fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid to find out if you qualify for any need-based grants or loans. Keep in mind that there are strict deadlines for each academic year, and missing a deadline may cause you to lose grants or subsidized loans.

Look into largest scholarship databases. Peterson’s gives you a simple way to search listings, save them, and stay on track with your deadlines. If you join the Association of Surgical Technologists as a student member, you may be able to apply for their exclusive scholarship program.

Working as a Certified Surgical Technician in Indiana

After attending more than 120 procedures in your surgical tech Associate degree program, you may be ready to get into the operating room and start working independently as an operating room tech. Before you make it to that step, you should become a Certified Surgical Technologist.

Indiana Surgical Technician Requirements

Each state sets their own licensing requirements for graduates of surgical tech diploma programs. Indiana, like most other states, does not currently require any licensure or certification.

While certification is not legally required, the vast majority of employers do prefer to hire those with national certification through the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting. You can sign up for your exam and pay a $190 fee if you are a member of this group or pay a $290 fee if you are not a member.

You receive your initial certification after passing this exam. Every four years, you must renew your certification and provide proof of 60 continuing education units.

Where are the Best Surgical Tech Jobs in Indiana?

Indiana is known for its established healthcare industry and its renowned medical facilities. Many of these facilities hire surgical technologists. Most of the larger facilities are located in major cities, but hospitals in rural and suburban areas do still rely on the work of surgical technicians. As a Certified Surgical Technologist, you may work for hospitals, physicians’ offices, surgical centers, and university medical centers.

OR Tech Hiring Requirements

Surgical technician certificate or diploma from an accredited school
Current certification
Ability to pass a rigorous physical exam
Ability to meet the scheduling needs of the institution
Strong communication skills
Ability to work in high-stress, fast-paced environments

Common Surgical Technician Job Duties in Indiana

Thanks to your surgical tech courses, particularly your clinical and laboratory courses, you should be very familiar with typical job duties before you begin working. While most facilities may have the same general set of job tasks and responsibilities, the amount of time spent on each task differs between institutions.

For example, if you work in an outpatient center that does not handle emergency surgeries, you may have a more rigid schedule that outlines exactly what you should be doing at any given time. In an emergency room setting, you may be expected to switch tasks rapidly and prioritize incoming emergencies and cases.

An important aspect of your daily work is your scope of practice. You are limited to the skills developed in your surgical technician program, since taking on additional responsibilities may cause harm to patients. Your scope of practice is regulated by the Indiana State Assembly.

Surgical Technician Requirements and Responsibilities

Communicate with surgeons and administrative staff to understand the day’s scheduled surgeries
Work quickly to sterilize equipment and set it up in the operating room for upcoming surgeries
Create a sterile environment and prep the patient for a procedure
Stand by during a procedure to position patients, hand tools to surgeons, and dispose of medical waste
Keep the sterile environment clean at all times
Clean up and document after each surgical procedure, reporting any unexpected findings to your supervisor or on-call surgeon

Indiana Surgical Tech Salaries

Your surgical technology Associate’s degree may put you in a position to earn a rewarding salary, thanks to your knowledge of surgical procedures and your ability to work under pressure. Across Indiana, the average salary for a surgical technologist is $42,230 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2017).

In many metropolitan parts of the state, average incomes are slightly higher. Those working in Columbus claim an average income of $43,200, while those in Elkhart bring in an average of $42,510 annually (BLS, 2017). Surgical technologists in the Gary area report a mean annual income of $42,580 (BLS, 2017). In Indianapolis, surgical technologists earn an average of $43,500 per year, compared to an average salary of $47,430 in Michigan City (BLS, 2017).

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports an average salary of $43,640 in South Bend and an average salary of $46,610 in Terre Haute (2017). Demand for surgical professionals is growing across the United States. From 2014 through 2024, job openings for surgical technologists are expected to swell 15% (BLS, 2017).

Surgical Technology Resources in Indiana

The work does not end once you complete your certificate program in surgical technology. Indiana professionals must stay up-to-date on surgical techniques, legislative changes, and industry standards to remain relevant in their field.

Try to build connections with your peers as you earn your degree, since you may be able to help each other throughout your career. Attending local and national events is an excellent way to get to know experienced surgical technologists. You may also get to meet potential employers and healthcare administrators, an opportunity that may establish you in the local healthcare community.

Statewide and National Resources

Healthcare is one of the most important industries in the United States. The services offered by medical facilities reach people of all ages, backgrounds, and socioeconomic levels.

By putting in the work now and earning a surgical technology degree, you may be ready to meet the growing demands of Indiana’s healthcare industry. Imagine going to work every day and knowing that you are doing meaningful work that improves the lives of patients and surgeons.

Ready to make your move?