Like CST certification, the certification process for CFAs and CSAs can improve a candidate's resume and open doors for higher-paying jobs, McGraw said. Once certified, a surgical assistant can become a certified first assistant (CFA) or certified surgical assistant (CSA). Some surgical assistants step into the job after earning a surgical assistant degree from a certified program, while others begin as surgical technologists and receive additional training on the job to work their way up to a first assistant position. Surgical assistants also are referred to as first assistants or non-physician surgical assistants, McGraw said. 'These professionals can do all the work that Surgical Technologists do, but they often have a more hands-on role during the procedure.'Īccording to McGraw, surgical assistants help surgeons with tasks such as: 'Surgical assistants are also members of the operating room team,' said Brenda McGraw, CST, Surgical Technology Program Director at Concorde's campus in Memphis, Tenn.

A more hands-on role than a Surgical Technologist To discern these differences and similarities, we reached out to some of Concorde's Surgical Technologist Program Directors for their take. The role of a Surgical Assistant is much like that of a Surgical Technologist, yet also quite different. Many Surgical Technologists choose to take the next step in their educations to become Licensed Surgical Assistants. It's a career many find exciting, fast-paced, and very rewarding. As we teach and train in our Surgical Technologist degree and diploma programs and our new Surgical Technology Degree Completion Program that you can take online, the Surg tech supports physicians, nurses, and patients in the operating room preparing sterile fields, passing instruments and assisting the surgeon and patient.

We at Concorde are well aware of the role of the Surgical Technologist.

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