OPT Surgical First Assistant Jobs
Surgical First Assistant jobs on OPT require active work authorization, typically STEM OPT if your degree is in a qualifying health sciences or biological sciences field. Most employers require current CST or CSFA certification. Your 12- or 24-month OPT window and any STEM extension timeline matter when evaluating contract versus permanent roles.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Your job is more than a job.
Lakeview is committed to investing in the professional development of our surgical team. Candidates interested in minimally invasive and robotic surgery will have opportunities for specialized training, mentorship, and ongoing skills development as our robotics program continues to grow. Prior robotic experience is welcomed but not required.
As a Certified Surgical Technologist First Assist, you’re on the front-row of some incredible moments. With patient safety always top of mind, you’re right there, providing support during surgeries, anticipating the needs of the surgeon, and ensuring that everything is ready and in place.
Protecting patients from harm and maintaining the proper instrumentation during surgery, it’s all about preparation and anticipation so you check, recheck, and check once again. And when a new Surgical Assistant comes on board, you mentor and train as needed because you know healthcare is a team effort. And that’s what we love about you.
Your experiences, knowledge, skills, your empathy, compassion, personality, all of it adds up to you. And we’re excited to get to know you and find out what you’ll bring to this crucial surgical assistant role.
YOUR ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provide primary surgical assistance to the surgeons during the operative procedures.
- Prepare patients for surgery by washing and disinfecting incision sites.
- Use surgical instruments skillfully in ways consistent with their designs and purposes.
- Assure availability of instrumentation and supplies required for the surgical procedure prior to the case.
- Understand and practice principles of sterilization, universal precautions, hazardous materials management to process instruments, equipment and supplies through the stages of decontamination.
- Assist in transporting the patient postoperatively.
- Stay updated on the latest surgical technology, medical terminology and procedures.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum:
- 2 years of related experience
- Surgical Technology Diploma
- Surgical Tech-First Assist certification through The National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA)
WORK SHIFT:
Days (United States of America)
ABOUT LCMC HEALTH
LCMC Health is a community. Our people make health happen. While our NOLA roots run deep, our branches are the vessels that carry our mission of bringing the best possible care to every person and parish in Louisiana and beyond and put a little more heart and soul into healthcare along the way. Celebrating authenticity, originality, equity, inclusion and a little “come on in” attitude is the foundation of LCMC Health’s culture of everyday extraordinary.
Lakeview Hospital, the center of LCMC Health’s extraordinary community of care on the Northshore, provides the only Level II trauma center in St. Tammany Parish. Along with our signature healthcare and wellness services, we continuously adopt the latest treatments, technologies, and medical innovations to better serve our patients. Learn more about Lakeview Hospital and our nationally recognized standards of excellence for heart, stroke, orthopedic, and women’s care.
YOUR EXTRAS
- Deliver healthcare with heart.
- Give people a reason to smile.
- Put a little love in your work.
- Be honest and real, but with compassion.
- Bring some lagniappe into everything you do.
- Forget one-size-fits-all, think one-of-a-kind care.
- See opportunities, not problems – it’s all about perspective.
- Cheerlead ideas, differences, and each other.
- Love what makes you, you - because we do.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
LCMC Health is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
The above job summary is intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by people assigned to this work. This is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. LCMC Health reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet organizational needs as necessary.
SIMPLE THINGS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE
-
To get started, take your time to fully and accurately complete the application for employment. Incomplete applications get bogged down and are often eliminated due to missing information.
-
To ensure quality care and service, we may use information on your application to verify your previous employment and background.
-
To keep our career applications up-to-date, applications are inactive after 6 months and, therefore, require a new application for employment to be completed.
-
To expedite the hiring process, proof of citizenship or immigration status will be required to verify your lawful right to work in the United States.
INTRODUCTION
Your job is more than a job.
Lakeview is committed to investing in the professional development of our surgical team. Candidates interested in minimally invasive and robotic surgery will have opportunities for specialized training, mentorship, and ongoing skills development as our robotics program continues to grow. Prior robotic experience is welcomed but not required.
As a Certified Surgical Technologist First Assist, you’re on the front-row of some incredible moments. With patient safety always top of mind, you’re right there, providing support during surgeries, anticipating the needs of the surgeon, and ensuring that everything is ready and in place.
Protecting patients from harm and maintaining the proper instrumentation during surgery, it’s all about preparation and anticipation so you check, recheck, and check once again. And when a new Surgical Assistant comes on board, you mentor and train as needed because you know healthcare is a team effort. And that’s what we love about you.
Your experiences, knowledge, skills, your empathy, compassion, personality, all of it adds up to you. And we’re excited to get to know you and find out what you’ll bring to this crucial surgical assistant role.
YOUR ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provide primary surgical assistance to the surgeons during the operative procedures.
- Prepare patients for surgery by washing and disinfecting incision sites.
- Use surgical instruments skillfully in ways consistent with their designs and purposes.
- Assure availability of instrumentation and supplies required for the surgical procedure prior to the case.
- Understand and practice principles of sterilization, universal precautions, hazardous materials management to process instruments, equipment and supplies through the stages of decontamination.
- Assist in transporting the patient postoperatively.
- Stay updated on the latest surgical technology, medical terminology and procedures.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum:
- 2 years of related experience
- Surgical Technology Diploma
- Surgical Tech-First Assist certification through The National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA)
WORK SHIFT:
Days (United States of America)
ABOUT LCMC HEALTH
LCMC Health is a community. Our people make health happen. While our NOLA roots run deep, our branches are the vessels that carry our mission of bringing the best possible care to every person and parish in Louisiana and beyond and put a little more heart and soul into healthcare along the way. Celebrating authenticity, originality, equity, inclusion and a little “come on in” attitude is the foundation of LCMC Health’s culture of everyday extraordinary.
Lakeview Hospital, the center of LCMC Health’s extraordinary community of care on the Northshore, provides the only Level II trauma center in St. Tammany Parish. Along with our signature healthcare and wellness services, we continuously adopt the latest treatments, technologies, and medical innovations to better serve our patients. Learn more about Lakeview Hospital and our nationally recognized standards of excellence for heart, stroke, orthopedic, and women’s care.
YOUR EXTRAS
- Deliver healthcare with heart.
- Give people a reason to smile.
- Put a little love in your work.
- Be honest and real, but with compassion.
- Bring some lagniappe into everything you do.
- Forget one-size-fits-all, think one-of-a-kind care.
- See opportunities, not problems – it’s all about perspective.
- Cheerlead ideas, differences, and each other.
- Love what makes you, you - because we do.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
LCMC Health is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
The above job summary is intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by people assigned to this work. This is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. LCMC Health reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet organizational needs as necessary.
SIMPLE THINGS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE
-
To get started, take your time to fully and accurately complete the application for employment. Incomplete applications get bogged down and are often eliminated due to missing information.
-
To ensure quality care and service, we may use information on your application to verify your previous employment and background.
-
To keep our career applications up-to-date, applications are inactive after 6 months and, therefore, require a new application for employment to be completed.
-
To expedite the hiring process, proof of citizenship or immigration status will be required to verify your lawful right to work in the United States.
See all 43+ OPT Surgical First Assistant Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Surgical First Assistant
Verify your degree qualifies for STEM OPT
Surgical First Assistant roles often attract STEM OPT candidates with degrees in biological sciences or health informatics. Confirm your CIP code with your DSO before applying, since not all allied health degrees qualify for the 24-month STEM extension.
Target hospitals with established OPT hiring history
Large academic medical centers and health systems sponsor OPT workers more consistently than small surgical centers. Search Migrate Mate to identify employers who have actively hired OPT students in surgical or perioperative roles before.
Get certified before you start applying
Most employers require CSFA or CST credentials at the time of hire, not just at orientation. Sitting your boards before you begin applying removes a major hiring barrier and signals you are ready to work immediately upon authorization approval.
Apply early relative to your OPT start date
Surgical roles involve credentialing, background checks, and hospital privileging that can add four to six weeks beyond a standard hiring timeline. Apply at least two months before your authorized start date to avoid gaps in employment.
Address OPT proactively in your cover letter
Hiring managers in surgical settings often have limited immigration experience. A brief, factual sentence explaining that you hold current EAD authorization and are eligible to work without immediate visa sponsorship reduces friction and increases callback rates.
Understand how contract roles affect your OPT reporting
Per diem and locum surgical assistant positions count as valid OPT employment only if the work is directly related to your degree. Report changes in employer or employment type to your DSO within ten days to maintain status compliance.
Surgical First Assistant OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Surgical First Assistant on OPT?
Yes, provided the role is directly related to your degree field, typically surgical technology, health sciences, or a qualifying biological sciences program. You must have an approved EAD before your start date. If your degree qualifies as STEM, you may be eligible for a 24-month extension beyond the initial 12 months of OPT.
Do Surgical First Assistant employers typically sponsor H-1B visas after OPT?
Some do, but it varies significantly by employer type. Large academic medical centers and integrated health systems are more likely to sponsor H-1B visa petitions than independent surgery centers or small private practices. Migrate Mate lists Surgical First Assistant roles from employers with a documented history of OPT and visa sponsorship, which narrows your search considerably.
Does a Surgical First Assistant role qualify as STEM OPT employment?
It depends on your degree's CIP code, not the job title itself. Degrees in biological sciences, health informatics, or clinical laboratory science may qualify. Degrees in general surgical technology under a non-STEM CIP code typically do not. Confirm with your DSO and cross-check your degree against the official STEM designated degree program list before accepting a role under a STEM extension.
How does hospital credentialing affect my OPT employment timeline?
Hospital credentialing for surgical staff typically takes four to eight weeks and happens after you receive a conditional offer. This matters on OPT because you cannot begin working until both your EAD is active and credentialing is complete. Build this buffer into your job search timeline. Accepting an offer close to your OPT start date with no credentialing runway is a common mistake that creates unauthorized work gaps.
Can I work per diem or on short-term contracts as a Surgical First Assistant on OPT?
Yes, per diem and contract work is permitted under OPT as long as the position is related to your degree and you work at least 20 hours per week. However, each new employer or work site must be reported to your DSO within ten days. Frequent employer changes are permissible but require careful tracking to avoid status violations.