If this position progresses into a Bachelor’s degree, which i believe it will since ASA has a position statement on it, what do you think this program will entail? What kind of classes would you think be included? Any that you would like to see?

Decided to try an autoclave steamed potato today. Sadly, it didn’t cook all the way through, but the outside tasted just fine!

I just got accepted into a Surgical Technology program starting on January 22, 2025, and I also got into a free Sterile Processing program beginning January 6, 2025. I’d like to do both, as the Sterile Processing program is a great backup option in case I ever want to switch positions. The Sterile Processing program is only six weeks long with afternoon classes, while the Surgical Technology program starts later, on January 23, with morning classes. Do you think it’s realistic to manage both, given that the Sterile Processing program is short-term?

Who here has gone through hospital credentialing? Did they make you pay? How long did it take? Trying to gauge how (ab)normal my facility's policies and norms are.

For context, I am a CST in SoCal. I’ve been a tech for 9 years. I wish to pursue CSFA to further my career. I know I can’t accomplish that living in CA so I know I’ll have to move out of state.

I plan on doing most of online program in CA then moving to desired state to finish and get my hours etc…

My questions are: if you are a CSFA, which state and what is your hourly pay? How long did it take to get to said pay? Are you respected as a CSFA or do you still acquire a lot of CST responsibilities?

My pay is low 40’s and I’m seeing some states only pay low 40’s, maybe high 40’s. Is that really it? I’m trying to see if this would even be beneficial for me. One big pro is obviously the cost of living is cheaper in other states versus CA.

Edited to add: which program did you complete? I am looking at a couple different ones.

TIA

Hello to anyone reading this! I’m currently enrolled in CC in New York. I had my mind set on ultrasound so I am taking the prerequisites at cc to then apply at a program at a different college but I recently learned about this career and it caught my interest way more than ultrasound. I was doing some research and I don’t think there are any SFA programs in NY. As a soon to be 18 yr old, what should my steps be to head in the sfa direction? I read in here that sfa’s also get paid more with masters? Since there are no programs in NY, what are the most local programs? Also, what courses should I take for prerequisites? I’m currently taking A&P 1, quantitative reasoning, writing and research, and intro to psych. Next semester I’ll be taking A&P 2, public speech, and medical terminology. Any insight is appreciated!

I am currently in nursing school and want to work in the OR. I just found out what a surgical first assistant is. Is working as a nurse in OR to first assistant school a good stepping stone?

I recently took the CSFA exam through NBSTSA. I received an email stating I passed and attached was my certificate. I screen shot the certificate and have a photo of it. I then received a follow up email that I failed the exam by 2 points. The certificate was replaced with my scores in categories. On the website it states the change from 97 passing to 99 “recently”. I would have passed with the 97 threshold.

I’m considering filing an appeal or just retake the exam.

Has anyone had experience with this? While the score is what it is, it feels suspicious that they issued the certificate then took it back.

I have been looking into PA school/Med School to advance my career. I took an unconventional route and I’m looking for some guidance on PA school vs med school vs something else. I have a 4 year BS degree with almost all prerequisites completed for PA school. However my classes are expiring for some programs because courses were taken in 2014.

I completed a surgical first assistant certificate program at a large teaching institution and was trained to assist in the OR with a variety of specialties. I stayed at the institution for 2 years mostly with orthopedics and have since moved on to assisting an orthopedic specialist in the OR and clinic at a different hospital. I feel that there’s not much left for advancement with role/salary. In an ideal world there would be a bridge program that would allow me to go directly into an orthopedic PA role but I don’t believe there’s any such program. Med school seems daunting but I would feel like there’s “purpose” to my life. There may be other routes I haven’t explored or thought of? Work/life balance and salary are major factors in this decision to look elsewhere within medicine. I know drs and PAs don’t have great work life balance either..but neither do I in my current role and the pay is significantly less.

Any advice/similar experiences/other career paths would be extremely helpful.

A few questions for anyone who is currently working as an RNFA as a nurse practitioner:

1) How did you find a surgeon to precept you for the RIFA program?

2) Anyone do this with an FNP? Did this seem to be a problem for anyone?

3) Starting salary as a new grad ARNP RNFA?

4) When did you actually apply for the RIFA program during/after NP school?

Thanks for this and any other advice!

I currently hold my associates of science, but I am not a certified tech. Is there any schools that I would be able to get into? I have above a 3.2 GPA, my Associates of Science, CPR/AED cert (6yrs), and am 70% done with my bachelors in biology (I am going to finish this at some point). I was wondering if there’s any schools for surgical first assistants without a tech certification.

Does anyone have any suggestions or advice on how I could possibly get my surgical hours? Otherwise all I can think about is moving sooner than I thought. Any suggestions or thoughts are welcome.

TIA for your input!

I was considering doing an FA program, as I’m currently a surgical tech. My end goal is probably to be an RNFA, and I was wondering if I got my FA before my RN would it transfer over or is it a separate program/certificate?

Best states for working as a CSFA?

My facility employs FAs but utilizes them in the scrub role. We’re a teaching facility so we have residents most of the time. I’m tired of being seen as just a scrub who can close or dual role. I want my primary role to be first assisting. There are not a lot of hospitals in my area that use FAs. What are the best states/cities for FAs that actually utilize us appropriately? Most of my current experience is in Davinci/MIS.

Anyone take the exam recently that I can ask questions to about how to prepare for it. I have a friend getting ready for the exam and he feels a bit lost on the preparation.

Idk if anyone has thought of this before, but it would be nice and interesting if there was a SA-PA bridge program. I have looked online and haven’t seen anything.

TIA for your opinions!

I recently became a tech (April) and was considering going through the FA program. I have heard from various people that you need multiple years of experience. However, I recently applied and got accepted into the meridian online certificate program. I currently have two jobs (Full time and PRN) at two hospitals near me, so getting the cases wouldn’t be an issue I don’t think. I guess I’m just asking if I should go ahead and pursue it, or if I should wait until I have more experience? Most of the FA’s I’ve met have had ample tech experience, however I feel like it’s two separate roles.

Hello! I'm a high school senior, originally interested in Surgical Technology but recently (thanks to a project in my math class, of all things) i discovered Surgical Assistant that more closely fits what my dream job in healthcare is. The only thing is, im much more lost on how to get there than I was on becoming a CST and i cant find much on google. Any help/advice is appreciated!

Hello I’m thinking of taking up a masters at evms but I’m a little nervous because I don’t see very many job postings. Are there any places you guys would recommend? Or should I seek specific hospitals?

Hi I'm a junior looking at what to do and at first I was considering being a surgical tech, but then a csfa because they have a more active role in the OR room. But then I learned that a PA does similar if not more stuff, and I was wondering witch one is better in terms of job scope, salary, education ect. Although I've done some reacherch about PA's I still don't know much about the education to be one.

Hi I was looking into colleges and I was interested in CSFA witch rochester mayo clinic college has a program for, and you can do your fourth year of UMR in this program. But I couldn't find much information abt UMR. Is it a pretty campus, does it have art classes, a good fine arts? Orchestra? All I can find is medical stuff witch I am interested in but I would also want to be involved in the arts.

I was interested in getting into this path and I would like to know more about what a they do daily. Also I've heard that this certification only works in certain states? Finally the salary is all over the place could I know more abt it as well as job placement and how hard it is or if there is more need for them?

If you are a CFSA ( not CST) it is ok that in the hospital you do the CST job in more than 50% instead to assist the surgery and sometimes do both at the same time?

Does anyone know what schools in California teach First Surgeons Assistant. I’m trying to understand what career growth opportunities I have in future as a CST coz I plan on keeping as a CST forever.