Surgical Tech Schools in Illinois

If you are looking for surgical tech schools in Illinois, then you have come to the right place. As you probably already know, that U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects tremendous growth in the number of surgical tech jobs throughout the country by an increase as much as 19% throughout the entire country. If you have interest in getting the right surgical tech training so you can work in an operating room, looking in to the surgical technologist programs in Illinois is a good place to start.

By becoming a surgical tech, you will place yourself in an important position on the surgical team. The job description of a surgical tech proves how critical they are to the safety of the patient. Surgical techs will make sure the both the patient and the operating room are properly prepared for surgery as well as assisting surgical team members throughout the operation. If this has some interest to you, you can’t go wrong by enrolling in one of the surgical tech schools in Illinois.

Facts about Surgical Tech Schools in Illinois

Before you start looking at the surgical tech schools in Illinois, you need to decide what the educational and career goals you have in mind. There are quick and easy certificate programs but we highly recommend that you consider getting your associate degree. By going down the path of getting your associate degree, you will have a better chance at a higher salary and more employment opportunities.

Finding surgical tech schools in Illinois is easier than you might expect. You will find that a number of community colleges as well as some vocational or technical schools offer training. There are even programs at nursing schools held at four-year universities to choose from.

There is another option for those with full-time jobs or who can’t swing going to a campus-based school, and that is distance learning. Online surgical tech programs are available and growing in popularity every year. The classroom training you will get at one of the online surgical tech schools is as good as regular school but it fits your schedule better.

Accreditation

When you are comparing the various surgical tech schools in Illinois, you will want to make sure that the program meets the standards so you can be successful at your job. Find a program that has the approval of the Commission on Accreditation on Allied Health Education Programs (CAAEP). A program with this accreditation will have proven itself and may even make potential employers notice you.

Topics Covered in Surgical Technologist Training in Illinois

Surgical tech schools in Illinois are typical of healthcare related training by having both a classroom and a practical or clinical training portion. This type of training makes it very possible for you to both understand the theory and the know how to do the job in front of you. Some of the classes you should expect to take include:

• Anatomy and Physiology
• Infection Control
• Pharmacology
• Medical Terminology
• Microbiology
• Sterilization of Equipment
• Medical Ethics

Certification

Once you have successfully finished your training at one of the surgical tech schools in Illinois, you find it better if you become certified. While some states do not necessarily require certification, by having it you should improve your employment chances over someone without it. For more information on certification, go to the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) website. You might also want to look at the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST) as they try to make certification a requirement in every state.

Surgical Tech Salary in Illinois

According to the latest report from O*Net Online, the median salary for surgical technologist is around $20 an hour or $41,500 a year. This is a pretty darned good salary for an associate degree and your realized salary might slightly different depending on experience, where you work and what town or city you work in.

As the healthcare sector continues to rise, now is a great time to get on board. The surgical tech schools in Illinois can offer you a chance to get involved and be successful at an incredibly important job today.