Career Path

Surgical Assistant

Overview

In this career, your responsibilities may include:

Preparing operating rooms for surgery, including preparation of surgical equipment, checking that equipment is in working order, and ensuring that supplies are sufficient and available.
Preparing patients for surgery.
Assisting doctors during surgery.

Job Titles

In your job search, you may find listings for this career under different titles. You can find some examples of these, as well as more information about this career, at Career One Stop.

Academic Requirements

Typically requires a non-degree certificate or an associate degree. Obtaining a bachelor’s degree would allow you to work in allied health careers with greater responsibility and higher salaries, if you do not already have the U.S. equivalent of a bachelor’s degree.

Certification
Certification is required in some states. Even in states where certification is not required, it could make employers more likely to hire you or offer you a higher salary.
- You may be eligible for one of the following certifications:
  - Surgical Assistant Certification from the American Board of Surgical Assistants (ABSA)
  - Certified Surgical Assistant (CSA) from the National Commission for the Certification of Surgical Assistants (NCCSA)
  - Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) or Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA) from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA)
Licensure

The practice of surgical assistants is only regulated in a few states. Some of those states require licensure, some require certification, and some require registration. Even in states where no credentialing is required, voluntary certification is recommended.