Surgical Technologist in California
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for CA
How to Become a Surgical Technologist in California
To become a Surgical Technologist in California, while a state license is not required, national certification is highly recommended and often a requirement for employment. Candidates typically complete a surgical technologist program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). Upon completion, individuals can pursue certification through the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) by passing the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) exam, or through the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) by passing the Tech in Surgery – Certified (TS-C) exam. Certification must be renewed every two years for CSTs, requiring 30 continuing education credits, or annually for TS-Cs, requiring 14 continuing education credits.
Surgical Technologist Requirements in California
| Detail | California |
|---|---|
| Licensing Body | National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) or National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) |
| State License Required | No |
| Education | Completion of a surgical technologist program accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES, or a military surgical-technician training program. Some employers may accept 3 years of experience as a surgical tech for the TS-C exam. |
| Exam | Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) exam or Tech in Surgery – Certified (TS-C) exam ($290) |
| Renewal | Every 2.0 years |
| Continuing Education | 30.0 hours per cycle |
| Notes | California does not have state-level licensing or registration requirements for Surgical Technologists. However, most employers prefer or require national certification. The CST exam costs $190 for AST members and $290 for non-members. The TS-C exam costs $199. CST renewal fee is $40 every two years, plus a $100 late fee if renewing 1-90 days after expiration. TS-C renewal fee is $77 annually. A high school diploma or GED is generally required for program entry. Some programs require clinical hours (e.g., 540 hours or 90-120 cases). |
Surgical Technologist Salary in California
The median surgical technologist salary in California is $81,120 per year, which is 29.1% above the national median of $62,830.
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $57,070 |
| 25th | $66,660 |
| 50th (median) | $81,120 |
| 75th | $96,830 |
| 90th (experienced) | $114,390 |
California employs approximately 10,570 surgical technologists.
Surgical Technologist Job Outlook
AI Impact on Surgical Technologists
Low AI Exposure (Score: -0.48/1.00)
This career has low exposure to AI automation. Most tasks require physical presence, human judgment, or hands-on skills that AI cannot easily replicate.
Is Becoming a Surgical Technologist in California Worth It?
Factors to consider: California's cost of living, the lack of a state license requirement, moderate job growth, low AI disruption risk, and your personal career goals.