Get started with your new career in healthcare today and learn how to become a surgical technician/technologist (surgical tech) in Georgia.
We have information on all the top accredited surgical tech programs, certification/ licensing requirements, and salaries and employment data for aspiring surgical technicians in Georgia.
How to become a Surgical Tech in Georgia
A career as a surgical technician offers great income potential and excellent job prospects with growth of over 11% projected between 2016 and 2024.
In order to become a surgical technician in Georgia, you will need to complete an accredited surgical tech program. Surgical tech programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) as well as the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).
A high school diploma or similar is typically a requirement for admittance into such programs. Some schools may require certain subjects such as biology or math’s as a prerequisite. Additionally, you may be required to undergo some background checks and health screening as part of the admittance process.
Most surgical tech programs will typically take between 9 months and 2 years to complete depending on whether it is a certificate or degree program.
Once you have graduated from an accredited program you can then choose to sit the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) certification exams to become a Certified Surgical Technologist. Certification is not essential but it is generally preferred by employers and will help greatly with career advancement.
As of yet licensing for surgical technicians is only a requirement in a small number of states including Colorado, Illinois, Washington, Indiana, and DC.
Accredited Surgical Tech Programs in Georgia – 2023
| College | Metro Area | Degree | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany Technical College | Albany | Associate, Diploma | Program Page |
| Athens Technical College | Athens | Associate, Diploma | Program Page |
| Augusta Technical College | Augusta | Associate | Program Page |
| Central Georgia Technical College | Warner Robins | Associate | Program Page |
| Chattahoochee Technical College | Acworth | Associate | Program Page |
| Coastal Pines Technical College | Waycross | Associate | Program Page |
| Columbus Technical College | Columbus | Associate | Program Page |
| Georgia Northwestern Technical College | Rock Spring | Associate, Diploma | Program Page |
| Gwinnett Technical College | Lawrenceville | Associate, Diploma | Program Page |
| Lanier Technical College | Gainesville | Associate | Program Page |
| Savannah Technical College | Savannah | Associate | Program Page |
| Southern Crescent Technical College | Griffin | Associate, Diploma | Program Page |
| Southern Regional Technical College | Tifton | Associate, Diploma | Program Page |
| West Georgia Technical College | Waco | Associate | Program Page |
| Wiregrass Georgia Technical College | Valdosta | Associate | Program Page |
Before you enroll in any surgical tech school it is strongly recommended that you confirm that it is fully accredited.
There are currently 15 accredited surgical technician programs in Georgia – listed above. Alterius Career College in Norcross is also included on the CAAHEP accredited school list but we have not included it above as the school has requested to be withdrawn from the CAAHEP list from October 2023.
You can also view the map below for more information on surgical technician programs in Georgia.
Surgical Tech Salary Georgia
| Average Salary | $43,660 |
| Hourly Wage | $20.99 |
| Top 10% of Earners | $58,720 |
| Bottom 10% of Earners | $32,120 |
| # Employed | 3,790 |
According to the most up to date Bureau of Labor Statistics data released in March 2018 the average surgical technician salary in Georgia is $43,660 – 9% less than the national average of $48,060.
This represents an hourly wage of $20.99.
Those in the top pay brackets for the profession in Georgia earn an average salary of $58,720 whilst those in the lower pay brackets and in entry level positions earn an average of $32,120 per annum.
There are currently 3,790 persons working as surgical technicians in Georgia.
Georgia Surgical Tech Employment and Salaries by Metro Area
The table below details salary and employment levels for surgical technicians in the main cities and metro areas in Georgia.
As can be seen from the table the highest average salaries for surgical techs in Georgia are in the Savannah area whilst the highest number of surgical tech jobs are in Valdosta.
| Metro Area | Average Salary | Top 10% | Bottom 10% | # Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $45,400 | $58,870 | $34,170 | - |
| Athens-Clarke County | $38,250 | $49,180 | $30,600 | 50 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $53,940 | $68,080 | $42,200 | 180 |
| Macon | $47,910 | $61,640 | $35,950 | 200 |
| Rome | $48,270 | $62,110 | $35,860 | 90 |
| Savannah | $54,480 | $66,570 | $41,760 | 140 |
| Valdosta | $46,220 | $61,860 | $31,400 | 250 |
| Columbus | $48,220 | $62,180 | $33,430 | 130 |
| Augusta-Richmond County | $44,970 | $63,250 | $25,800 | 80 |
Surgical Tech V’s Related Careers
The table below compares average surgical technician salary and employment in Georgia with salary levels for related healthcare careers in the state.
| Salary | # Employed | |
|---|---|---|
| Surgical Technologist | $43,660 | 3,790 |
| Medical Assistant | $32,060 | 21,320 |
| Nursing Assistant | $24,840 | 36,270 |
| Dental Assistant | $36,980 | 9,900 |
| EMT Paramedic | $33,490 | 9,650 |
| Veterinary Technician | $31,340 | 2,940 |
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