Surgical Assistant Career Guide

A surgical assistant is a specialized member of the operating room team who provides critical support and hands-on aid to surgeons during operations of all kinds. These skilled healthcare professionals are close to the action and play a direct role in ensuring patients receive high-quality care during surgical procedures.

This career demands hands-on dexterity, technological skill, and a team approach. The OR is a highly specialized environment, and surgical assistants are vital to the success of operations.

What’s the Difference Between a Surgical Assistant vs Technician?

Surgical assistants and surgical technicians work closely together, and both are vital members of the OR team. Despite this, there are essential differences between these two career paths:  

• Surgical assistants provide hands-on assistance and “scrub in” to the surgery. They help the surgeon by closing wounds, holding incisions open, and handling various surgical instruments.  
• Surgical technicians support the entire OR team before, during, and after surgery. They do not “scrub in” or provide hands-on during surgery but focus on setting up the OR room, maintaining a sterile environment, and organizing equipment.
• Certification for surgical assistants and surgical techs are similar. The National Board of Surgical Technology & Surgical Assisting (NBTSA) certification is the gold standard for both professions. Check out our Surgical Assistant Certification Guide for more information.

Surgical assistants may care for patients of all ages during surgery and directly assist the surgeon with hands-on care. They are closely familiar with the surgeries they help with and are experts in surgical procedures and care.

The surgical assistant job description includes the following:

• Anticipating the needs of the surgeon and the course of the operation. A skilled surgical assistant will often know what a surgeon needs before they even ask!
• Operating room set-up and clean-up.
• Ensuring required surgical tools and equipment are sterile, set up, and ready for use.
• Using suction to keep the surgical area clear, clean, and easily visible to the surgeon.
• Assisting the surgeon with cutting tissue, clamping blood vessels, and other procedural needs.
• Monitoring the surgical area for bleeding and clotting.
• Suturing, closing, and dressing the surgical incision or wounds.

What is a Surgical First Assistant?

Surgical assistants can also be called surgical first assistants or “first assists.” They are the closest person to the surgery, besides the actual surgeons themselves!

The roles and responsibilities of surgical assistants can vary between facilities, surgeries, and from surgeon to surgeon. Surgical assistants are highly-trained professionals who can perform a wide range of operating room functions.

There are many paths you can take to become a surgical assistant. All of them start with a high school diploma. Here’s a closer look at each of them:

• Obtain a degree or certificate in a health-related field. An associate's degree or bachelor’s degree is required for this profession.
• Complete an accredited surgical assistant training program recognized by the National Surgical Assistant Association (NSAA). These programs are typically one to two years in length.    
• Registered nurses who work in the ORs often choose to become first assistants in addition to operating registered nurses. This path is called a registered nurse first assistant (RNFA).
• How long does it take to become a surgical assistant? The answer depends on the path you take to get there, and ranges from two to four years.