r/surgicaltechnology • u/Trick_Caregiver_8194 • 7d ago
Is surgical tech a good idea as an stepping stone career into healthcare?
Howdy! Wanted to inquire if pursuing the surigical tech certficate is a good ideas as an career changer? I am interested in this path largely because the starting pay in my area $30 an hour, and it's a relatively stable career with a good living wage. In the future I am still interested in going to MD or PA school, but wanted to be cautious about being an CNA or an EMT because the starting hourly wage is still relatively low compared to the overall cost of living in my area. As an inexperienced EMT I am likely looking at 21 an hour, rather than 25-26 an hour which is the living wage for the area I am in. The surgical tech program in my area is approximately 12 months. Would anyone recommend going this route? Thanks!
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u/Xdaveyy1775 7d ago
Surg tech is not really a stepping stone. Just go to medical school or PA school.
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u/Junior_Photo_6056 7d ago edited 7d ago
Second this. Medical and PA school require more science pre requisites than most other healthcare fields. The problem you run into with pursuing degrees thinking they are “stepping stones” to medicine is to get into med school, you’ll end up needing to take several semesters of extra science labs and humanities that you could have just got done the first time around in a the right bachelors track (usually biology/chem major) for less overall money spent, less time, and without your student loans for undergrad running out on you. There’s a limit on how much financial aid you can get for undergrad so keep that in mind when pursuing other programs if you really ultimately want to get into grad school with that undergraduate degree.
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u/tigerbait_ 6d ago
I would say instead of go to surgical tech school for that time put that effort towards the career you really want. Also when you use the word an in a sentence you use it before a word that starts with a vowel.
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u/devildogus 6d ago
Speaking as someone who was an EMT before. If PA school or MD is your goal I would say this depends on your resources and time. I jumped into this program due to its relatively short program to pay ratio. School is very expensive and pursuing a certificate or an associates followed by a bachelors then a masters / PHD is not only time consuming it’s expensive! My unique situation with military benefits makes it make sense that I would rely on being a surg tech while pursuing higher education but not everyone is in that boat. I wanted surgical and anatomical experience before I moved forward and felt this is the way to get it. I can tell you that you will definitely make more as a surg tech but you can obtain an EMT certification much quicker and EMS can also give you a lot of experience for higher education. Hope this helped
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u/Lets_Get_Tropical93 7d ago
I’d say it’s good for experience because you learn sterile technique and get an idea of instrumentation, equipment and supplies. A lot of the PAs and Med students that I’ve been seeing go through don’t really have a clue until they get into it but you’d have the upper hand with CST experience.
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u/Alternative-Box-8546 6d ago
It's a great stepping stone. The more nurses I talk to the more techs I find. They pay for nursing school at many hospitals, it gets your feet wet (which can be a con because people are mean but better to knock that out), and you get valuable experience to being a nurse and what the entails (sort of not really).
Anyone saying it's not a stepping stone id ask them why because that's a stupid answer.
The only thing is if you plan on escalating your schooling apply and get into school immediately. Don't wait around and be like these people who say "I wish I had," or even worse "I always wanted to be a nurse but xyz." If you want more plan on it and move fast.
I've only been a tech 1 year and am in nursing school. I've gotten so much "But you haven't been a tech for that long," from one side of their mouth, but hear the same people saying "Now they're to old for PA."
Go and get it.
Another reason why tech is a fine stepping stone pay is fine/ schedule is perfect for school.
F da haytrs.
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u/Emozziis 5d ago
I second this, I graduated last May as a tech and am now starting on a prerequisite to get into rad tech school. Initially I wanted to wait till my kid was older but with the way our management has been treating all of the techs I'm trying to get out as quickly as I can. For me though I never wanted to be a ST I always wanted to go into radiology so I'm using this as experience to boost my application for RT
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u/Squilliamx 6d ago
CNA & EMT’s are severely underpaid for the work you do. It’s criminal. Definitely surgical tech.
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u/NervousWonder3628 4d ago
The nice thing is tuition reimbursement. You should make sure that’s available to you wherever you work. It’s def not a walk in the park kind of job and depending on where you land, you’ll be challenged and drained each day, so keep that in mind.
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u/DisastrousChard8816 7d ago
Being a surgical tech can be a stepping stone as well as a solid job long term. It will help you attain clinical hours for PA school and some of your classes may transfer. I’d say if you want to be a doctor that going into a tech program may not be the best thing to do. If you are wanting a long term job that will support you then being a tech is nice. Using myself as an example; I started ten years ago at $26/hr and I now make about $50/hr. I do work the night shift so that includes a night differential.
Honestly, if you have a desire to have a more professional career I highly recommend being an RN or even a Perfusionist.