Example Curriculum
- Instrumentation
- Equipment Operation
- Case Management
- Patient Transport
- Sterile Technique and Infection Control
- Types of Sedation & Anesthesia
- General Surgery
- Cardiac Surgery
- Emergency Trauma Surgery
- Gynecological and Obstetrical Surgery
- Neurosurgery
- Ophthalmic Surgery
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- Thoracic and Pulmonary Surgery
Featured Courses
Course Overview
Earn your NCST national certification online through American Allied Health.
Surgical technologists, also called operating room technicians, surgical techs, or "scrubs" assist in surgical operations. They prepare operating rooms for surgery, set up surgical instruments and equipment maintaining sterile conditions, help assist and monitor the patient and equipment during surgery and transport the patient to and from surgery.
Because of rapid advances in medical technology employment of surgical technologists is projected to grow 30 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for other occupations.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the majority of employers seek surgical technologist who have passed a national certification exam. After receiving a certificate or diploma from a licensed or accredited school you are eligible to qualify to take an exam to become a Nationally Certified Surgical Technologist (NCST). Certification makes graduates more competitive in the job market, significantly improves their earnings potential, and demonstrates they have the knowledge and understanding of surgical procedures and technical skills needed to function in the operating room