If you’re thinking about starting an exciting allied health career working alongside top life-saving medical professionals like doctors, nurses, and surgeons, becoming a surgical tech could be the right career move for you.
Learn about licensing requirements, and local surgical technician schools, and get answers to frequently asked questions about how to become a surgical technician in Virginia by following the guide below!
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- Licensing Requirements to Become a Surgical Tech in Virginia
- 5 Surgical Tech Schools in Virginia
- Surgical Technician Schools in Virginia – Summary Table
- Salary
- Frequently Asked Questions
Licensing Requirements to Become a Surgical Tech in Virginia
Virginia doesn’t currently require its surgical technicians to have an occupational license.
However, proof of formal education, training, and hands-on work experience which can include a degree or national certification is preferred by most local employers.
- Surgical Technician Certifications
- Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) – NBSTA
- Certified Surgical Assistant ABSA
5 Surgical Tech Schools in Virginia
Sentara College of Health Sciences
About the School
Virginia-based students seeking to earn an Associate’s degree in Surgical Technology should consider the two-year degree program offered by Sentara College of Health Sciences in Chesapeake, VA.
This comprehensive training program includes over a thousand hours of lectures, hands-on labs, and training that readies students to work alongside medical professionals in hospitals, clinics, and surgery centers.
The Surgical Tech AAS degree program offered by SCHS follows the Association of Surgical Technologists recommended curriculum and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs.
Courses Offered
- Introduction to Healthcare
- Medical Law and Ethics
- Practice of Surgical Technology
- Surgical Specialities
Contact Information
- Address: 1441 Crossways Boulevard, Chesapeake, Virginia – 23320
- Website: Link
- Phone: 757-388-2900
FORTIS
About the School
Students living in the Richmond area seeking to become certified surgical techs can enroll in the hybrid two-year Associate’s degree program at FORTIS in Richmond.
This two-year degree program introduces students to the theory, skills, and concepts needed to work as certified technicians supporting medical professions through simple and complex surgery procedures.
FORTIS’ program is accredited and delivers instruction in a hybrid format which includes in-person labs and online assignments.
Courses Offered
- Introduction to Surgical Technology
- Surgical Technology Associates Degree
- Surgical Technology Theory
- Surgical Technology Labs
- Clinical Practice
Contact Information
- Address: 2000 Westmoreland Street, Richmond, Virginia – 23230
- Website: Link
- Phone: 804-323-1020
ECPI University
About the School
ECPI University in Richmond offers aspiring surgical assistants the opportunity to earn an Associate of Applied Sciences degree in Surgical Technology in their program that takes just over a year and a half to complete.
Their program trains students on the latest procedures, technologies, equipment, and legal standards for them to work as well-trained surgical techs providing life-saving support services in area medical facilities and surgery centers.
Courses Offered
- Health Technology
- Surgical Simulation Equipment
- Assembling Surgical Equipment
- Positioning and Draping Patients
- Sterilization and Instrument Handling
Contact Information
- Address: 2809 Emerywood Parkway, Richmond, Virginia – 23294
- Website: Link
- Phone: 804-417-4742
Piedmont Virginia Community College
About the School
PVCC trains surgical techs to perform key support processes in surgery centers, operating rooms, and local hospitals in its accrediting surgical technician program.
Their degree program introduces trainees to the skills, concepts, and behaviors required to work as entry-level technicians.
Students who take classes at PVCC get sixty-five hours of comprehensive education which includes
Courses Offered
- Introduction to Surgical Technology
- Introduction to Medical Terminology
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
- Human Anatomy and Physiology
- Surgical Care
Contact Information
- Address: 501 College Drive, Charlottesville, Virginia – 22902
- Website: Link
- Phone: 434-977-3900
Virginia Western Community College
About the School
The Surgical Technician Program at Virginia Western Community College provides entry-level education for surgical technology hopefuls.
They offer a two-year degree program that includes a blend of immersive training with theory where students learn how to use, clean, and sterilize surgical instruments used to perform surgeries in operating rooms and local medical facilities.
Students who enroll at VWCC have the option to take general or specialized surgical technician training classes.
Courses Offered
- Surgical Instruments
- Surgical Technology Labs
- Clinical Practice
- Human Anatomy and Physiology
- Surgical Care
Contact Information
- Address: 3094 Colonial Avenue, Roanoke, Virginia – 24015
- Website: Link
- Phone: 540-857-VWCC
Surgical Technician Schools in Virginia – Summary Table
Top 5 Schools in Virginia
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Sentara College of Health Sciences | 1441 Crossways Boulevard, Chesapeake, Virginia - 23320 |
| FORTIS | 2000 Westmoreland Street, Richmond, Virginia - 23230 |
| ECPI University | 2809 Emerywood Parkway, Richmond, Virginia - 23294 |
| Piedmont Virginia Community College | 501 College Drive, Charlottesville, Virginia - 22902 |
| Virginia Western Community College | 3094 Colonial Avenue, Roanoke, Virginia - 24015 |
Salary
Surgical Technologists working in Virginia and throughout the US make well-paying salaries that average just over $60,000.00 per year.
This figure represents an average salary which can be higher or lower based on geographical location, work location, surgical technician credentials, and the number of years of work experience.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Surgical Technologists in Virginia
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | $50,100 |
| Norfolk | $49,400 |
| Chesapeake | $49,300 |
| Richmond | $51,000 |
| Newport News | $49,700 |
| Hampton | $49,700 |
| Alexandria | $58,300 |
| Portsmouth | $49,400 |
| Roanoke | $48,400 |
| Lynchburg | $48,100 |
Regional Salary in Virginia
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville, VA | 140 | $64,980 | $31.24 | $98,750 | $39,050 |
| Lynchburg, VA | 80 | $58,260 | $28.01 | $75,640 | $47,930 |
| Richmond, VA | 370 | $65,760 | $31.62 | $79,070 | $50,130 |
| Roanoke, VA | 180 | $63,820 | $30.68 | $76,320 | $47,590 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC | 550 | $58,410 | $28.08 | $79,250 | $40,320 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | 50 | - NA - | - NA - | - NA - | - NA - |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does it Take to Become a Surgical Tech in Virginia?
Students who enroll in surgical technician schools seeking degrees can typically complete their training which consists of fundamentals, lectures, and hands-on clinicals within one and a half to two years.
The degree programs offered by the accredited programs above are all designed to be completed in two years or less.
Do I Need a License to Work as a Surg Tech in Virginia?
No.
The State of Virginia doesn’t require its working technicians to have a license.
However, most local hiring authorities including hospitals, outpatient care centers, and surgery centers will require proof of education, experience, and hands-on training which can be demonstrated through an associate’s degree or national certification.
Where Can I Find Work with a Surgical Technology Degree in Virginia?
The career options for surgical techs in the Virginia area include the following:
- Doctor’s Offices
- Educational Institutions
- Hospitals
- Outpatient Surgery Centers
- Specialty Clinics
- Veterinary Clinics
