OPT Surgical Technologist Jobs
Surgical Technologist jobs on OPT are available at hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and specialty clinics across the U.S. Most roles require CST certification or eligibility, and STEM OPT extension does not apply to this field. Standard OPT gives you 12 months to secure employer authorization.
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Get Access To All JobsLocation: Carmel, IN
Facility: Ascension St. Vincent
Department/Specialty: Surgery
Schedule: Day Full-time Four (10-hour) shifts, Monday through Friday 8:30am-10pm.
COMPENSATION
- Comprehensive health coverage: medical, dental, vision, prescription coverage and HSA/FSA options
- Financial security & retirement: employer-matched 403(b), planning and hardship resources, disability and life insurance
- Time to recharge: pro-rated paid time off (PTO) and holidays
- Career growth: Ascension-paid tuition (Vocare), reimbursement, ongoing professional development and online learning
- Emotional well-being: Employee Assistance Program, counseling and peer support, spiritual care and stress management resources
- Family support: parental leave, adoption assistance and family benefits
- Other benefits: optional legal and pet insurance, transportation savings and more
YOUR ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Prepares surgical operating suite with sterile drapes and sterile solutions as well as appropriate sterile and non-sterile instruments and supplies.
- Hands required/requested instruments and supplies to surgeon during surgery.
- Assists with preparing, transporting, positioning and draping patients.
- Maintains instruments in an organized manner and monitors/tracks instruments counts throughout procedures.
LICENSURE / CERTIFICATION / REGISTRATION
Required Credential(s):
- One or more of the following:
- Surgical Tech credentialed from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) obtained prior to hire date or job transfer date.
- Surgical Tech credentialed from the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) obtained prior to hire date or job transfer date.
- One or more of the following:
- BLS Provider obtained within 1 Month (30 days) of hire date or job transfer date. American Heart Association or American Red Cross accepted.
- Instructor specializing in Basic Life Support obtained within 1 Month (30 days) of hire date or job transfer date. American Heart Association or American Red Cross accepted.
Education
High School diploma equivalency with 2 years of cumulative experience OR Associate's degree/Technical degree OR 4 years of applicable cumulative job specific experience required.
Ascension is a leading nonprofit Catholic health system with a culture and associate experience grounded in service, growth, care and connection. We empower our 99,000+ associates to bring their skills and expertise every day to reimagining healthcare, together. Recognized as one of the Best 150+ Places to Work in Healthcare and a Military-Friendly Gold Employer, you'll find an inclusive and supportive environment where your contributions truly matter.
Equal employment opportunity employer
Ascension provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all associates and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex/gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, lactation, breastfeeding, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, all as defined by applicable law, and any other legally protected status or characteristic in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. For further information, view the EEO Know Your Rights (English) poster or EEO Know Your Rights (Spanish) poster.
Fraud prevention notice
Prospective applicants should be vigilant against fraudulent job offers and interview requests. Scammers may use sophisticated tactics to impersonate Ascension employees. To ensure your safety, please remember: Ascension will never ask for payment or to provide banking or financial information as part of the job application or hiring process, our legitimate email communications will always come from an @ascension.org email address; do not trust other domains, and an official offer will only be extended to candidates who have completed a job application through our authorized applicant tracking system.
E-Verify statement
Employer participates in the Electronic Employment Verification Program. Please click here for more information.
Location: Carmel, IN
Facility: Ascension St. Vincent
Department/Specialty: Surgery
Schedule: Day Full-time Four (10-hour) shifts, Monday through Friday 8:30am-10pm.
COMPENSATION
- Comprehensive health coverage: medical, dental, vision, prescription coverage and HSA/FSA options
- Financial security & retirement: employer-matched 403(b), planning and hardship resources, disability and life insurance
- Time to recharge: pro-rated paid time off (PTO) and holidays
- Career growth: Ascension-paid tuition (Vocare), reimbursement, ongoing professional development and online learning
- Emotional well-being: Employee Assistance Program, counseling and peer support, spiritual care and stress management resources
- Family support: parental leave, adoption assistance and family benefits
- Other benefits: optional legal and pet insurance, transportation savings and more
YOUR ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Prepares surgical operating suite with sterile drapes and sterile solutions as well as appropriate sterile and non-sterile instruments and supplies.
- Hands required/requested instruments and supplies to surgeon during surgery.
- Assists with preparing, transporting, positioning and draping patients.
- Maintains instruments in an organized manner and monitors/tracks instruments counts throughout procedures.
LICENSURE / CERTIFICATION / REGISTRATION
Required Credential(s):
- One or more of the following:
- Surgical Tech credentialed from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) obtained prior to hire date or job transfer date.
- Surgical Tech credentialed from the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) obtained prior to hire date or job transfer date.
- One or more of the following:
- BLS Provider obtained within 1 Month (30 days) of hire date or job transfer date. American Heart Association or American Red Cross accepted.
- Instructor specializing in Basic Life Support obtained within 1 Month (30 days) of hire date or job transfer date. American Heart Association or American Red Cross accepted.
Education
High School diploma equivalency with 2 years of cumulative experience OR Associate's degree/Technical degree OR 4 years of applicable cumulative job specific experience required.
Ascension is a leading nonprofit Catholic health system with a culture and associate experience grounded in service, growth, care and connection. We empower our 99,000+ associates to bring their skills and expertise every day to reimagining healthcare, together. Recognized as one of the Best 150+ Places to Work in Healthcare and a Military-Friendly Gold Employer, you'll find an inclusive and supportive environment where your contributions truly matter.
Equal employment opportunity employer
Ascension provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all associates and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex/gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, lactation, breastfeeding, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, all as defined by applicable law, and any other legally protected status or characteristic in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. For further information, view the EEO Know Your Rights (English) poster or EEO Know Your Rights (Spanish) poster.
Fraud prevention notice
Prospective applicants should be vigilant against fraudulent job offers and interview requests. Scammers may use sophisticated tactics to impersonate Ascension employees. To ensure your safety, please remember: Ascension will never ask for payment or to provide banking or financial information as part of the job application or hiring process, our legitimate email communications will always come from an @ascension.org email address; do not trust other domains, and an official offer will only be extended to candidates who have completed a job application through our authorized applicant tracking system.
E-Verify statement
Employer participates in the Electronic Employment Verification Program. Please click here for more information.
See all 227+ OPT Surgical Technologist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Surgical Technologist Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Surgical Technologist
Target high-volume surgical facilities
Large hospital systems and multi-specialty surgical centers hire surgical technologists at higher volumes than small clinics. Higher hiring volume means more familiarity with OPT work authorization and less resistance to the paperwork involved.
Get your CST before you apply
Most employers require or strongly prefer Certified Surgical Technologist credentials. Sitting for the CST exam before job searching removes a common hiring barrier and signals readiness to work independently from day one.
Apply early in your OPT window
Surgical technologist onboarding typically takes four to six weeks due to credentialing and background checks. Applying at least two months before your start date gives employers enough runway to process your work authorization comfortably.
Address OPT proactively with recruiters
Hospital recruiters often flag OPT candidates as complicated without understanding the process. Briefly explaining that your EAD card authorizes employment without employer sponsorship often resolves hesitation before it becomes a rejection.
Focus on scrub-heavy OR environments
Busy operating rooms at trauma centers, orthopedic surgery centers, and cardiovascular units have persistent staffing shortages. Facilities with chronic understaffing are more willing to work through OPT paperwork to fill critical roles quickly.
Highlight clinical rotation hours and specialties
Employers want to know what surgical specialties you scrubbed during your program. Listing specific procedures and case counts from your clinical training makes your application stand out against candidates with vague or generic experience descriptions.
Surgical Technologist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Surgical Technologist on OPT?
Yes. If your degree is in surgical technology or a closely related allied health field, working as a surgical technologist is a qualifying use of OPT. Your employment must be directly related to your major area of study. Your EAD card authorizes you to work without your employer filing any additional immigration petition.
Does Surgical Technologist qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
No. Surgical technology programs are classified under CIP code 51.0909, which is not on the DHS STEM designated degree program list. That means your OPT authorization is limited to 12 months. Planning your job search timeline around this constraint is essential, since you cannot extend to 24 months the way engineering or computer science graduates can.
Do Surgical Technologist employers commonly sponsor H-1B visas?
It is less common than in fields like software engineering, but it does happen. Hospital systems that regularly hire foreign-educated allied health workers are most likely to have experience with H-1B visa sponsorship. During OPT, it is worth having a direct conversation with your employer about H-1B sponsorship before your OPT expiration approaches, since cap registration opens each March.
Where can I find Surgical Technologist jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate lists surgical technologist roles from employers who are open to hiring OPT students. Filtering by visa-friendly employers saves significant time compared to applying broadly and discovering authorization issues late in the hiring process. Searching on Migrate Mate helps you focus your applications on facilities that already understand OPT work authorization.
What happens to my OPT authorization if I lose my Surgical Technologist job?
You have a 90-day unemployment allowance across your entire OPT period. If you lose your job, that clock starts immediately. You must report the change to your DSO within 10 days. Finding a new qualifying surgical technologist role before exhausting those 90 days is critical, since exceeding the limit ends your OPT status.