OPT OR Tech Jobs
OR Tech jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with surgical technology, allied health, or biology backgrounds. Most roles require hands-on clinical training, which counts toward your practical training hours. Standard OPT gives you 12 months of work authorization, with STEM extensions available for qualifying degree programs.
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Monterey Park Hospital, a 101-acute care facility located in the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles County, is seeking an OR Tech II for our OR Department. This is a full-time, 8-hour evening shift position reporting to the Surgical Services Director.
Responsibilities:
Under the direction of the Surgical Services Director and Charge/Registered Nurse, the OR Technician II will perform a variety of technical duties to assist the surgical team and/or endoscopic team with surgical/endoscopy (GI) procedures. Duties include assisting the surgical/GI team in preparing and maintaining the sterile field with surgical and/or endoscopic procedures with the required instruments and supplies to complete the designated surgical procedure efficiently and cost effectively. The competent OR Technician II will pull, prepare, set-up and scrub routine, urgent and emergency surgical and endoscopy procedures and will perform other duties as required under the supervision of the Director/Charge RN or Staff RN. The OR Technician II assists in the maintenance of supply levels, cleaning and decontamination of equipment and instruments when needed. The OR Technician II will perform other duties as assigned by the Director or Charge RN within their scope of practice.
This position may provide direct patient care to adolescent, adult, geriatric patients and children. Employees in this position must be able to successfully complete the appropriate age specific competencies for this position.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Current Operating Room Technician Certification within 2 years of hire preferred.
- Diploma from an accredited Surgical Tech Program required.
- Current BLS (AHA) required.
Overview:
Monterey Park Hospital, a 101-acute care facility located in the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles County, is seeking an OR Tech II for our OR Department. This is a full-time, 8-hour evening shift position reporting to the Surgical Services Director.
Responsibilities:
Under the direction of the Surgical Services Director and Charge/Registered Nurse, the OR Technician II will perform a variety of technical duties to assist the surgical team and/or endoscopic team with surgical/endoscopy (GI) procedures. Duties include assisting the surgical/GI team in preparing and maintaining the sterile field with surgical and/or endoscopic procedures with the required instruments and supplies to complete the designated surgical procedure efficiently and cost effectively. The competent OR Technician II will pull, prepare, set-up and scrub routine, urgent and emergency surgical and endoscopy procedures and will perform other duties as required under the supervision of the Director/Charge RN or Staff RN. The OR Technician II assists in the maintenance of supply levels, cleaning and decontamination of equipment and instruments when needed. The OR Technician II will perform other duties as assigned by the Director or Charge RN within their scope of practice.
This position may provide direct patient care to adolescent, adult, geriatric patients and children. Employees in this position must be able to successfully complete the appropriate age specific competencies for this position.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Current Operating Room Technician Certification within 2 years of hire preferred.
- Diploma from an accredited Surgical Tech Program required.
- Current BLS (AHA) required.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in OR Tech
Lead with your clinical training credentials
Hospitals and surgical centers prioritize candidates with CST certification or accredited surgical tech program completion. Listing your clinical hours and credentialing status upfront signals job readiness and reduces employer hesitation around your OPT work authorization timeline.
Target health systems with established foreign national hiring
Large hospital networks like HCA Healthcare, Ascension, and CommonSpirit regularly hire international staff. These systems have HR infrastructure familiar with OPT work authorization, making the process smoother than approaching smaller independent surgical centers or specialty clinics.
Clarify your OPT timeline in your cover letter
State your OPT start date, expiration date, and whether you qualify for a STEM extension. Employers often decline OPT candidates due to timeline confusion, not unwillingness to hire. Proactive transparency removes that barrier before the interview stage.
Obtain CST certification before your OPT period begins
Certified Surgical Technologist credentials through NBSTSA significantly strengthen your candidacy. Many hospitals require or strongly prefer CST-certified candidates, and holding the credential shifts the conversation from visa logistics to your clinical qualifications.
Pursue roles at teaching hospitals and academic medical centers
Teaching hospitals affiliated with universities often have more experience navigating visa sponsorship and OPT transitions. They also tend to offer structured onboarding and mentorship, which supports international hires adjusting to U.S. surgical protocols and documentation standards.
Use Migrate Mate to find OPT-friendly surgical tech openings
Browse OR Tech listings on Migrate Mate, which is built specifically for F-1 OPT students. Filtering by OPT-friendly employers saves time and connects you directly with surgical centers and hospitals that actively hire international candidates.
OR Tech OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as an OR Tech on F-1 OPT?
Yes, OR Tech roles qualify as practical training under F-1 OPT when the work is directly related to your field of study. Surgical technology, allied health, and biology degree holders commonly qualify. Your DSO confirms eligibility, and you must have your EAD card in hand before your start date.
Do OR Tech employers typically sponsor visas after OPT ends?
Sponsorship varies by employer. Large health systems and academic medical centers are more likely to sponsor H-1B visa or other visas than smaller surgical centers. OR Tech roles can qualify as specialty occupations under H-1B if the position requires a degree in a specific field, though this is assessed case by case.
Does OR Tech work qualify for a STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree. If you graduated from a STEM-designated program such as biomedical science, biology, or health informatics, you may qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension. A surgical technology degree is typically not STEM-designated. Your DSO can confirm whether your specific CIP code qualifies.
Where can I find OR Tech jobs that are open to OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT and visa-sponsored job seekers. You can browse OR Tech listings from employers who are open to hiring international candidates, saving you from applying to roles where your work authorization status will disqualify you before the first interview.
Is CST certification required to work as an OR Tech on OPT?
Many hospital systems require or strongly prefer Certified Surgical Technologist credentials through NBSTSA, though requirements vary by state and employer. Holding CST certification before your OPT period begins strengthens your candidacy significantly and reduces employer concerns about training investment for a time-limited work authorization period.