J-1 Visa Surgical First Assistant Jobs

Surgical First Assistant positions in the United States are accessible to qualified international professionals through the J-1 Trainee or J-1 Specialist program category, depending on your experience level and program goals. Securing a host employer willing to coordinate with a State Department-designated sponsor organization is the first step toward obtaining J-1 sponsorship.

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Overview

Open Jobs18+
Top Visa TypeJ-1
Work Type94% On-site
Median Salary$29K
Top LocationMilwaukee, WI
Most JobsAtrium Health

Showing 5 of 18+ Surgical First Assistant jobs

Agiliti Health, Inc.
DOD SkillBridge Instrumentation Surgical Equipment Repair Technician Internship
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Agiliti Health, Inc.
Added 2mo ago
DOD SkillBridge Instrumentation Surgical Equipment Repair Technician Internship
Agiliti Health, Inc.
Novi, Michigan
Healthcare Administration
Clinical Support
Allied Health
Medical Assistant
Not listed
On-Site
High School

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Capital Health System, Inc.
Surgical Technician Intern - Periop - Hopewell - Full-time - Day
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Capital Health System, Inc.
Added 3d ago
Surgical Technician Intern - Periop - Hopewell - Full-time - Day
Capital Health System, Inc.
Pennington, New Jersey
Nursing
Healthcare Administration
Patient Services & Wellbeing
$37,900 - $37,900/yr
On-Site
High School

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AdventHealth Tampa
surgical Technician Intern
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AdventHealth Tampa
Added 1w ago
surgical Technician Intern
AdventHealth Tampa
Zephyrhills, Florida
Nursing
Healthcare Administration
Patient Services & Wellbeing
$15/hr - $22/hr
On-Site
Associate's
1,001-5,000

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Presbyterian Healthcare Services
Surgical Tech Internship
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Presbyterian Healthcare Services
Added 2w ago
Surgical Tech Internship
Presbyterian Healthcare Services
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Nursing
Allied Health
Healthcare Administration
Patient Services & Wellbeing
$15/hr - $22/hr
On-Site
High School
10,000+

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Stepful
Travel Clinical Educator, Surgical Technology
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Stepful
Added 3w ago
Travel Clinical Educator, Surgical Technology
Stepful
New York, New York
Teaching & Instruction
Healthcare Administration
Clinical Support
$80,000/yr - $95,000/yr
Hybrid
3+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's

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Tips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship as a Surgical First Assistant

Verify your credential equivalency before applying

U.S. host employers and designated sponsors will assess whether your surgical training meets American standards. Have your surgical first assisting credentials evaluated by a recognized credential evaluation service before you approach any host site.

Distinguish Trainee from Specialist for your situation

If you graduated within the last year and are still building supervised clinical experience, the J-1 Trainee category fits. If you hold advanced, independent surgical assisting experience beyond that window, pursue the J-1 Specialist category instead.

Target ambulatory surgery centers with structured training programs

Hospital systems and accredited ambulatory surgery centers are more likely to have HR infrastructure for coordinating DS-2019 paperwork with a designated sponsor. Prioritize host sites that already run formal surgical staff development programs.

Search Migrate Mate to find roles aligned with J-1 sponsorship

Use Migrate Mate to identify U.S. employers and Surgical First Assistant openings that are open to international professionals. Filtering by visa type saves you from pursuing host sites that have no pathway for exchange visitor coordination.

Confirm the two-year home residency requirement upfront

Some J-1 Trainee and Specialist programs trigger a two-year home-country physical presence requirement after the program ends. Check your DS-2019 and country-specific exchange agreements before accepting an offer to avoid surprises when planning next visa steps.

Get the training plan countersigned before the DS-2019 is issued

The designated sponsor organization cannot issue your DS-2019 until a detailed training plan outlining your surgical assisting objectives is signed by both you and the host employer supervisor. Draft this document collaboratively with your host site well ahead of your intended start date.

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Surgical First Assistant J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions

Which J-1 program category applies to Surgical First Assistant roles?

Most Surgical First Assistants enter through the J-1 Trainee category if they are within five years of graduation or initial full-time employment in surgical assisting. Experienced professionals with a longer track record may qualify under the J-1 Specialist category. The Physician category applies only to licensed physicians in graduate medical education programs, so it does not fit this role.

Who actually sponsors the J-1 visa for a Surgical First Assistant?

The visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, such as Cultural Vistas or AIPT, not the hospital or surgery center where you work. That facility is your host employer. The designated sponsor issues the DS-2019 form, approves your training plan, and monitors your compliance throughout the exchange program. Your host employer coordinates with the sponsor but does not hold the sponsoring designation itself.

How do I find host employers open to J-1 exchange visitors in surgical assisting?

Search for Surgical First Assistant positions on Migrate Mate, which surfaces roles from U.S. employers that are open to international professionals and exchange visitor pathways. Once you identify a potential host site, confirm directly with their HR or hiring manager that they are willing to participate in a J-1 Trainee or Specialist program and coordinate with a designated sponsor organization.

Does the J-1 visa for this role carry a two-year home residency requirement?

It depends on your country of nationality, the source of program funding, and whether your skills are listed on the Exchange Visitor Skills List maintained by the State Department. If the requirement applies to you, you must return to your home country for two years before changing to most other U.S. visa categories. Review your DS-2019 and consult with your designated sponsor to clarify whether the requirement applies before you accept an offer.

Can a Surgical First Assistant work in multiple surgical specialties on a J-1 Trainee program?

Yes, provided each specialty rotation is documented in your approved training plan and falls within the program duration approved on your DS-2019. The designated sponsor must authorize any material changes to the training plan before you rotate into a new specialty. Unplanned rotations that were not pre-approved are a compliance violation and can jeopardize your J-1 status.

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