Learn how to become a surgical technician/technologist (surgical tech) in Tennessee (TN) including information on the top surgical tech programs, certification and licensing requirements, as well as income and employment data.
Get started today by reaching out to surgical technician schools near you in Tennessee for information on program structure, curriculum, tuition and admission requirements.
How to become a Surgical Tech in Tennessee
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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee
| College | Metro Area | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga State Community College | Chattanooga | chattanoogastate.edu |
| Concorde Career College | Memphis | concorde.edu |
| Fortis Institute | Cookeville | fortisinstitute.edu |
| Miller-Motte Technical College | Clarksville | miller-motte.edu |
| Miller-Motte Technical College | Chattanooga | miller-motte.edu |
| Nashville State Community College | Nashville | nscc.edu |
| Northeast State Community College | Blountville | northeaststate.edu |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology | Crossville | tcatcrossville.edu |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology | Hohenwald | tcathohenwald.edu |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology | Jackson | tcatjackson.edu |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology | Knoxville | tcatknoxville.edu |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology | Murfreesboro | tcatmurfreesboro.edu |
Prior to enrolling in any surgical tech school it is strongly recommended that you confirm that it is fully accredited.
There are currently 12 accredited surgical technician programs in Tennessee – listed above.
You can also view the map below for more information on surgical technician programs in Tennessee.
Surgical Tech Salary Tennessee
| Average Salary | $43,310 |
|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $20.82 |
| Top 10% of Earners | $59,480 |
| Bottom 10% of Earners | $32,340 |
| # Employed | 2,970 |
According to the most up to date Bureau of Labor Statistics data released in March 2018 the average surgical technician salary in Tennessee is $43,310 – 10% below the national average of $48,060.
This represents an hourly wage of $20.82.
Those in the top pay brackets for the profession in Tennessee earn an average salary of $59,480 whilst those in the lower pay brackets and in entry level positions earn an average of $32,340 per annum.
There are currently 2,970 persons working as surgical technicians in Tennessee.
Tennessee 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 Tennessee.
As can be seen from the table the highest average salaries for surgical techs in Tennessee are in the Johnson City area whilst the highest number of surgical tech jobs are in Clarksville.
| Metro Area | Average Salary | Top 10% | Bottom 10% | # Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson | $62,610 | $86,740 | $43,690 | 110 |
| Johnson City | $66,310 | $93,940 | $43,790 | 120 |
| Knoxville | $39,670 | $50,630 | $29,200 | 200 |
| Morristown | $42,990 | $56,450 | $33,040 | 180 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $59,000 | $78,400 | $43,090 | 1,000 |
| Clarksville | $58,310 | $77,570 | $42,930 | 1,250 |
| Memphis | $41,530 | $56,690 | $26,830 | 40 |
Surgical Tech V’s Related Careers
The table below compares average surgical technician salary and employment in Tennessee with salary levels for related healthcare careers in the state.
| Salary | # Employed | |
|---|---|---|
| Surgical Technologist | $43,310 | 2,970 |
| Medical Assistant | $31,490 | 13,640 |
| Nursing Assistant | $25,090 | 29,600 |
| Dental Assistant | $36,090 | 5,800 |
| EMT Paramedic | $36,850 | 20,250 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $27,460 | 470 |
| Respiratory Therapy Tech | $37,510 | 120 |
| Veterinary Technician | $33,130 | 1,680 |
| Phlebotomy Technician | $29,400 | 2,340 |
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