How to Become a Surgical Tech in Alabama

When it comes to surgical procedures, many people do not have the stomach for being in an operating room.

Others do not have the ability to get through medical school to perform surgery themselves.

If the latter applies to you, and you are interested in a career in the field, perhaps becoming a surgical tech is your best option!

A surgical tech is someone who gets the operating room ready and helps out with surgery.

It’s a big responsibility and is a position that is crucial to a surgeon’s success.

If this sounds like an avenue you would like more information about, stay tuned.

We’re here to explain how to become a surgical tech in Alabama!

Licensing Requirements to Become a Surgical Tech

There is no state requirement to be licensed or certified but employers often do want you to be certified.

To become a certified surgical technician, students must first complete an accredited program.

Both the one-year certificate and the two-year degree count toward this requirement.

Next, the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) exam will need to be taken.

Once passed, students will be certified surgical techs.

5 Surgical Tech Schools in Alabama

Huntsville Hospital School of Surgical Technology

Working in a hospital is a great way to get your foot in the door for a career in the medical field.

At Huntsville Hospital, they took that idea and ran with it.

This program is for students who are employees.

In total, prospective techs commit to a 6-month program that gets students ready to be surgical techs.

The first 12 weeks are specifically classroom instruction.

Classes are 8:00 am until 3:30 pm each weekday.

The following 10 weeks are clinical rotations.

There are no prerequisites to the surgical technology program other than being an employee.

It should be noted that this is not an accredited program, meaning students would not qualify for the national certification exam.

Address: 101 Sivley Road, Huntsville, Alabama 35801

Phone: (256) 265‐9416.

Jefferson State Community College

Jefferson State offers a two-semester, one-year program that preps students to take the NCCT Certification Exam.

The focus of the program is on patient care and enhancing the time spent in the operating room.

Students will be experts on the aseptic technique in addition to the surgical skills needed to get the job done.

The cost for the entire program is $5,000 and includes uniforms, insurance, and all immunizations.

Address: 4600 Valleydale Rd, Birmingham, AL 35242

Phone: (888) 453-3378

Coastal Alabama Community College

This degree program has a few prerequisites to get started.

First, students must have a 2.0 GPA or higher to be admitted into the program.

Next, a handful of general education courses must be completed before starting.

Other eligibility requirements include things like coursework in a health-related field and getting an application in by the deadline.

Students who are accepted can further apply to take part in an apprenticeship.

This way, they can earn money while getting an education.

In total, it costs about $14,000 to get the surgical tech associate degree at Coastal Alabama.

That does include tuition, books, insurance, scrubs, eyewear, shoes, and lab costs.

Address: 1900 US-31, Bay Minette, AL 36507

Phone: (800) 381-3722

Calhoun Community College

If you want to go to CCC, you’ll need to plan ahead.

There are only two times a year students can enroll here to become a surgical tech, fall and spring.

Better apply early, less than 50 students are admitted into the program each year.

Once official, it will take two semesters to graduate with an Associate of Applied Science with a major in surgical technology.

Address: 6250 US-31, Tanner, AL 35671

Phone: (256) 306-2500

Bevill State Community College

The certificate program at Bevill is much like the others except for the requirement for case studies.

Each student must complete 120 cases to consider the program complete.

30 of those are to be from general surgery.

The rest are to come from various surgical specialties.

Students are restricted from doing more than 15 cases on one specific specialty, however.

Bevill believes this is the kind of experience that sets their graduates apart from the rest.

Address: 1411 Indiana Ave, Jasper, AL 35501

Phone: (800) 648-3271

Surgical Technician Schools in Alabama – Summary Table

Salary

A surgical tech can expect to make $49,000 a year, on average.

Of course, that number can vary depending on a number of factors.

Surgical techs working in bigger cities would likely make more, as would someone with a bit more experience.

A surgical tech pay range often starts at $39,000 and can get up to as high as $59,000

Regional Salary in Alabama