Job availability in the medical field has remained high in recent years.
The need for surgical technicians is slated to rise by about 5% in the next five years, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.
This is a greater increase than in most other job areas.
Pay and availability varies by where in the country you are looking for employment, but the job market in this and other medical fields is growing in Florida.
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Licensing requirements in Florida
A license is not required for Surgical Techs in Florida but certification is.
After graduation from an accredited school, individuals need to pass the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) exam to get certification.
College of Central Florida
College of Central Florida has offered the Surgical Tech program since 1988.
The main campus of the College of Central Florida is located in Ocala.
Graduates of the program have an Associates of Science Degree.
The course is 64 credits and takes two years and a summer semester to complete.
The tuition is $9275 for in-state students, $30,093 for out-of-state students.
Students are mandated to do 120 surgical cases or 600 hours of hands on work.
80 surgical cases will be in the first scrub role.
Students must be able to get to the many hospitals and clinics where they will be working.
After completion of the course, graduates will sit for the certification exam by The National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA).
Keiser University
Keiser University has 21 campuses all over the state of Florida and offers both in-person and online classes.
The surgical tech program takes place at the Clearwater campus.
The program is 74 credits and provides an Associate of Science Degree in Surgical Technology.
The core major is 48 hours, and the general courses are 26 hours.
16 hours are in an externship.
The course takes a minimum of two years to complete.
A minimum average grade of 3.0 must be maintained.
Students are required to have a background check and be drug tested.
Tuition is $27,000 per year, excluding housing.
Santa Fe College
Santa Fe College is located in Gainesville, Florida.
The Surgical Tech program requires physical stamina, agility, good hearing and vision, and being able to communicate clearly.
The Surgical Tech program runs for four semesters; Summer, Fall, Spring, and Summer.
Classes are held in person, online, and virtually.
A clinical internship is required at regional and local hospitals.
The total credit hours are 44.4 and the total contact hours are 1332.
Tuition for in-state students is $9275 per year and for out-of state students is $30, 093.
Manatee Technical College
Classes take place at the Manatee Technical College East Campus in Bradenton, FL
Classes begin in August.
This is a hybrid course with both in-class and online required.
The course requires 1300 hours.
The surgical technology course takes about 11 months to complete.
Clinical hours will take place at the completion of the classroom portion.
The time and location of clinical time varies and may start as early as 6 am.
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are on campus from 7:30 am – 2:30 pm.
Monday and Friday are online.
The total estimated cost of the program is $7292.59.
Scrub pants and scrub tops in ciel blue are to be worn every day.
The course prepares graduates to take the certification test to become a Certified Tech in Surgery.
Miami Dade College
The cost of the surgical technician program is $7566.
The surgical tech program requires 64 credits.
Their surgical technology course takes approximately 2 years (six semesters).
Those who graduate from this program have an Associate of Science in Surgical Technology
Graduates are eligible to sit for the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTA) exam to earn their professional certification of a surgical technologist (CST).
Students are assigned to a clinical facility in Miami-Dade County.
Students have the option of using Miami Dade College LIVE for online instruction, as well as live long campus lectures and blended learning.
Surgical Technician Schools in Florida – Summary Table
Top 5 Schools in Florida
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| College of Central Florida | 15390 U.S. Hwy 19, Chiefland, FL 32626, United States |
| Keiser University | 1500 NW 49th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309, United States |
| Santa Fe College | 3000 NW 83 St, Gainesville, FL 32606, United States |
| Manatee Technical College | 6305 FL-70, Bradenton, FL 34203, United States |
| Miami Dade College | 300 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33132, United States |
Salary
Salaries vary depending on where in Florida you are looking.
The average in the greater Miami area is higher than the average in Gainesville.
Pensacola is lower than Jacksonville.
The overall average is around $48,500 with salaries starting as low as $41,000 and ranging up to the lower $60,000.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Surgical Technologists in Florida
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Jacksonville | $49,500 |
| Miami | $50,500 |
| Tampa | $49,600 |
| St. Petersburg | $49,600 |
| Hialeah | $50,300 |
| Orlando | $49,600 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $50,500 |
| Tallahassee | $47,100 |
| Hollywood | $50,500 |
| Pembroke Pines | $50,200 |
Regional Salary in Florida
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | 240 | $61,750 | $29.69 | $75,400 | $47,140 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | 90 | $54,430 | $26.17 | $65,530 | $39,680 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | 280 | $51,950 | $24.98 | $70,890 | $30,990 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | 40 | $54,610 | $26.25 | $78,290 | $42,420 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 860 | $56,080 | $26.96 | $75,020 | $43,650 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | 250 | $56,100 | $26.97 | $65,660 | $41,710 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 1,930 | $60,900 | $29.28 | $82,120 | $38,790 |
| Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL | 110 | $60,860 | $29.26 | $75,360 | $48,120 |
| North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL | 350 | $54,220 | $26.07 | $76,070 | $38,340 |
| Ocala, FL | 120 | $54,350 | $26.13 | $62,550 | $43,270 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 1,130 | $55,370 | $26.62 | $74,440 | $37,370 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | 250 | $48,570 | $23.35 | $61,320 | $38,980 |
| Panama City, FL | 80 | $49,970 | $24.02 | $65,760 | $32,950 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | 280 | $51,980 | $24.99 | $64,430 | $37,850 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 90 | $53,630 | $25.78 | $67,850 | $36,880 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL | 90 | $61,240 | $29.44 | $79,180 | $37,700 |
| Tallahassee, FL | 120 | $43,850 | $21.08 | $60,290 | $23,800 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 1,580 | $56,860 | $27.34 | $66,660 | $39,520 |
| The Villages, FL | 50 | $50,250 | $24.16 | $61,170 | $38,920 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the job market for healthcare professionals in Florida?
According to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), the need for healthcare workers in Florida is strong and growing stronger.
In the next year, across all medical assisting jobs, more than 11,000 new openings are anticipated.
When and where can I take the certification test in Florida?
You must apply to take the CST test and supply your transcript of courses, your diploma, and the necessary fee.
The test will be given at locations all over the state.
You must register online at https://flcertificationboard.org/exams/florida/, and you can choose from the locations where it is offered.
Where can I work as a surgical technician in Florida?
Most surgical technicians will work in a hospital setting.
However, clinics, doctors, and dentists’ offices may all employ surgical technicians.
