How to Become a Surgical Tech in Hawaii

Successful surgeries require things to move quickly and smoothly.

This doesn’t happen by chance but is the responsibility of the surgical tech.

This essential person of the surgical team must make sure everything is sterile, must anticipate what instruments the surgeon needs next, and have them ready.

They dress wounds and prepare tissues for the lab.

Without the surgical tech, the operating room would not run efficiently.

In a situation where a split-second can mean life or death, this person is important.

Licensing Requirements to Become a Surgical Tech in Hawaii

In order to become a surgical tech in Hawaii, you must pass several steps.

First, you must complete a surgical tech program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).

These programs normally take 9-24 months.

In some cases, the certification test can be taken if you show two years of experience as a surgical tech.

Next, you must pass the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) exam given by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA).

While Hawaii does not require a surgical tech to be certified, getting this helps increase your chances of getting a higher-paying position.

Finally, you must take continuing education classes and complete 30 credits every two years.

Surgical Tech Programs in Hawaii

Kapi’olani Community College

Kapi’olani offers a certificate program in Surgical Tech that is divided into five phases.

It includes actual operating room experience.

This program covers anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, surgical procedures, surgical equipment handling, and sterile technique.

Upon completion, students will be fully prepared to sit for the NBSTSA exam.

The program cost is $3284 and the school does accept financial aide.

Kona Community College

This is one of the most extensive courses available for surgical techs and it accepts only three students a year.

The program is based at Kona Community Hospital.

The cost is $7000 a year, but scholarships are available.

Students of this program must pass physical and drug tests and carry liability/malpractice insurance, which costs $35 a year.

This is a 1665-hour course that is worth 773 credits.

During the program, you must complete 120 actual operations to graduate.

In addition, students must maintain an 80 percent average or above at all times, starting the fifth week of classes.

In order to graduate, you must also take and pass the CST test.

As part of the program, you will be put on a clinical rotation involving several hospitals in order to get used to dealing with different settings.

Hawaii Pacific Health

This program runs for eight weeks from July 10-September.

It is a hybrid learning situation where students do online classwork and then meet in person once a week for lab sessions at one of three hospitals.

The program head will interview students in order to determine which hospital they will be placed at.

Upon completion, you will complete an internship of 400 hours.

This program costs nothing but you must apply for Job ID 22068 at the main office.

University of Hawaii at Manoa

This school offers a degree in Biology/Medical Science that covers many of the same subjects you need for surgical tech jobs.

The program cost is $30,331, but financial aid is accepted.

You will earn a Bachelor’s Degree after four years.

Chaminade University of Honolulu

The Biology/Biological degree at this school will see you spending $48,434 a year.

The classes for this Bachelor’s degree program include Anatomy and Physiology, medical terminology and other classes pertinent tfor entry into a surgical tech position.

Surgical Technician Schools in Hawaii – Summary Table

Salary of a Surgical Tech in Hawaii

Hawaii is one of the states with the highest pay for surgical techs.

Starting salary *83,200 and the average salary for the entire state is $104,797.

As with all positions, your salary will be dependent upon your experience and training, as well as where the facility is located that you choose to work at.

Bigger cities, such as Honolulu, will pay more.

Regional Salary in Hawaii