Questions on how to become the 1st assistant

What do you have to in order to be the 1st assistant? I am trying to get into the surgical tech program at Houston Community College. Dose anyone have any adive on the college or the best hospital do to hrs at? I was thinking Memorial Herman-Downtown. I am hoping to get on with heart or neuro team I hear those pay more.

To become a first assistant you have to take an additional exam than your CST exam. It is VERY VERY hard. Here in Jax there are only 4 CST/CFA's. You also have to have a certain number of hours worked before you are eligible to sit for the CFA exam.

Ashley Clarke in Jacksonville, Florida said: To become a first assistant you have to take an additional exam than your CST exam. It is VERY VERY hard. Here in Jax there are only 4 CST/CFA's. You also have to have a certain number of hours worked before you are eligible to sit for the CFA exam.

WRONG.. they offer CFA schools now you can go directly to and skip the CST process and the whole getting a certain amount of hours under a sponsor surgeon. Jessica just look up CFA schools.. they are very limited and i dont think there are any in texas though. I too am from Houston going out on extern for Surgical tech in 6 weeks.

You really shouldn't correct someone in ALL CAPS, unless you are 100% sure on your information IKE. I am in fact RIGHT, those schools you see are offering CFA prep courses. The Exam for First Assistants is insane as far as difficulty level. Thats why there are so few practicing in the field. They prepare you for the Exam. You do not skip being a CST and jump straight to CFA. Hence the title CSTFA.

It's NEVER a good idea to post inaccurate information on these forums.

FYI if you are correcting someone & you are 100% POSITIVE that they are wrong & you are right it is VERY RUDE to type WRONG... and then give your information. It's ALOT more courteous.

LOL ash clark or whatever you're ignorance is outrageous. I wonder how you even passed your CST training. Ugh I pray for every patient you're in the OR with. Now GENIUS, allow me to educate you since its obvious you're stupid. A First assistant of the surgeon includes but is NOT LIMITED TO any one of the following... a CSTFA (Certified Surgical Technologist First Assistant) , RNFA (Registered Nurse First Assistant) , and a CSA (Certified Surgical Assistant).. ALL of those are FIRST ASSISTANTS.. and CSA AND RNFA's have their own schooling which is about 2 years long..

www.caahep.org/Find_An_Accredited_Program.aspx

www.surgicaltechsuccess.com/surgicaltechfrequentlyaskedquestions.html

Maybe before opening your mouth you should actually read about the profession you're actually in, OR talk to some CFAs, which i've done on multiple occassions. So scroll down about half way through the ST FAQ and try to comprehend that there are multiple ways to become a CFA and that being a CST is not the only option.

SO.. before YOU decide to correct ME on my posts, maybe you should do a little research of your own because its obvious you dont know S#*T. Yeah so about posting INNACCURATE INFORMATION.. perhaps you should heed your own advice first. just my .02

Ike in New Orleans, Louisiana said: WRONG.. they offer CFA schools now you can go directly to and skip the CST process and the whole getting a certain amount of hours under a sponsor surgeon. Jessica just look up CFA schools.. they are very limited and i dont think there are any in texas though. I too am from Houston going out on extern for Surgical tech in 6 weeks.

There are tons of first assist in texas and you really should be a surgical tech to gain proper experience. the job is hard but well worth it if thats what you chose...you'll need at least 100 surgeries behind you that you actually assisted on.. aslo there is a 2 week suture class you can take but is not required, after the hours and surgeries you can test...

Cindy,

I am under the impression that you need a Dr.'s support to test for this, is that correct? Also, how hard is the test?

well with each surgery you assist on the doctor signs off saying yes you assisted under his direction.... the test i say is just as hard as the tech test..... well a little harder, but with the time you put in and good studying , it can be done... and with tech experience that does help.... theres also that suture class which is good to. id say dont go into it blind... it us a challange but it can be done... your role is way more demanding after wards andthe expect you to be just as good as a surgeon if not better.... youve got to be several steps ahead and have more hand than youve got... but once the money starts coming in, the pay off and hard work is worth it...

Thanks Cindy!

By the way, how long were you a Surg Tech, how'd you like it? And did you have a hard time finding a job once you graduated?

I'm starting Surg Tech school in Sept. and am completing Microbiology Tuesday of next week.

I have a lot of questions and am having a difficult time getting answers. If you don't mind please email me at jeff@jeffkirkwood.com

Thanks again!

had an extremly hard time finding a job!

I am looking for a partner for my office. I am the owner of a surgical Assistant company in Houston, Texas. My cell is 713-898-5424. Also see website www.saogh.com, I am in the process of moving my office off 290.

Dennis Marrero, C.S.T., C.F.A.-O.S., L.S.A., O.P.A.-C
Surgical Assistants of Greater Houston
Houston Surgical Assistants, L.L.C.

I have been a surgical technician for 5 years now. I took my course from an accredited school. Unfortunately, I never sat for the CST test, because of family situations here and there. I am very interested in becoming a first assist. Living in New york, I believe they dont recognize first assists? Am I correct on that? I am somewhat close to New Jersey, Connecticut and PA. What would I need to do, where should I check out for schooling, also, is first assists recognized in these other states? Any information that anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time.

Give Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting a call. (www.meridian-institute.com) They are the largest program in the country and most importantly they are Accredited.They are an online program that you can complete in 12 months or less and you can do it all from home. I believe you may be right about New York but if you have other options then it's worth it. You DO NOT have to be a CST.

Hi there, a foreign MD could go and just take the CFA or CST exam and if passed it could be elegible to work as a CST or CFA?

no you have to have attended an accredited surgical tech program..

thanks

So How can a international graduate surgical assistant or any other foreign OR operative get the certification?

By attending an accredited Surgical Technology Program. I suggest visiting the AST website for more info. www.ast.org/

Ok

I'm 22 & recently graduated from an accredited school with my diploma in Surgical Tech (JULY 2008), however the area that i live the hospital is not hiring( when they are they want someone who is certified) and the hospitals &/or outpatient clinics that are hiring are 30+ miles away, so i would be loosing money driving back & fourth considering the job i have now is less than 2 mins away & i do make pretty good money for the area that i live in, are there any jobs that i could possibly get as a surgical tech besides in a hospital setting?? Also how hard would it be to become hired as a tech working for an open heart team as a recent graduate?? During my clinical trials i was able to assist w/ guidance in open heart surgery 3 times!!! I understand how big of an achievement that was considering that most people even when certified don't even get a chance to experience that at all. I don't want to loose the education and epically the hands on experience, ANY info is greatly appreciated

GET CERTIFIED ITS 300 BUCKS AT AST

I think that we need to squash the misconceptions on all of these posts. This is in FACT how you become a First Assistant in surgery. 1. Be a PA-C with surgical training, 2. Be a surgeon yourself (MD or DO), 3. Be an RN with a B.S. in nursing, have two years OR experience and sit for the CNOR exam which will enable you to go through an additional year of school to sit for the CRNFA exam, 4. Have some or no surgical training (i.e., you do not have to be a surg tech) and complete the two year surgical assistant program at Eastern Virginia Medical School and sit for the CSA credentialling exam, there are also CSA programs at Mayo Clinic (MN), Aultman Hopsital (OH), and the military, 5. For CSTs (Certified Surgical Technologists with credential earned from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting)you must either have two years surgical assistant experience within the last three years, signed affidavits from surgeons and your employer showing you have a minimum of 350 cases completed in that time, be able to gain eligibility and pass the CFA exam. Or you can (and this is the best option in my opinion) be a CST and go through a CAAHEP accredited surgical assistant program. There are ten of them nation wide now. These schools will allow you to qualify for both the CFA and CSA credentials. Different schools have different acceptance requirements and lengths of training. Generally surgical assistant programs require an A.S. degree, two years CST experience, certification from NBSTSA, and shining recommendations. Most are 1-2 years in length. Be careful though of schools that are not accredited that will lie to you to get your money and not be able to TRUELY certify you through an agency that means anything (i.e., don't go through NIFA, High-TEC, or anything not on the list of schools on the CAAHEP website). The only credentials that are recognized are the CFA, CSA and SA-C (SA-C not recognized in all states). Hope that helps clear it up.

Anyone know of any accredited schools in Houston texas?

I am a CST and am considering pursuing the glorious title of CFA however, I don't know if the pay is much better. In fact, I have no idea what kinda cabbage these folks take home? I'd like to know before I start just to see if it will be worth it all, ya know? Thanks

I just got my CFA recently and am interviewing with a hospital that will potentially pay me double what I make now. Some hospitals pay less, maybe five bucks an hour more than a CST, but it is still worth it. If you get a couple of years experience, you can really do well. Once you establish yourself and advance your skill set, the potential is there to make a lot more. It just depends on where you are willing to look for work, and how good you are.

cindy in Austin, Texas said: had an extremly hard time finding a job!

Hi Cindy, I'm considering obtaining a certificate from ACC in surgical technology - you said you had a hard time finding a job? I was under the impression these jobs were in high demand (as in: www.indeed.com , search "surgical tech"). Do you know why it is so hard to find a job? thanks very much, -Steve

thank you for responding to my questions. I put a call out today for some more answers to questions I have regarding this career path. It's CFA or RN? On the fence right now. Thanks again.

Jessica in Houston, Texas said: What do you have to in order to be the 1st assistant? I am trying to get into the surgical tech program at Houston Community College. Dose anyone have any adive on the college or the best hospital do to hrs at? I was thinking Memorial Herman-Downtown. I am hoping to get on with heart or neuro team I hear those pay more.

I am a recent graduate and the CFA's I know are all working under a surgeon as their private scrub. I believe that in Missouri, you have to be under a surgeons direction and take additional coursework, although i am not sure where.

whatha hell is in Missouri City, Texas said: thank you for responding to my questions. I put a call out today for some more answers to questions I have regarding this career path. It's CFA or RN? On the fence right now. Thanks again.

You can become a CFA in about a year vs. the time it will take to become an Rn and have the potential in Tx to make twice to three time what an RN does. Seems to me there wouldn't be much question.

I've been in the OR for nine years, the first 4 years as a CST, the last five as a RN. When considering nursing school, I have a bit of advice, don't expect a huge increase in salary. In 2004, when I graduated with my nursing license, my pay rate increased $3 from $18.50/hr as a CST. Needless to say, I was crushed that I would not make more. However, now, with 5 years experience as a RN, and those very important 4 years as a CST, I make over 70k a year. What's very important in any field, is to stay on top of your game. If there is a certification to be had, get it. It really will give you an edge. You can never have too much education in the health care field.

Good Luck!

thank you very much. I'm going back into this after 10 years. I work at St. Lukes Hospital in Sugarland texas. It's brand new. I'm getting my skills back now after a month of getting back into it. My plan is to obtain my RN and then become a licensed first assistant. I've spoken with many at my job and they said the pay difference is quite substantial. We'll see. I have a 4 year old and am now regretting not having finished my degree in something. Time to get back to before I'm too dam old.