Is 22,000 for surgical tech school too much?

AHCP was the fastest course to get into. I looked into others but did not want to wait longer to start,I also did not wish to wait for the app process to get into San Jac or HCC

Jason in Lake Jackson, Texas said: AHCP was the fastest course to get into. I looked into others but did not want to wait longer to start,I also did not wish to wait for the app process to get into San Jac or HCC

I know what you mean, I looked into both myself. I wanted to start sooner too. I have to go to the school today to meet the program director. I am not sure why?

Here's the thing with these schools. The one's that cost above say $10,000 generally are going to be the private schools. They call them for-profit or proprietary schools. They don't get tax money from the government the way that your local Vocational school or state/county community college does and more importantly they are in business first and foremost to make money. I would any day of the week recommend going to a state supported school (that usually means they average somewhere between 3000-7000 a year). In the end you're going to get paid the same whether you went to a tax supported school or a private for profit school. The difference is going after you're done with school. Are you going to be paying 300-400 a month for the next 10 years to pay off your students loans (assuming your borrowing (20,000-30,000+)
A draw back is that the tax supported schools will usually have a waiting list of up to two years to get into simply because of that lower price. A plus to going to a for-profit school versus a county school is that they generally are very good at hand holding. They will bend over backwards and do everything they can to keep you from dropping out. There usually isn't much of a waiting list if any. Both types of schools have pluses and minuses. As for on the job training at hospitals just make sure they are CAHHEP or ABHES accredited for surgical technology otherwise you won’t be able to take the most recognized type of certification and that will limit you employment options. Most traveling agency (where you can make the most money as a tech) will require you to be certified. On a last note remember your admissions reps are sales reps. Take what they say with a grain of salt and do your own research. Also get anything they promise you in writing. They're not bad people it's simply the nature of sales. How often do you walk into a car dealership to look at a car you want and have the sales person tell you it only has a two star crash test rating.

Dianna R in Texas said: I know what you mean, I looked into both myself. I wanted to start sooner too. I have to go to the school today to meet the program director. I am not sure why?

Dianna,

So how did it go? I spoke with her a few weeks back myself. Even though it is a for-profit school, the director has a say in what students she allows into the program. Also did she happen to mention the orientation on July 3rd at 2pm?

Well, I am glad I met with her. I did not realize the hours. I thought I would be out of school at 2:30 everyday. However, that is not always the case. I left the school in tears. I am not able to do the ST program. I am going to have to settle for the MA program. But, I guess I can use that as a stepping stone. My son is only 3 years old and I have to put him in daycare, which means I have to work part time. I guess when he is older and in school I will go thru the ST PROGRAM..that's what I really want. I have no one to help me with my son. NO FAMILY!!!!! But, the sad part is my husband makes too much for assistance. GO FIGURE. I am very upset, I was really looking forward to the ST PROGRAM.

Well I am sorry to hear about the problems you are facing with going back to school. By saying you are unable to get assistance do you mean to pay for school or daycare for your son while you are in school?
Have you tried www.salliemae.com for a private loan?

No, not to go to school. That is all taken care of.(daycare) But, I just got off the phone and I have a interview today for daycare job and my son can go there. So, GOD is answering my prayers.

good to hear it. I hope it all works out for you. So if you find daycare will you be coming to the ST program or the MA program?

Feel free to email txpatrolman at hotmail com

Well, MA program 1:00-5:00. I was looking forward to meeting you. I am sure we would have had alot of fun in ST class together. I am glad to meet you Jason. You seem to have a very positive attitude. I wish you lots of luck in the ST Program. I am excited for you.

shelley in Houston, Texas said: I am looking into surgical tech schools, and found a one year program for 22,000 dollars. It is an accredited school, however arn't there hospital based learning programs? How does one find out about those? I am in Houston TX. Please help~!!!

I think so, but my school was alittle over 15,000

shelley in Houston, Texas said: I am looking into surgical tech schools, and found a one year program for 22,000 dollars. It is an accredited school, however arn't there hospital based learning programs? How does one find out about those? I am in Houston TX. Please help~!!!

thats a rip off i think
do a search on tech schools offered to low income families
i know there is one in rochester, ny
didn't go to it but i know its there

shelley in Houston, Texas said: I am looking into surgical tech schools, and found a one year program for 22,000 dollars. It is an accredited school, however arn't there hospital based learning programs? How does one find out about those? I am in Houston TX. Please help~!!!

dont do it. too much for this. i went to sanford brown. what a disapointment and a cluster. they did not have their stuff together at all. went through so many teachers that it got confusing. call around or google surg tech.

Chris in Eden Prairie, Minnesota said: WOWWWWW!!! I went for 6k at my local college(Pennsylvania College of Technology)
That was 7 yrs ago. I got a job at my local hospital and a yr later they paid the remaining 5k balance on my student loan by signing a 5 yr contract w/ the hospital. I am currently going through a program for Surgical Assisting which is done online for all the book work and I am in Dallas, Tx right now taking a Suture and Tying conference. Lots of oppurtunities when you go to tech school. Once I am done with this I will be First Assisting and Harvesting leg vein for heart bypass surgery's on the Cardiac Team I am on. I can't wait. I have harvested about 3 veins so far and I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!! Makes me feel better about doing my job. GOOD LUCK!!!!!!

what school is this. i am moving to dallas

I WAS WONDERING HOW MUCH DO SURGERY TECHS MAKE PER HOUR OR ANNUAL? DOES ANYONE KNOW ABOUT HOW MUCH IN MISSISSIPPI? PREFERABLY THE GULFCOAST? I'M CURRENTLY A CNA AT A HOSPITAL, AND I HAVE RESEARCHED 3 SCHOOLS SO FAR 2 COMM COLLEGES AND THEY BOTH OFFER A CERTIFICATE PROGRAM THAT ONLY TAKES 12 MO TO COMPLETE. AND THEN THERE IS VIRGINIA COLLEGE AND THERE PROGRAM IS 2 YRS AND YOU EARN AN ASSOC UPON COMPLETION, ANY ADVICE ON THE BEST WAY TO GO ON THIS? AND IF THEY PAY IS WORTH IT OR NOT IN THE LONG RUN? PLEASE ALL HELPFUL ADVICE WELCOME.

Missy Lyn,

I start surg. tech. school tomorrow. I've been going to a community college to get the degree along side the certification. I'll graduate in May of '09 with both...I hope! Anyway, I sat in on a surgery a couple of weeks ago and spoke with several people about the direction I chose. By far, I would recommend you doing the degreed program. Things are slowly changing and there are a few that are requiring both. So go ahead and get it behind you. I believe it will open more doors down the road.

Mark in Sacramento, California said: 22k at High Tech in Rancho Cordova. Not CAAHEP accredited but you can sit for the NCCT. Major hospitals within 150 miles of the Sacramento area are hiring High Tech students. Western Career is CAAHEP accredited and costs 32k. Junior colleges in the Sacramento and surrounding areas do not offer the program. Do your homework on the schools before you start. Western Career will convince you that you need the CAAHEP. Personally, I dont know if it that's true.

I spoke with my admission rep at Hi-Tech sacramento to ask about CAAHEP. She says they are ACCSCT and graduates are eligible to get certified through the NCCT Tech in surgery-certified. I have an appt to talk with Western Career, but they are 16 months long and night program is 7:30 to 11:45 p.m. Yikes I work and have a baby. I will stick to HI-Tech 7:30 to 10:45 and 2 months shorter.

hey has any one ever completed the surg tech course through virginia college?

dammn im paying 7,000 for my course and this job is real hard to like looking for a job its true what most of these people say ! u need too know someone in the hospital to work in it , but here that job dont pay much some hospitals pay minimum wage others pay 8 dollars an hours if u make 10 an hour ur considered so lucky ! i hear in the US you make like 15 to 20 an hour as a surgical tech.

I am in Surgical Tech school and will graduate May 09. I love the program and have learned things that I have never learned before. I am going to school at a community college that has a technology center. The program is 3 semesters long and it costs about $3,500, not including books. Starting wage with no experience is between $14-15 an hour and it only goes up from there, especially if you can get into specialty surgery such as cardiac or orthopedics. I am so glad I made this career choice. It can be stressful and tiring, but you are right in all the action and it's great. I feel that alot of surgical techs know more than most nurses. Sure, most OR nurses just get paid to sit throughout the whole surgery, but we get to be next to the surgeon seeing the procedure first hand and actually helping the surgeon. We are the ones that tell the nurses to go get us certain supplies if something got contaminated. They run around getting us things that we need for surgery. It all depends on how much responsibility you want to have and how much money you wish to make. Sure, nurses get paid more than we do, but being a CST can open many doors. There are many different directions you can go into by being a CST such as, certified first assistant, organ donor team, sales representative, teaching ST at a college, etc. You can work in all different types of surgeries and the job never gets boring, sure it can get tiring, but surgery can be interesting and intense. Good luck to everyone making career choices! If you are fascinated by surgery, love helping people or like learning new things, then this is a great career choice! Plus it has job security and in the majority of hospitals across the US, CST are in demand. I know in my area they are hiring all the time for ST. Keep in mind that surgery never stops, so they always need help.

I too graduate in May '09. Hopefully, I'll pass the National Board and graduate with an Associates and the Certification. I have my last pass/fail test next week before starting rotation the following week. This will be our second pass/fail exam, after the first one we lost two students and I suspect we'll lose at least one more.

Like the person above I'm really looking forward to working in this field. I wish the money was a little better starting out but I feel confident I'll get the right job with the right pay!

Good luck to you! I wish the money was a bit better as well, but I know surgical techs in my area who specialize and they make in the mid $20 an hour range, so there is potential for good money.

If you try and get into a big name hospital like Kaiser they start trainee at $28 and then after training $29.

N in Honolulu, Hawaii,

Are you kidding me. That sounds a bit much from all the information I've been getting. However, that doesn't mean I would turn it down either.

Jeff in Lavon, Texas
Not kidding about the pay. I work for Kaiser as a Medical Assistant and will be starting ST school in December. We can see starting pay for any job under our union wage structure contract. $28 is correct start for Surgical Tech, Surgical Asst is more. Have you been getting information from people for Kaiser or for other places?

shelley in Houston, Texas said: I am looking into surgical tech schools, and found a one year program for 22,000 dollars. It is an accredited school, however arn't there hospital based learning programs? How does one find out about those? I am in Houston TX. Please help~!!!

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It's Nationally Accreredited but the polotics of AST will not allow it.
These "Fly by Night" schools will put you into the field fast and you will do just as well as a graduate member of an AST "certified school". It's strictly politics that AST uses to disuade you into avoiding the schools that get you into the job quick.If you have the money or qualify for financial aid go for it.

AST has done NOTHING to promot the profession,while they try to convince you they are "there for you to promote the profession" they just dont.The HMO's do.If AST did we would see it.We dont.

By the way I am a CST trained by a "FLY BY NIGHT" school and am requested by every Doc on the staff over several AST grads.

Troi in Richmond, Virginia said: Does anyone know of any programs available in Richmond, VA? The only school I know of is 22,000 as well.

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That would be Hi-Tech institute. I graduated from there in Sacramento when it was $16k. Lots of money.

How fast do you want to graduate?

Thats all that matters.

Hi, I'm new here and can't figure out how to post a new post, so I'll post this here.
I'm considering going to school to be a Surgical Tech. I graduated high school in 2001, and have never been to college. I am just curious if I have to take some other classes before I can start a Surgical Tech course. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

hi im currently looking for a school that offers a surgical tech program in the l.a area...does anyone have any advice or an easy way to look into which schools or programs are good and affordable? so far all the schools around here are over $20,000 =/ im not shure if it's worth the investment? any advice would be appreciated feel free to email me @ unseenliz@yahoo.com

Go to a technical college they are about 5G!!! The school you are looking at is a big rip off!!

Nao V in Houston, Texas said: TOO MUCHHHHH!!!! Tomball College and HCC offer their sur tech classes for less than $4000!!!!! STAY AWAY FROM THOSE "ACCREDITED FLY BY NIGHT SCHOOLS" - go to a community college!!!

I applied for college at herzing this morning they said tuition is 14,000 first time in toledo for the school. It will open in march 09. I wondering is that to much.assoicate degree 18 months

Stay away from those programs. Though the School will tell you of all their credentials,the actual Surg Tech Prog are NOT recognized by AST-LCC. Therefore a lot of Hosp will NOT hire you, as you can't sit for the AST-LCC certification exam. Those so called colleges have their own version of a certification test.

ANY SUGGESTIONS ON HOW I CAN GET STARTED AS IN SURG TECH HERE IN PHILADELPHIA ? ANY GOOD SCHOOLS IN MIND? THANKS

I am graduating now from a business college that was 15 months that includes 6 months of clinical rotations at a hospital 3 days a week. I paid 20k for it --- and for me I am thinking it is high but I don't think I would trade my educational experiences for anything. I recommend research research research. It is a CAAHEP school and I will be taking my certification in January. Community colleges are good to look into also. But I have found here in NJ that I am getting a Diploma for 15 mo instead of a 9 mo certificate.

shatash35 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania said: ANY SUGGESTIONS ON HOW I CAN GET STARTED AS IN SURG TECH HERE IN PHILADELPHIA ? ANY GOOD SCHOOLS IN MIND? THANKS

Check out southeast.edu. They offer an Associates Degree in Surgical Technology and the entire program is online! At least the didactic portion is. I will graduate in March and including pre-req's I will have spent 15 months in "school". Distance learning is not for everyone, you have to be very self motivated but it works for me. The critical part is finding a clinical site. They need to have a contract with Southeast CC but I contacted the program director early on and by the time I started clinicals a contract was set up and I have a job waiting for me when I finish to boot! I think it's going to cost me around 7K when all is said and done too. Very reasonable compared to a private "for-profit" school.

shelley in Houston, Texas said: I am looking into surgical tech schools, and found a one year program for 22,000 dollars. It is an accredited school, however arn't there hospital based learning programs? How does one find out about those? I am in Houston TX. Please help~!!!

wow that is way too much. The school usually cost around 11,000 to 12,000 DOLLARS.

Troi in Richmond, Virginia said: Does anyone know of any programs available in Richmond, VA? The only school I know of is 22,000 as well.

I'm looking for a 'reasonable' school in Richmond, VA too. Were you referencing ECPI @ 22K? Post if you have any luck and I'll do the same.

What are we calling a FLY BY NIGHT surg tech college? I went to a business college and I spent 15 months in schooling including a contracted clinical hospital site. It is accredited also.

If at all Possible you should attend a program run by a hospital. Besides it being their only business and being imersed in health care you may also get a job out of it. Three years ago I went to university hospitals program for $7500 It went up to 10000 before it closed. Today I wouldnt pay more than 12 to 15 grand. Its not like you graduate and quickly find a job and start making big money. It takes a wile to get hired (no experience, you know the drill) and you never make real money because if they had to pay you close to what a nurse makes, they'd just hire a nurse.

Hi!
What is the average hourly or yearly pay for a surgical tech?

Depends where you work. Kaiser pays $29.00 Hr.

TO N in Elk Grove, California,

You said $ 29.00 per hour, right?
Why does the occupation handbook only say $ 32-45?

shelley in Houston, Texas said: I am looking into surgical tech schools, and found a one year program for 22,000 dollars. It is an accredited school, however arn't there hospital based learning programs? How does one find out about those? I am in Houston TX. Please help~!!!

I am attending a school in Waco, Ga and it is 21,000 for a 2 year program. It is certified through CAHEPP. Now days if you go to a school that isn't accredited you will more then likely not find a job. I am in my last few months and I absolutely love it! I strongly advise an accredited program! We do clinical at 4 different hospitals while attending classes. It is difficult but so worth it!

$32 to 45 a year right? Not an hr.

EM in Roslyn Heights, New York said: TO N in Elk Grove, California,

You said $ 29.00 per hour, right?
Why does the occupation handbook only say $ 32-45?

what do you mean occupational handbook and do you mean 32-45 an hr.
I am quoting what out wage structure union book and paycheck says

bob in Stony Brook, New York said: $32 to 45 a year right? Not an hr.

That is my same response atleast to a Newbie on the Job. There are not really ST jobs offering 45 a yr to a new out of school ST in NJ unless you look to be a Stryker Rep.

To :N in Elk Grove, California

I was just wondering if you knew the average hourly pay
or yearly pay.

The handbook is a career guide to all of the professions listed and it said
$32,000-45,000 a year. I wanted to check if this was correct.

The annual for Kaiser is $60,000 (40 hrs. a week no overtime. I don't know what other places pay, sorry.

To N in Elk Grove

-Is $ 60 starting salary?
-What are typical course for this program? I head Anatomy, MicoBio and ST procedures...
-what do you find most difficult about the job?

Thank you,

EM

Yes 60 is starting. Anatomy not so bad, remember from before when I went to MA school, rembering instruments can be a challenge. I knew sterile techniques from assisting in minor procedures with couple departments I worked for. Can be stressful and gotta stand ALOT.

N in Elk Grove, California,
Thank you, so I am guessing math isn't needed for this profession?
Do you see brains and guts sometimes?