Get started with your new career in healthcare today and learn how to become a surgical technician/technologist (surgical tech) in Kentucky (KY).
We have information on all the top accredited schools and colleges nearest to you offering surgical tech programs, certification/ licensing requirements, and salaries and employment data for aspiring surgical technicians in Kentucky.
How do I become a Surgical Tech in Kentucky?
- In order to become a surgical technician in Kentucky 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 Kentucky
| College | Metro Area | Website |
|---|---|---|
| American National University | Florence | an.edu |
| American National University | Lexington | national-college.edu |
| American National University | Louisville | an.edu |
| Ashland Community and Technical College | Ashland | kctcs.edu |
| Bluegrass Community and Technical College | Lexington | kctcs.edu |
| Hazard Community and Technical College | Hazard | kctcs.edu |
| Jefferson Community and Technical College | Louisville | kctcs.edu |
| Madisonville Community College | Madisonville | kctcs.edu |
| Owensboro Community and Technical College | Owensboro | kctcs.edu |
| Somerset Community College | Somerset | kctcs.edu |
| Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College | Bowling Green | kctcs.edu |
| Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College | Pineville | kctcs.edu |
| Spencerian College | Louisville | spencerian.edu |
| St Catharine College | St Catharine | sccky.edu |
| West Kentucky Community and Technical College | Paducah | kctcs.edu |
Before you enrol 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 Kentucky – listed above.
You can also view the map below for more information on surgical technician programs in Kentucky.
How much do surgical techs make in Kentucky?
| Average Salary | $44,050 |
| Hourly Wage | $21.18 |
| Top 10% of Earners | $60,320 |
| Bottom 10% of Earners | $31,570 |
| # Employed | 1,780 |
According to the most up to date Bureau of Labor Statistics data released in March 2018 the average surgical technician salary in Kentucky is $44,050 – 8% less than the national average of $48,060.
This represents an hourly wage of $21.18.
Those in the top pay brackets for the profession in Kentucky earn an average salary of $60,320 whilst those in the lower pay brackets and in entry-level positions earn an average of $31,570 per annum.
There are currently 1,780 persons working as surgical technicians in Kentucky.
Kentucky 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 Kentucky.
As can be seen from the table the highest average salaries for surgical techs in Kentucky are in the Louisville/Jefferson County area whilst the highest number of surgical tech jobs are in Louisville/Jefferson County.
| Metro Area | Average Salary | Top 10% | Bottom 10% | # Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green | $38,840 | $48,740 | $32,370 | 50 |
| Lexington-Fayette | $39,470 | $54,600 | $27,520 | 50 |
| Owensboro | $41,730 | $54,550 | $31,880 | 70 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $52,240 | $71,030 | $34,810 | 2,440 |
Surgical Tech V’s Related Careers
A career as a surgical technician offers great income potential and excellent job prospects with growth of over 11% projected between 2016 and 2024.
See how the average surgical technician salary and employment in Kentucky compare with the salary levels for related healthcare careers in the state.
| Salary | # Employed | |
|---|---|---|
| Surgical Technologist | $44,050 | 1,780 |
| Medical Assistant | $31,050 | 8,640 |
| Nursing Assistant | $25,920 | 23,880 |
| Dental Assistant | $34,900 | 4,320 |
| EMT Paramedic | - | - |
| Pharmacy Technician | $30,920 | 70 |
| Respiratory Therapy Tech | $42,340 | 160 |
| Veterinary Technician | $31,880 | 1,380 |
| Phlebotomy Technician | $30,340 | 2,160 |
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