Surgical Technologist in Texas
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for TX
How to Become a Surgical Technologist in Texas
To become a Surgical Technologist in Texas, individuals must complete a surgical technology program accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES and pass a national certification exam. While Texas does not issue a state license, the Texas Medical Board mandates national certification, such as the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) credential from the NBSTSA or the Tech in Surgery-Certified (TS-C) from the NCCT. Certification must be maintained through continuing education, with 30 hours required every two years for CSTs. A criminal background check is typically required for program admission.
Surgical Technologist Requirements in Texas
| Detail | Texas |
|---|---|
| Licensing Body | Texas Medical Board |
| State License Required | No |
| Education | Completion of a CAAHEP accredited program or a program with equivalent curriculum. |
| Exam | NBSTSA Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) Exam ($340) |
| Renewal | Every 2.0 years |
| Continuing Education | 30.0 hours per cycle |
| Notes | Texas requires national certification rather than a state-issued license. Applicants must hold current national certification from the NBSTSA (CST) or NCCT (TS-C). Renewal requires maintaining this certification and completing 30 hours of continuing education every two years. A criminal background check is required for program admission. |
Source: Texas Medical Board
Surgical Technologist Salary in Texas
The median surgical technologist salary in Texas is $62,640 per year, which is 0.3% below the national median of $62,830.
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $37,520 |
| 25th | $48,300 |
| 50th (median) | $62,640 |
| 75th | $77,550 |
| 90th (experienced) | $85,660 |
Texas employs approximately 9,870 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 Texas Worth It?
Factors to consider: Texas's cost of living, the lack of a state license requirement, moderate job growth, low AI disruption risk, and your personal career goals.