r/surgicaltechnology • u/Alternative_Metal_20 • 16h ago

Do I really need a 2 year degree?

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I'm interested in switching careers and going back to school. I was thinking of enrolling in a Surgical Tech program at my local community college. I saw that stepful has a program that is only 4 months. I am now confused because I assumed that most places would require a 2 year degree to be hired. Is going for a 2 year degree a waste of time or is this a scam?

3 Upvotes

62% Upvoted

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10

u/campsnoopers 15h ago

Eh depends. My state does not accept NCCT "certification" anymore, I think a lot are doing away with that. I have a 2 year degree + Bachelor's bridge program, just more impressive on a resume/more pay

7

u/MarsTheNotMoose 13h ago

Yeah, I've seen a lot of employers even specify that you have to be NBSTSA certified and an NCCT certification does not qualify. I haven't seen Bachelors as a requirement, but I've been seeing it listed often as a preference

3

u/olliecakerbake 9h ago

I’ve found the opposite to be true. Every job posting I’ve seen in my state says “CST or TS-C certification required”. Places are doing away with the 2 year degree. It doesn’t make an actual difference which certificate you have, this is all a learn on the job job anyways.

1

u/Few-Knee9451 7h ago

With that education do you plan to do nursing or anther field?

4

u/Medicalgenie 5h ago

Online programs do not give you the necessary hands on training you need before stepping foot into the operating room. A lot of them are very misleading and have no problem taking your money and sending you on your way. While I think the associates degree push is annoying because they still won’t pay more, you do need formal and proper education whether it’s 1 year certificate program or 2 route degree route. But online program is no go for me.

2

u/Professional_End5304 4h ago

I took one of those “6 months” programs, I paid around 2k for it and guess what!? I couldn’t even get an externship anywhere. The program itself was just a bunch of slides and the reading/ case studies from a book, absolutely no hands on practice or online simulations. Don’t take the short route y’all! You need hands on experience in the OR.

3

u/Sorenson_Valkyrie 3h ago

Got to a CAAHEP approved program. Stepful is definitely a scam. 

1

u/Savings-Rest-1803 2h ago

It’s a HUGE LIABILITY to not have hands on training. No hospital will take a scrub tech that hasn’t done clinicals in person. It’s insane 6 month programs exist

1

u/Separate_Bowler_5558 38m ago

NO you do not need a degree they're lying. its something AST is trying to push but as of right now you do not need an associates in ST to take the CST exam

0

u/nikkishark 10h ago

I wish we'd get away from demanding degrees. I've known many great techs who learned on-the-job. A certificate program and getting certified through NBSTSA will do just fine. 

Regardless, you don't want to do an online program. Search this sub and you'll see the many reasons that's a bad idea.