subject: The Surgical Tech Job Outlook [print this page] If you are looking for a profession in the medical field, then you should certainly consider the career of a surgical technologist. The main reason for this is the expected growth in this field, as well as the various employment and advancement opportunities, the good salary, the job dynamics and the personal satisfaction it brings.
We will now go through the surgical tech job outlook and the predicted development in this area, hoping to help you make your career choice.
The Projected Growth
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that there will be a much faster job growth for surgical techs than the average for all occupations. A 25% growth is expected in the period between 2008 and 2018, which makes this a very desirable field.
Reasons for Development
There are two main factors that will cause the number of jobs for surgical technicians to increase:
-The population is aging. There is a significant number of people reaching quite an old age. Since they will need more surgical procedures to be performed, the health care industry will have to provide more qualified staff to answer this increased demand.
-The technology used in surgical procedures is developing. The advanced surgical procedures enable surgeons to work with a smaller operating room team, which leads to an increased need of surgical technicians.
Surgical Tech Jobs
Hospitals are, and are expected to remain the leading employer of surgical technologists. But, these professional can work in other various medical institutions. It is expected that the number of surgical technologists working for physicians, dentists, clinics and other similar facilities will significantly increase. Surgical technologists can be also employed by insurance companies, medical supplies companies etc.
Necessary Surgical Tech Qualifications
Proper training is the key step towards a surgical tech career. A surgical tech can complete a training program at a college, university or a hospital. This usually takes up to two years. A college degree is not obligatory for this job, but is preferable by employers and it brings a better salary. The most important credential is the surgical technologist certification.
With experience, surgical technicians usually get heavier duties and responsibilities. They can advance to surgical first assistants with additional training or they could advance by specializing in a certain area. Open heart surgery and neurosurgery are the most popular choices.
Needless to say, the more experienced and the certified surgical technologists, that can easily relocate will have better opportunities for employment.
Working as a surgical technologist will bring you fulfillment and it is also quite financially rewarding. The job outlook forecast is quite clear - this is an attractive field offering wonderful opportunities and it is a good time to pursue such a career.
