Choosing a surgical technology program is one of the most consequential decisions you will make before entering the OR. The program you attend affects whether you sit for the CST exam, how prepared you feel on your first day as a scrub tech, and in many cases, whether employers in your area will consider you at all.
This guide covers what actually separates strong programs from weak ones, how to evaluate accreditation and outcomes, and a regional breakdown of programs worth considering.
Accreditation is the first filter, not an afterthought. There are two bodies that accredit surgical technology programs in the United States.
CAAHEP (Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs) is the larger and more widely recognized of the two for surgical technology. Programs accredited through CAAHEP are reviewed by the ARC/STSA (Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting). Most hospital-based employers specifically ask for CAAHEP-accredited graduates when listing CST eligibility requirements.
ABHES (Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools) is the second recognized path. ABHES accredits primarily vocational and career schools. Graduates of ABHES-accredited programs are also eligible to sit for the CST exam through the NBSTSA, so the credential itself is valid. However, some employers and some states give preference to CAAHEP. If you are uncertain which programs are recognized in your target market, verify directly with the hiring hospitals in your area before enrolling.
Bottom line: Both pathways produce CST-eligible graduates. CAAHEP is the safer bet for hospital-system employment. ABHES programs may offer more flexible scheduling and faster completion timelines. Know your local market before deciding this matters less than it does.
The NBSTSA publishes pass rate data for accredited programs. National first-time pass rates for CST candidates typically run in the 70 to 85 percent range depending on the year. A program consistently above 80 percent is performing well. A program that cannot or will not share its pass rate data is telling you something.
When evaluating a program, ask directly:
Programs that deflect these questions by citing "our students go on to great careers" without numbers are a red flag.
Didactic coursework matters. The clinical rotation is where you actually become a surgical tech.
Strong programs place students in facilities with high surgical volume across multiple specialties. General surgery and orthopedics are common. The better programs ensure exposure to cardiothoracic, neurosurgery, OB/GYN, and urology cases as well. More case variety in school means fewer surprises in your first job.
Ask programs:
That last question matters more than most applicants realize. Some programs, especially smaller vocational schools, require students to arrange their own clinical placements. If you are relocating for the program or have limited professional connections in the area, this can become a real problem.
Most surgical technology programs fall into two categories:
Associate Degree Programs (AAS): Typically 18 to 24 months. Include general education coursework alongside surgical technology coursework. The degree carries more weight for career advancement and is increasingly preferred by larger health systems.
Certificate Programs: Typically 9 to 18 months. Focused entirely on the surgical tech curriculum. Faster path to the CST exam. Some employers treat certificate and degree graduates identically; others do not.
If your goal is to advance into surgical first assisting or surgical technology education later in your career, the associate degree gives you a stronger foundation.
The programs listed below hold current CAAHEP or ABHES accreditation and have established clinical partnerships. This is not an exhaustive list. Use the CAAHEP program search and the ABHES directory to find additional options in your state.
Community College of Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) AAS program with CAAHEP accreditation. Strong clinical network across Philadelphia-area hospitals and health systems.
Broome Community College (New York) CAAHEP-accredited AAS program. Clinical affiliations include regional hospital systems in the Southern Tier and upstate New York area.
Manchester Community College (New Hampshire) CAAHEP-accredited program. One of the few accredited options in northern New England. Graduates are competitive for positions throughout the NH and Massachusetts markets.
Middlesex Community College (Massachusetts) CAAHEP-accredited. Well-regarded clinical placements across the greater Boston metro.
Carolinas College of Health Sciences (North Carolina) One of the more respected surgical tech programs in the Southeast. CAAHEP-accredited, hospital-based, with direct clinical pipelines into Atrium Health.
Chattanooga State Community College (Tennessee) CAAHEP-accredited AAS program. Serves the greater Chattanooga and southeast Tennessee market with strong regional employer ties.
Valencia College (Florida) CAAHEP-accredited program based in Orlando. Florida has significant demand for surgical techs given the density of hospital systems and ambulatory surgical centers.
Trenholm State Community College (Alabama) CAAHEP-accredited. Affordable in-state tuition with clinical placements across central Alabama facilities.
Sinclair Community College (Ohio) CAAHEP-accredited. One of the larger community college surgical tech programs in Ohio. Strong placement record in the Dayton and Cincinnati corridors.
Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) CAAHEP-accredited program within a major academic health center. Clinical exposure includes Level I trauma and specialty surgical cases.
South Suburban College (Illinois) CAAHEP-accredited. Serves the Chicago south suburban market with solid clinical affiliate relationships.
Dakota County Technical College (Minnesota) CAAHEP-accredited. Competitive program in the Twin Cities market with consistent CST pass rates.
Metropolitan Community College (Nebraska) CAAHEP-accredited. Serves the Omaha market. Clinical placements span both large health systems and outpatient surgery centers.
Pima Medical Institute (Multiple Locations) ABHES-accredited with campuses in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas. Faster-track certificate format. Graduates are CST-eligible. Employer acceptance varies by market, so verify with target employers in your area.
El Paso Community College (Texas) CAAHEP-accredited. One of the more established programs in West Texas. Strong pipeline into the regional hospital market.
Tulsa Community College (Oklahoma) CAAHEP-accredited AAS program. Well-regarded in the Oklahoma surgical tech employment market.
Loma Linda University (California) CAAHEP-accredited. Hospital-based program affiliated with a major academic medical center. High clinical case volume and specialty exposure.
College of Southern Nevada CAAHEP-accredited. Serves the Las Vegas metro, which has seen sustained growth in surgical volume.
Portland Community College (Oregon) CAAHEP-accredited AAS program. One of the few accredited options in Oregon. Strong clinical partnerships in the Portland metro area.
Wenatchee Valley College (Washington) CAAHEP-accredited. Smaller program in central Washington with solid regional employer relationships.
Accreditation status can change. A program may have held accreditation in prior years but lapsed, or may be in candidate status rather than full accreditation. Before applying anywhere, confirm current status directly:
Ask the program directly whether they hold full accreditation (not candidate status) and when their last review cycle was completed.
Accreditation gets you in the door. What happens after that depends on a few things employers look consistently at:
CST credential. Most hospitals and surgery centers list the CST as required or strongly preferred. Sitting for and passing the exam as early as possible after graduation is the single highest-leverage move a new surgical tech can make.
Case count and specialty exposure. New grads who can speak specifically to their case experience in clinical rotations, including volume and case types, stand out against those who give vague answers.
References from clinical preceptors. The OR is a small world. A strong reference from a staff scrub tech or OR charge nurse who supervised your rotation carries real weight.
Geographic flexibility. Hospitals in secondary markets and rural areas often offer stronger starting compensation packages and faster advancement for new graduates who are willing to relocate.
Once you are credentialed and ready to work, we lists surgical tech openings across the country, including hospital, ambulatory surgical center, and travel positions. Use the search to filter by state, specialty, and shift type.
Clinical Rotations | CST Certification Guide | Entry-Level Surgical Tech Careers | State Requirements
Last updated: 2026. Accreditation status and program details are subject to change. Verify directly with programs and accrediting bodies before applying.