For those looking to enter the medical field with lower educational requirements and fast entry into the workforce while helping others, becoming a Surgical Tech in California may be an excellent career option.
As demand in the field continues to increase, the need for Techs across various functions in hospitals, doctors’ offices, specialty centers, and other medical facilities is rapidly increasing.
The population in California continues to grow, so Surgical Techs are needed now more than ever.
To become a Surgical Tech, a minimum of a diploma degree is required, which takes around one year of full-time study.
Keep reading to learn more about how to become a Surgical Tech in California!
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Licensing Requirements to Become a Surgical Tech in California
Surgical Tech’s are required to have some type of training with the minimum being a diploma.
Others opt for a certificate or an associate degree.
The quickest path is the diploma, which takes a few months to complete, and the associate degree is around two years.
During the program, students will learn about preventing and controlling infections, how to set up and maintain technical equipment, sterilization techniques, safety protocols, and patient care.
Most programs are divided into classroom lectures and hands-on clinical experience.
Once the program is complete, students can work towards becoming certified, although this is not a requirement in California.
However, earning a certification will help further your career, especially since many employers require this achievement.
The Certified Surgical Technologist certification is offered by the NBSTSA (National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting) organization.
Once you pass the exam, you can use the CST designation on your resume.
5 Surgical Tech Schools in California
Berkeley College
Berkeley College offers a Surgical Technology Associate in Applied Science degree, which prepares students to be helpful members of a surgical team.
Students will learn how to prepare patients in operating rooms, pass instruments during procedures, sterilization, monitoring operating room conditions, anatomy, biology, and required core classes like English and math.
Berkeley College’s associate degree program is only offered at the Woodland Park location and the program requires a time commitment of two years of full-time study.
The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
Carrington College
Carrington College offers an associate degree program in Surgical Technology.
The curriculum includes basic surgical procedures, surgical case management, advanced surgical procedures, introduction to surgical technology, anatomy, medical terminology, and core classes.
The program is comprised of lectures and clinical work to practice applied knowledge.
The Carrington College associate program requires a time commitment of two years of full-time study.
Las Positas College
Las Positas College offers a certificate and an associate degree program in Surgical Technology.
The certificate programs require around a one-year commitment while the associate program lasts two years, with full-time study.
Classes include medical terminology, surgical patient care concepts, anatomy, safety, and equipment instruction.
The associate degree expands on these concepts by adding core classes like biology and English, but also Surgical Tech topics like surgical specialties, and professional communications.
The certificate program and associate degree programs cost $1,134 for in-state students and $7,734 for out-of-state students.
Mira Costa College
Situated in Oceanside, Mira Costa College offers a certificate program in Surgical Technology that prepares students for the national certification exam.
The curriculum includes a clinical element with lectures covering body systems, medical terminology, surgical procedures, sterilization, safety, and equipment maintenance.
The cost of Mira Costa’s Surgical Technology program is $1,336 per year for in-state students and $6,678 per year for those coming from out-of-state, and the certificate program takes one year of full-time study.
Skyline College
Located in San Bruno, Skyline College has a tiny program, accepting only 20 students per year into their Surgical Tech associate degree program, with five students on the waiting list.
This is intentional to ensure students have the best learning environment possible with an excellent student-to-instructor ratio.
Students will learn the basics of being a Surgical Tech, but the program also includes required core classes like math, science, and English.
The program lasts for two years and has a tuition of $1,461 per year for in-state students and $8,241 for out-of-state students
Surgical Technician Schools in California – Summary Table
Top 5 Schools in California
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Berkeley College | 2050 Center St, Berkeley, CA 94704, United States |
| Carrington College | 8909 Folsom Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95826, United States |
| Las Positas College | 3000 Campus Hill Dr, Livermore, CA 94551, United States |
| Mira Costa College | 1 Barnard Dr, Oceanside, CA 92056, United States |
| Skyline College | 3300 College Dr, San Bruno, CA 94066, United States |
Salary
The medical U.S. annual salary for a Surgical Tech is $52,300, with pay ranging from $42,175 to $62,807.
In comparison, California has a medical annual salary of $58,300 and a pay range of $47,028 to $69,954.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Surgical Technologists in California
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $58,300 |
| San Diego | $56,200 |
| San Jose | $65,600 |
| San Francisco | $65,400 |
| Long Beach | $57,800 |
| Fresno | $52,400 |
| Sacramento | $56,500 |
| Oakland | $63,800 |
| Santa Ana | $57,900 |
| Anaheim | $58,000 |
Regional Salary in California
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | 200 | $69,250 | $33.29 | $93,230 | $47,990 |
| Fresno, CA | 280 | $74,320 | $35.73 | $108,840 | $45,810 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 4,270 | $67,720 | $32.56 | $92,920 | $39,830 |
| Modesto, CA | 160 | $83,180 | $39.99 | $114,400 | $51,150 |
| Napa, CA | 40 | $87,660 | $42.14 | $121,990 | $63,850 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 140 | $75,820 | $36.45 | $94,620 | $58,760 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 1,090 | $68,940 | $33.15 | $90,330 | $47,320 |
| Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA | 590 | $84,600 | $40.67 | $112,880 | $50,120 |
| Salinas, CA | 80 | $77,570 | $37.29 | $96,800 | $52,310 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad, CA | 830 | $77,940 | $37.47 | $94,240 | $58,120 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | 1,310 | $95,800 | $46.06 | $125,270 | $62,590 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 690 | $94,490 | $45.43 | $123,070 | $62,370 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA | 90 | $69,470 | $33.4 | $93,530 | $50,000 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 60 | $79,180 | $38.07 | $91,600 | $61,860 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 140 | $73,350 | $35.27 | $99,790 | $51,850 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | 100 | $82,560 | $39.69 | $112,350 | $57,030 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 150 | $82,150 | $39.5 | $113,740 | $53,750 |
| Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | 110 | $95,330 | $45.83 | $115,010 | $69,800 |
| Visalia-Porterville, CA | 90 | $62,360 | $29.98 | $75,060 | $44,560 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is certification required to become a Surgical Tech in California?
Certification is not required to become a Surgical Tech in California.
However, the State requires passing the national Certified Surgical Technologist Exam, which demonstrates your mastery of the field.
This opens up many more job opportunities since many employers require certification.
Why should I become certified in California?
Determining whether to pursue certification is a choice that each individual must decide upon based on their specific career goals.
However, most decide to earn a certification to widen their range of job opportunities and differentiate themselves from other candidates.
Why become a surgical technologist in California?
Many enter the field due to low educational requirements, allowing them to start their careers quickly.
Less schooling equates to less student loan debt.
Also, the medical field, specifically the Surgical Tech specialization, has plenty of available job opportunities, with California having around 9,100 jobs available.
Since there is such a demand for this position, employers are searching for your specialization.
Furthermore, you can work with the latest technologies, be part of a close-knit medical team, and get to change the lives of your patients daily.
