Learn how to become a surgical technician/technologist (surgical tech) in Arkansas including information on certification/ licensing requirements, salaries and employment data.
Browse below to learn about the top accredited surgical tech schools near you in Arkansas and get started today by reaching out to your preferred schools for information on program structure, tuition and admissions criteria.
How to become a Surgical Tech in Arkansas
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 Arkansas, 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 maths as a prerequisite. You may also 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 Arkansas
| College | Metro Area | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas State University | Newport | asun.edu |
| Baptist Health College Little Rock | Little Rock | baptist-health.org |
| North Arkansas College | Harrison | northark.edu |
| Northwest Technical Institute | Springdale | nwti.edu |
| South Arkansas Community College | El Dorado | southark.edu |
| Southeast Arkansas College | Pine Bluff | seark.edu |
| University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | Little Rock | uams.edu |
| University of Arkansas Fort Smith | Fort Smith | uafs.edu |
Before you enrol in any surgical tech school it is strongly recommended that you confirm that it is fully accredited.
There are currently 8 accredited surgical technician programs in Arkansas – listed above.
You can also view the map below for more information on surgical technician programs in Arkansas.
Surgical Tech Salary Arkansas
| Average Salary | $40,960 |
|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $19.69 |
| Top 10% of Earners | $57,290 |
| Bottom 10% of Earners | $27,500 |
| # Employed | 1,120 |
According to the most up to date Bureau of Labor Statistics data released in March 2018 the average surgical technician salary in Arkansas is $40,960 – 15% less than the national average of $48,060.
This represents an hourly wage of $19.69.
Those in the top pay brackets for the profession in Arkansas earn an average salary of $57,290 whilst those in the lower pay brackets and in entry level positions earn an average of $27,500 per annum.
There are currently 1,120 persons working as surgical technicians in Arkansas.
Arkansas 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 Arkansas.
As can be seen from the table the highest average salaries for surgical techs in Arkansas are in the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers area whilst the highest number of surgical tech jobs are in Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers.
| Metro Area | Average Salary | Top 10% | Bottom 10% | # Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hot Springs | $39,750 | $58,060 | $22,530 | 70 |
| Jonesboro | $39,110 | $52,450 | $27,440 | 280 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $41,680 | $57,080 | $31,570 | 320 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $44,950 | $61,360 | $32,660 | 390 |
| Fort Smith | $40,770 | $52,000 | $32,200 | 160 |
Surgical Tech V’s Related Careers
The table below compares average surgical technician salary and employment in Arkansas with salary levels for related healthcare careers in the state.
| Salary | # Employed | |
|---|---|---|
| Surgical Technologist | $40,960 | 1,120 |
| Medical Assistant | $30,010 | 3,290 |
| Nursing Assistant | $23,970 | 18,040 |
| Dental Assistant | $33,860 | 2,750 |
| EMT Paramedic | $29,850 | 2,400 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $27,430 | 150 |
| Respiratory Therapy Tech | $46,100 | 300 |
| Veterinary Technician | $26,410 | 400 |
| Phlebotomy Technician | $28,750 | 1,080 |
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