What are the best surgical assistant qualifications and training to get ahead?

What is the best training for becoming a surgical assistant? What types of ongoing training or certifications are necessary to be an effective surgical assistant?

What do non-traditional career paths look like?

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I feel that good training includes attending a CAAHEP accredited Surgical Assisting program where standards are monitored. Most training programs require that you work as a Certified Surgical Technologist prior to entering the program. It is possible for RN's and LPN/LVN's to enter these programs as well.

One of the less traditional pathways is accessible through the East Virginia Medical School where someone with a Bachelor's degree in a non-science discipline can enter an entry-level surgical assisting program and earn a Graduate Certificate in Surgical Assisting.

H-T- in Miami, Florida said: I feel that good training includes attending a CAAHEP accredited Surgical Assisting program where standards are monitored. Most training programs require that you work as a Certified Surgical Technologist prior to entering the program. It is possible for RN's and LPN/LVN's to enter these programs as well.

One of the less traditional pathways is accessible through the East Virginia Medical School where someone with a Bachelor's degree in a non-science discipline can enter an entry-level surgical assisting program and earn a Graduate Certificate in Surgical Assisting.

Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) doesn't require a Bachelor's degree. You are correct that they have this requirement for the GRADUATE certificate in Surgical Assisting, but their standard technical certificate in Surgical Assisting does not require a college degree and leads to eligibility for the same exact career certifications, ie, CSA, CFA, and/or SA-C.

djhughes017 in Fresno, California said: Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) doesn't require a Bachelor's degree. You are correct that they have this requirement for the GRADUATE certificate in Surgical Assisting, but their standard technical certificate in Surgical Assisting does not require a college degree and leads to eligibility for the same exact career certifications, ie, CSA, CFA, and/or SA-C.

Yes. I'm aware that EVMS has two pathways into the program. The first pathway, the certificate program, does not require a bachelor's degree. However, this does requires 3 years experience as a CST. The second pathway, the graduate certificate, is for people who have a bachelor's degree in any field provided they have a met the pre-requisite courses. This latter pathway is nice because it allows people truly interested in surgery a direct path into surgical assisting without having to go back and train as a CST and work for 3 years first.

Will foreign-medical graduates have an equal footing in this "non-traditional" career pathways? After all they are former physician-surgeon in their native countries... infact, some of them are very highly specialized, with more than 5 years experience in their belt in various surgical specialties in their country of origin such as, Orthopedics, Neurosurgery, Thoraco-Cardiovascular Surgery, Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery,Urulogy etc...

Some of them have already passed the United States Medical Licensure Examination(USMLE). They are here in the United States legally and with proper documentation... With this in mind, If they are recognized by the US Medical Boards to take the USMLE through the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates(ECFMG), whether they have passed the USMLE or not or still in the process... then why is it that it is so hard for these "over-qualified" legal immigrants to land a simple job such as surgical assisting?

We all have families to take care of, mouths to feed, we all have dreams to share and fulfill...

I am IMG, looking for a SA position in VA, I passed the test 1 year ago I haven't find any position,
I am OB/GYN in my country 5 year of Surgical experience ,I need advice what can I do to find a position as a SA.
Tina

YOU CAN LEARN TO SPEAK ENGLISH BETTER.

DOC BILL BOB in Mason, Michigan said: YOU CAN LEARN TO SPEAK ENGLISH BETTER.

Your comment to Tina is offensive and not constructive at all.