Surgical techs play a critical role in and out of the operating room.
They help during surgery by providing tools for the surgeon and counting supplies.
Before the operation, they prepare instruments and the operating room.
After surgery, they may dress or close wounds and clean the OR.
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Licensing Requirements to Become a Surgical Tech in Indiana
Indiana is one of a few states that require surgery techs to be certified before working in the field.
Certification begins by completing a CAAHEP or ABHES-accredited surgery tech training program.
You can also qualify for the certification if you’ve completed a military surgical tech program.
Applying for the CST Exam
To become a CST, or Certified Surgical Tech, you’ll need to pass the CST exam offered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting, or NBSTSA.
You’ll submit an application, along with a fee, and proof that you’ve completed an approved training program.
Association of Surgical Tech, or AST, members, will pay $190.
If you are not an AST member, you’ll pay $290.
Once your application is approved, you’ll schedule your exam.
Most exams are given at a testing center.
However, you may qualify for a live remote proctored exam as well.
Taking and Passing the Exam
On the day of the exam, you’ll bring two forms of identification.
Be sure you are on time.
If you are more than 15 minutes late, you forfeit the exam and the associated fees.
The exam has 175 questions.
150 of these are graded.
You’ll need to get 98 out of 150 correct to pass the exam.
Once you pass the exam, you will be CST certified.
You can use CST after your name to signify your certification.
5 Surgical Tech Schools in Indiana
Indiana University Health
If you already hold an associate’s degree, you can take the Surgical Technician certificate program.
This program takes one year of full time study to complete, and requires 36 credit hours.
Courses include medical terminology, surgical applications, surgical techniques, and surgical instrumentation.
You’ll participate in classroom instruction, labs, and clinical rotations to gain real world experience.
If you don’t have an associate’s degree, you can earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in Health Science.
To be eligible, you must complete prerequisite courses.
These include General Psychology, Human Anatomy and Physiology, and College Algebra.
You’ll need a total of 24 general education credits.
You must have at least 15 credits before beginning the surgical tech program.
Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College offers a surgical technology applied science degree at 10 locations in Indiana.
The course requires 62 credit hours, and typically takes 2 years or 5 semesters to complete.
You’ll complete 13 general education credits and 49 program-specific credits during the program.
The surgical technology program is selective, which means not everyone who applies is accepted.
To qualify, you’ll need to take prerequisite courses.
These include anatomy and physiology 1 and 2, English composition, and Medical terminology.
You’ll also choose math, communications, and humanities electives.
Franciscan Health
Franciscan Health offers an accelerated 11 month surgical tech certificate program.
The program is divided into 3 trimesters.
During the first trimester, students complete all general education requirements.
This trimester is 16 weeks long.
The second and third trimesters are devoted to surgical technology training.
This includes classroom instruction, hands-on labs, and clinical experience.
These trimesters are 15 weeks each.
You’ll spend a total of 1,318.5 contact hours to complete the program.
After completing the program, you are eligible to apply for CST certification.
Ascension St. Vincent Surgical Technology Program
Ascension St. Vincent Surgical Technology Program offers an Associate of Applied Science in Surgical Technology.
The program takes 2 years, or four semesters, to complete.
This program is the only associate degree program in the state sponsored by a hospital.
Students will work at St. Vincent in a real operating room during clinicals.
The level 1 trauma facility cares for pediatric and adult patients.
Once you’ve completed the program, you are eligible for the CST certification exam.
University of St. Francis
The University of St. Francis offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Surgical Technology.
The program takes 4 semesters, or 17 months to complete.
St. Francis takes a compassionate approach to healthcare education in the Franciscan tradition.
You’ll begin learning how to be a surgical tech from the first day of class.
You’ll spend time in clinical rotations during every semester.
You’ll complete more than 120 procedures and have more than 750 hours of clinical experience by graduation.
The University of St. Francis also offers a Bachelor’s degree in Health Services with only one year of additional study.
Surgical Technician Schools in Indiana – Summary Table
Top 5 Schools in Indiana
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Indiana University Health | Arnett Hospital5165 McCarty LnLafayette, IN 47905, United States |
| Ivy Tech Community College | 50 W Fall Creek Pkwy N Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46208, United States |
| Franciscan Health | 701 Superior Ave, Munster, IN 46321, United States |
| Ascension St. Vincent Surgical Technology Program | 1801 W 86th St, Indianapolis, IN 46260, United States |
| University of St. Francis | 500 Wilcox St, Joliet, IL 60435, United States |
Salary
A surgery tech in Indiana will earn an average of $53,129 a year.
Most salaries range from $47,754 to $58,461
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Surgical Technologists in Indiana
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Indianapolis | $50,900 |
| Fort Wayne | $48,800 |
| Evansville | $49,600 |
| South Bend | $49,100 |
| Gary | $52,300 |
| Hammond | $50,900 |
| Bloomington | $48,200 |
| Muncie | $48,200 |
| Anderson | $48,400 |
| Terre Haute | $48,000 |
Regional Salary in Indiana
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | 50 | $55,900 | $26.88 | $67,920 | $32,430 |
| Evansville, IN-KY | 220 | $56,900 | $27.35 | $65,290 | $44,300 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | 250 | $56,150 | $26.99 | $67,090 | $44,810 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN | 850 | $59,380 | $28.55 | $73,360 | $47,060 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | 150 | $59,680 | $28.69 | $67,190 | $46,890 |
| Muncie, IN | 60 | $56,290 | $27.06 | $69,790 | $47,440 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | 150 | $69,810 | $33.56 | $106,090 | $46,840 |
| Terre Haute, IN | 50 | $50,220 | $24.14 | $62,660 | $41,390 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it difficult to become a surgery tech in Indiana?
Indiana does require you to be certified before working as a surgery tech.
However, certification isn’t more difficult than it is in other states.
Indiana does have several excellent surgical tech training programs.
What skills do I need to be a surgery tech in Indiana?
To be a surgery tech in Indiana, you’ll need to be comfortable with blood, body tissues and organs, and trauma.
You’ll also need to have excellent manual dexterity, and the ability to stand for long periods of time.
Are surgery techs in demand in Indiana?
Yes.
Certified surgery techs are in high demand in Indiana.
In 2020, IU Health employed 100 surgery techs, and had job openings for another 50.
