When it comes to surgery, do you know who is almost as important as the surgeon?
Surgical techs.
Without a surgical tech, surgeons would not be able to be successful.
A surgical tech gets the operating room ready, gets the patient prepped, helps out the surgeon during surgery, and cleans up the OR following the procedure.
This means a tech has a lot of responsibilities that need to be taken care of in order to keep things running smoothly behind the curtain.
If these kinds of duties sound appealing, keep reading!
We’re here to give you all the required steps to become a surgical tech in South Carolina.
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Licensing Requirements to Become a Surgical Tech
There are no license or certification requirements for surgical techs in South Carolina.
That doesn’t mean that employers don’t expect it, however.
To become certified, all you need to do is go through a surgical tech program and pass the certification examination afterward.
5 Surgical Tech Schools in South Carolina
Trident Technical College
Students going to school at TTC will be seeking an associate’s degree.
Part of the two-year program will be spent acquiring general education credits.
The rest, a majority, of the credits will be focused on the surgical tech major.
Trident will give students all the knowledge necessary to pass the certification exam.
Address: 7000 Rivers Ave, North Charleston, SC 29406
Phone: (843) 574-6111
Midland Technical College
At Midland, it is mandatory that students pay attention to their grades.
Making less than a C could have you kicked out of the program.
Classes are also taken in a specific order.
Having to redo a class could potentially be a big setback as far as time is concerned.
Externships are arranged by the program in partnership with local hospitals.
Address: 151 Powell Rd, Columbia, SC 29203
Phone: (803) 738-8324
Greenville Technical College
In an effort to accept as many students as are interested in becoming surgical techs, GTC has options.
Specifically, they have a Career Pathways Scholarship which can help cover whatever other financial aid doesn’t.
You must maintain a 2.5 GPA to continue to qualify but otherwise, it’s worth checking into.
Address: 506 S Pleasantburg Dr, Greenville, SC 29607
Phone: (864) 250-8000
Spartanburg Community College
SCC has an Associate in Applied Science for anyone interested in becoming a surgical tech.
This accredited program requires that you’re admitted into the college before applying to the program.
To graduate, students must maintain a minimum of a 2.5 GPA.
If you have any questions ahead of enrolling, Spartanburg hosts info sessions that are open to anyone.
Not only can you ask questions about enrolling at SCC but specifically about the surgical tech program.
Address: 107 Community College Drive, Spartanburg, SC 29303
Phone: (864) 592-4600
York Technical College
The goal here is to take students and make them entry-level ready for a career in surgical technology.
Students are required to pass a background and drug screening before being accepted in.
Additional drug screenings may be given at any time, even during clinical rotations.
Address: 452 Anderson Rd S, Rock Hill, SC 29730
Phone: (803) 327-8000
Surgical Technician Schools in South Carolina – Summary Table
Top 5 Schools in South Carolina
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Trident Technical College | 7000 Rivers Ave, North Charleston, SC 29406, United States |
| Midland Technical College | 151 Powell Rd, Columbia, SC 29203, United States |
| Greenville Technical College | 506 S Pleasantburg Dr, Greenville, SC 29607, United States |
| Spartanburg Community College | 107 Community College Drive, Spartanburg, SC 29303, United States |
| York Technical College | 452 Anderson Rd S, Rock Hill, SC 29730, United States |
Salary
On average, surgical techs can expect to make $49,700 annually in South Carolina.
That number can vary based on a few factors.
Location and experience are two of those factors.
In a bigger city with more experience, surgical techs can expect to make upwards of $60,000 a year.
In smaller towns or with less experience, $40,000 is closer to the going rate.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Surgical Technologists in South Carolina
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Columbia | $48,600 |
| Charleston | $49,800 |
| North Charleston | $49,800 |
| Greenville | $48,700 |
| Rock Hill | $50,800 |
| Mount Pleasant | $49,800 |
| Spartanburg | $49,300 |
| Sumter | $46,900 |
| Hilton Head Island | $48,700 |
| Florence | $47,200 |
Regional Salary in South Carolina
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 430 | $59,630 | $28.67 | $71,910 | $46,990 |
| Columbia, SC | 370 | $56,830 | $27.32 | $65,180 | $49,710 |
| Florence, SC | 230 | $54,650 | $26.28 | $63,380 | $29,990 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC | 410 | $56,730 | $27.27 | $65,760 | $48,250 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, SC | 60 | $51,990 | $24.99 | $60,380 | $35,630 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC | 180 | $52,240 | $25.12 | $61,110 | $36,630 |
| Spartanburg, SC | 260 | $59,700 | $28.7 | $72,620 | $52,410 |
| Sumter, SC | 50 | $56,750 | $27.28 | $62,660 | $45,740 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of growth is there in the surgical tech field?
Starting with the medical field, there is a projection of 15% growth over the next several years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Specifically for surgical techs, an increase of up to 9% is expected in the same amount of time.
That means if you become a surgical tech, it’s unlikely that finding a job will be a problem.
Healthcare, overall, is going to grow exponentially over the coming decades.
So, students will see themselves with much job security on through retirement.
Is it hard to be a surgical tech?
At the outset, the answer would be yes.
Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s too much for everyone.
For example, this might not be the career for you at 60 with no experience in healthcare.
That’s because it’s a very physically demanding position.
In fact, very little of the surgical tech duties are done from a chair.
The hours can be long, the day can be super busy, and the duties will be tedious at times.
Honestly, that can be tough at any age.
There needs to be a lot of stamina, attention to detail, and still be able to maintain a positive demeanor for patients.
Be sure to consider what each day is like before signing up.
Are there associations for surgical techs?
Yes!
In 1969, the Association of Surgical Technologists es established.
Later, the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting was created.
The NBSTSA is the official organization that determines certifications nationally.
Many places also have more regional associations to network with.
Upon becoming certified, it might be a good idea to look into joining these groups for employment as well as social networking.
