Surgical techs have a lot of responsibilities that allow surgical procedures to go smoothly.
They must calm patients before and after procedures, make sure the environment is sterile, apply dressings to wounds, and clean the room thoroughly after procedures.
In addition, they must hand the surgeon the correct instruments, anticipating in advance which ones might be needed.
This isn’t a job for individuals who aren’t organized and quick-thinking.
The job requires a calm demeanor, the ability to communicate, and the ability to go from a comforting presence to an efficient, advanced-thinking individual who can respond quickly to emergencies.
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Licensing Requirements to Become a Surgical Tech in Michigan
In order to get your license as a surgical tech in Michigan, you must first take and pass an accredited course and earn either a 1-year certificate or a 2-year associate degree.
Once that is completed, and you have the required number of practical hours, you must sit for the Certified Surgical Tech (CST) exam.
This is given on the Internet and takes approximately four hours to complete.
The state itself doesn’t require surgical techs to be licensed, but most employers do.
5 Surgical Tech Schools in Michigan
Northwestern Michigan College
The surgical tech department at this university has partnered with Munson Medical Center to allow students a hands-on experience in a real hospital setting.
All clinicals are done at the hospital.
The course is 4 semesters long and one of the semesters is during the summer.
In total, you are looking at 60-61 credits at a cost of $261 per credit hour.
Classes include surgical microbiology, surgical pharmacology, surgical procedures, the surgical patient, biomed sciences and exam prep.
Baker College
At Baker College, hands-on training starts the first day.
They follow the Core Curriculum for Surgical technology, 7th Edition.
This includes classes such as human anatomy, microbiology, critical thinking, pathophysiology, surgical asepsis and fundamentals, and surgical pharmacology and anesthesia.
The basic courses are followed by a clinical at a local hospital.
Cost of the program is $435 per credit hour.
The entire course covers 67 credit hours.
Oakland Community College
The surgical tech program at Oakland Community College covers 44 hours, at a cost of $211 per credit hour.
At completion, you will be confident in taking your certification exam as well as finding a job.
The course covers the regular surgical tech courses, including pharmacology, surgical technology, surgical equipment and instruments, as well as three clinicals and a capstone.
The capstone will include test preparation, but it will also see you completing a resume and cover letter, as well as undertaking mock interviews.
You will also be subjected to various problem-solving situations that will help you react quickly.
Dorsey College
If you are looking for a hybrid program, the surgical tech program at Dorsey College may be what you are looking for.
Academics are done online and students are required to come in for hands-on practicums.
The program also includes three clinical courses and a capstone.
This runs for two years.
Subjects covered in the program include the surgical patient, surgical procedures, surgical technology, surgical instruments, and others that are required to succeed as a surgical tech.
Macomb Community College
The Macomb Community College program has students earning an Associate of Applied Science in Surgical technology.
The program runs 70 credit hours over two years and costs $113 per credit hour.
This course covers the usual topics of medical terminology, microbiology, human physiological anatomy, and surgical pharmacology.
It also includes some subjects that other courses don’t including surgical specialties, psychology, and ethics.
Students are required to complete clinical hours in real-life surgical settings.
Upon graduation, they will be full prepared to take the Certified Surgical Tech (CST) exam.
Surgical Technician Schools in Michigan – Summary Table
Top 5 Schools in Michigan
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Northwestern Michigan College | 1701 E Front St, Traverse City, MI 49686, United States |
| Baker College | 1020 S Washington St, Owosso, MI 48867, United States |
| Oakland Community College | 27055 Orchard Lake Rd, Farmington Hills, MI 48334, United States |
| Dorsey College | 18660 Ford Rd, Detroit, MI 48228, United States |
| Macomb Community College | 14500 Twelve Mile Rd, Warren, MI 48088, United States |
Salary of Surgical Techs in Michigan
The salary of surgical techs in Michigan runs from a low of $42,575 to a high of $63,399.
The mean salary for the state is $52,700 annually.
Larger hospitals in bigger cities are likely to pay more than smaller hospitals and your starting salary will depend greatly on the amount of education and experience you have.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Surgical Technologists in Michigan
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Detroit | $52,800 |
| Grand Rapids | $50,900 |
| Warren | $52,800 |
| Flint | $48,900 |
| Sterling Heights | $52,700 |
| Lansing | $50,800 |
| Ann Arbor | $53,800 |
| Livonia | $52,700 |
| Dearborn | $52,800 |
| Westland | $53,100 |
Regional Salary in Michigan
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor, MI | 400 | $55,220 | $26.55 | $62,360 | $40,060 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 1,690 | $52,480 | $25.23 | $63,940 | $38,940 |
| Flint, MI | 120 | $50,960 | $24.5 | $58,590 | $41,330 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI | 610 | $48,470 | $23.3 | $60,860 | $32,870 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | 130 | $54,410 | $26.16 | $63,420 | $40,640 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 200 | $52,880 | $25.42 | $63,270 | $37,790 |
| Muskegon, MI | 50 | $54,220 | $26.07 | $63,760 | $38,630 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be certified to work as a surgical tech in Michigan?
While there is no legal requirement for licensing or certification in Michigan, the majority of employers will not hire someone without a certification.
This may not be the case in very small communities, but it is so in most of Michigan.
This is especially true of higher-paying positions in major hospitals.
How long does it take to become a surgical tech in Michigan?
It can take as little as nine months to become a surgical tech in Michigan.
Most educational programs, however, tend to run for 24 months and earn you an associate degree rather than a certificate.
Are there a lot of surgical tech openings in Michigan?
It is estimated that there are approximately 2400 positions for surgical techs in Michigan currently, with that number rising each year as the population ages.
At any given time, there are between 200 and 300 openings.
