How to Become an Operating Room Technician (OR Tech)

By: Devon Price, PhD

Last Updated: Dec 25, 2018

There’s a good reason why the operating room provides such compelling material for TV shows and films: in reality, surgery is a dramatic, high-stakes and intense field of medicine in which the importance of teamwork cannot be overstressed. The vital duties of operating room technicians place them in the operating room before, during and after the surgeons’ and nurses’ participation. Also known as surgical technicians or technologists, they directly contribute to the success of surgical operations.

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Workplace Details

The work environment for an operating room technician (or ORT) is naturally the operating room - or “rooms”, to be more accurate, since hospitals and surgical centers commonly have several of them. Ideally there is one ORT per operating room. These technicians typically participate in a few surgical procedures each day, a schedule that keeps ORTs mostly on their feet - recently recognized as a true health benefit!

Most ORTs work full time, though their shifts may extend past the usual 8 hours. They may also have to be on call at night and during weekends and holidays.

ORTs may also take samples recovered during surgery to another part of the hospital, typically the pathology department.

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The current median annual income of ORTs is calculated to be $44,330, according to the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. Salaries range anywhere from $31,410 to $63,410. Pay of course varies with experience as well as geography. On average, outpatient facilities and doctors’ offices pay higher than hospitals.

There were roughly 99,800 ORT jobs in the U.S. in 2014, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. With baby boomers aging, the number of ORT jobs is expected to grow 15% through 2024. This makes surgical technology one of the most rapidly growing professions in the country.

A high school diploma or GED satisfies the qualifications for a candidate to enter the necessary educational programs to become an ORT.

Earning an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in surgical technology usually makes an operating room technician more desirable to employers, not to mention better positioned for opportunities that come along over the years. Students should aim to enroll in programs that the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) accredit.

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Junior, community and vocational colleges all offer one-year programs in operating room technology. Large hospitals additionally offer training programs quite often. Training lasts for one or two years, sometimes including other aspects of medical technology. For ORT programs, students must learn medical terminology, physiology, and bacteriology including sterilization methods. Programs that include an internship or field placement can help the ORT gain not just knowledge but also experience. As with degrees, check with CAAHEP or ABHES to make sure the certificate program is accredited.

Only a few states have certification requirements for operating room technicians, but gaining certification can make a candidate more appealing to an employer and command a higher pay rate. The National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) oversees all aspects of the surgical technology national certification examination, including developing the exams, administering the exams, and establishing the policies for eligibility to take the exam. Candidates who pass the exam are declared Certified Surgical Tech (CSTs).

Certification is good for four years. If a CST earns at least 60 continuing education (CE) credits during those four years, their credential is automatically renewed for another four years. If not enough CE credits are accrued, a CST must re-take the national certification exam.

Continuing education is highly stressed in this occupation because surgical techniques and OR (operating room) practices are constantly evolving - a very appealing aspect of the career. The Association of Surgical Technologists (AST) offers multiple opportunities for gaining CE credits, including forums, webinars, workshops and attendance at the annual AST national conference. Technicians must be members of AST to take advantage of these opportunities. In exchange, AST maintains a continuing education file for each of its members and communicates to the NBSTSA which members have earned renewal of their certification.

CSTs with experience and leadership ability can become OR managers, or move into supervision of various medical technicians within a hospital or surgical center. Some move into managing the hospital central supply system or managing all sterile processing. They may also end up becoming surgical technician educators or being sales representatives for medical and surgical device manufacturers.

Becoming an operating room technician (now more commonly known as a surgical technologist) requires some post-secondary education.

When choosing a training program, make sure that surgical technology program itself (and not just the school) is accredited and in good standing. Graduates of non-accredited programs will have a harder time becoming certified after graduation.

Reputable accreditors include:

• CAAHEP – Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
• ABHES – Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools

Certificate programs (also called diploma programs at some schools) offer you the basic skills you need to enter the surgical technology field. They can be found at many community colleges, technical schools, and career centers.

To find out whether a one-year program is right for you, check with potential employers in your area. Do they hire certificate-trained technologists? Are there certain programs that they prefer?

Also, if you plan to continue your education after completing your certificate, ask how many credits your will receive and whether these can be transferred to two- and four-year colleges in your area.

Common certificate-level coursework includes:

In addition to attending classes, surgical technology students also complete clinical rotations at a hospital or surgery center.

An associate degree in surgical technology (typically an A.A.S.) prepares you for your chosen career while also providing you with a well-rounded education. You’ll have an opportunity to take courses in communications, math, science, and the humanities. This provides an excellent foundation if you later wish to pursue a bachelor’s degree or higher.

An associate degree can also give you an advantage in recruiting, though its relative importance varies. It’s always a good idea to check with employers in your area to see what they’re looking for. As with certificate programs, choose a program that’s CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited to avoid certification hassles later.

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Associate-level surgical technology courses typically include:

Prospective operating room technicians can also gain the skills needed while serving in the military. After 10 weeks of basic military training, the soldier completes 19 weeks of Advanced Individual Training as an operating room specialist. Training is largely on-the-job and covers basic nursing care, emergency medical treatment, clinical laboratory procedures and human anatomy and physiology. Graduates are eligible for national certification.