Surgical First Assistant Jobs
Surgical First Assistant jobs are open across hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and specialty surgical practices, from new-grad to senior levels, with specializations in orthopedic, cardiovascular, and neurosurgical procedures. Find a role that fits from the openings below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 190+ Surgical First Assistant jobs
Building Location:
32nd Avenue Building
Department:
3013400 SURGERY - 32ND HOSP
Job Description:
Essentia Health is seeking a Surgical Technologist First Assist to serve in the operating room at our 32nd Avenue Building in Fargo, North Dakota. This CSFA works 6:30 am to 5:00 pm, four days per week. Weekday, weekend, and holiday call rotations are required. A $15,000 sign-on bonus and relocation assistance are available.
Education Qualifications:
* Graduate of a surgical assisting program accredited through ARCST or graduate of an accredited school of surgical technology.
About Essentia Health:
At Essentia Health, we believe that when you love where you work, it shows in the care you provide. Driven by our mission to make a healthy difference in people’s lives, our clinical and support teams come together every day to deliver high-quality, compassionate care to the communities we are privileged to serve. Here, you’ll find an award-winning culture built around genuine work-life balance, long-term stability, and the resources you need to continually grow your career.
Why Choose Essentia Health Fargo?
Step into a high-caliber surgical environment at Essentia Health-Fargo, a CMS 5-Star rated hospital and designated Level II Adult Trauma Center serving North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota. Here, surgical professionals play a vital, respected role across an extensive procedural mix—from advanced robotic and minimally invasive cases to cardiothoracic, neuro, ortho spine, and acute trauma interventions. You’ll collaborate with a close, surgeon-led team that values your technical expertise, fosters real peer-to-peer mentorship, and invests in your clinical growth. Outside the operating room, you’ll discover why the Fargo-Moorhead area consistently ranks among the Midwest’s most livable communities—offering an energetic downtown arts and dining scene, easy commutes, affordable cost of living, and a thriving college-town culture that makes planting roots effortless.
What You'll Do:
Provides assistance to the surgeon to ensure quality patient care during the operative procedure. Assists the surgeon with exposure, hemostasis, suturing, dressing and other duties as delegated. May also work as a Surgical Technologist.
Employees scheduled 24+ hours weekly enjoy these benefits:
Health Insurance and HSA or FSA accounts
Dental and Vision insurances
Supplemental insurances- critical illness, accident, & hospital indemnity
Paid short-term disability, long-term disability, and basic life insurance
Supplemental Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance
Tuition Reimbursement
PTO accrual and 7 paid holidays per year
Paid parental leave after one year
Adoption assistance after one year
Bereavement & Jury Duty (all regularly scheduled employees)
All employees, including casual, enjoy these benefits:
Take Charge (employee wellness program)
Guidance Resources (free confidential counseling)
Employee discount program
401(k) retirement account (traditional & Roth)
* 401(k) matching & discretionary contributions (subject to service requirements)
Licensure/Certification Qualifications:
Unlicensed assistive person (UAP) in the state of North Dakota upon hire.
Certified Surgical First Assist (CSFA) with the NBSTSA (National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting) upon hire.
* Current Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification or ability to become certified within 3 months from date of hire.
FTE:
1
Possible Remote/Hybrid Option:
Shift Rotation:
Day Rotation (United States of America)
Shift Start Time:
6:30 am
Shift End Time:
5:00 pm
Weekends:
Rotation
Holidays:
Yes
Call Obligation:
Yes
Union:
Compensation Range:
$36.01 - $54.02
Employee Benefits at Essentia Health: At Essentia Health, we’re committed to supporting your well-being, growth, and work-life balance. Our comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, along with supplemental options to fit your needs. We offer a 401(k) plan with employer contributions to help you plan for the future, and we invest in your professional development through training, tuition reimbursement, and educational programs. To help you thrive both at work and at home, we provide flexible scheduling, generous time off, and wellness resources focused on your physical, mental, and emotional health. Please note that benefit eligibility may vary. For full details, refer to your benefit summary or contact our HR Service Center at (218) 576-0000.
Building Location:
32nd Avenue Building
Department:
3013400 SURGERY - 32ND HOSP
Job Description:
Essentia Health is seeking a Surgical Technologist First Assist to serve in the operating room at our 32nd Avenue Building in Fargo, North Dakota. This CSFA works 6:30 am to 5:00 pm, four days per week. Weekday, weekend, and holiday call rotations are required. A $15,000 sign-on bonus and relocation assistance are available.
Education Qualifications:
* Graduate of a surgical assisting program accredited through ARCST or graduate of an accredited school of surgical technology.
About Essentia Health:
At Essentia Health, we believe that when you love where you work, it shows in the care you provide. Driven by our mission to make a healthy difference in people’s lives, our clinical and support teams come together every day to deliver high-quality, compassionate care to the communities we are privileged to serve. Here, you’ll find an award-winning culture built around genuine work-life balance, long-term stability, and the resources you need to continually grow your career.
Why Choose Essentia Health Fargo?
Step into a high-caliber surgical environment at Essentia Health-Fargo, a CMS 5-Star rated hospital and designated Level II Adult Trauma Center serving North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota. Here, surgical professionals play a vital, respected role across an extensive procedural mix—from advanced robotic and minimally invasive cases to cardiothoracic, neuro, ortho spine, and acute trauma interventions. You’ll collaborate with a close, surgeon-led team that values your technical expertise, fosters real peer-to-peer mentorship, and invests in your clinical growth. Outside the operating room, you’ll discover why the Fargo-Moorhead area consistently ranks among the Midwest’s most livable communities—offering an energetic downtown arts and dining scene, easy commutes, affordable cost of living, and a thriving college-town culture that makes planting roots effortless.
What You'll Do:
Provides assistance to the surgeon to ensure quality patient care during the operative procedure. Assists the surgeon with exposure, hemostasis, suturing, dressing and other duties as delegated. May also work as a Surgical Technologist.
Employees scheduled 24+ hours weekly enjoy these benefits:
Health Insurance and HSA or FSA accounts
Dental and Vision insurances
Supplemental insurances- critical illness, accident, & hospital indemnity
Paid short-term disability, long-term disability, and basic life insurance
Supplemental Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance
Tuition Reimbursement
PTO accrual and 7 paid holidays per year
Paid parental leave after one year
Adoption assistance after one year
Bereavement & Jury Duty (all regularly scheduled employees)
All employees, including casual, enjoy these benefits:
Take Charge (employee wellness program)
Guidance Resources (free confidential counseling)
Employee discount program
401(k) retirement account (traditional & Roth)
* 401(k) matching & discretionary contributions (subject to service requirements)
Licensure/Certification Qualifications:
Unlicensed assistive person (UAP) in the state of North Dakota upon hire.
Certified Surgical First Assist (CSFA) with the NBSTSA (National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting) upon hire.
* Current Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification or ability to become certified within 3 months from date of hire.
FTE:
1
Possible Remote/Hybrid Option:
Shift Rotation:
Day Rotation (United States of America)
Shift Start Time:
6:30 am
Shift End Time:
5:00 pm
Weekends:
Rotation
Holidays:
Yes
Call Obligation:
Yes
Union:
Compensation Range:
$36.01 - $54.02
Employee Benefits at Essentia Health: At Essentia Health, we’re committed to supporting your well-being, growth, and work-life balance. Our comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, along with supplemental options to fit your needs. We offer a 401(k) plan with employer contributions to help you plan for the future, and we invest in your professional development through training, tuition reimbursement, and educational programs. To help you thrive both at work and at home, we provide flexible scheduling, generous time off, and wellness resources focused on your physical, mental, and emotional health. Please note that benefit eligibility may vary. For full details, refer to your benefit summary or contact our HR Service Center at (218) 576-0000.
Surgical First Assistant Jobs by Experience Level
See All 190+ Surgical First Assistant Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Surgical First Assistant JobsSurgical First Assistant Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Ascension12
- Voyage Health8V
- MPOWERHealth7
- CHRISTUS Health5
- Tenet Healthcare5
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services37
- Education2
- Technology & Software1
- Consulting & Professional Services1
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in surgical first assistant jobs.
- Current CNFA or CSFA certification from a nationally recognized credentialing body
- Minimum two years of first-assist experience in an operating room setting
- Proficiency in open, laparoscopic, and robotic-assisted surgical procedures
- BLS and ACLS certification current at time of hire
- Completion of an accredited surgical first assistant or surgical technology program
- Familiarity with sterile field management, instrumentation, and surgical site preparation
Tips for Your Surgical First Assistant Job Search
List every procedure you've scrubbed
Hiring managers scan for specific case volume, not just credentials. List orthopedic, laparoscopic, or cardiovascular procedures you've assisted with and note case counts where your memory allows. Generic 'surgical experience' won't stand out.
Verify your CNFA or CSFA is current
Many job postings filter out applicants whose certification has lapsed. Double-check your CNFA or CSFA renewal date before you apply, and if it's within three months of expiring, renew it first so you don't stall an offer.
Target ASC openings alongside hospital postings
Ambulatory surgery centers hire surgical first assistants steadily and often move faster from interview to offer than large hospital systems. Search specifically for ASC and outpatient surgical center postings so you don't miss that segment of openings.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists surgical first assistant openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match your specialty and apply directly to each listing without jumping between multiple sites.
Prepare for a practical skills interview
Many surgical facilities add a clinical or scenario-based round after the initial HR screen. Practice walking through your first-assist protocol for a common case type, your response to surgical complications, and your sterile technique decisions out loud before that stage.
Negotiate start date around credentialing timelines
Hospital privilege credentialing can take four to eight weeks after an offer. Ask the hiring coordinator about their credentialing timeline before you accept so your start date is realistic and you don't jeopardize your current position by leaving too early.
Surgical First Assistant Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most surgical first assistants?
The companies hiring the most surgical first assistants right now include Ascension, Voyage Health, and MPOWERHealth, with the largest share of openings in Florida, Texas, and Tennessee, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Health systems and large ambulatory surgery center networks consistently post the highest volume of openings.
How many surgical first assistant jobs are remote?
About 3% of surgical first assistant openings are fully remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting the hands-on nature of most surgical roles. The sub-areas most likely to offer remote or hybrid arrangements include surgical education, clinical training coordination, and surgical sales support roles that carry a first-assist background requirement.
How do you become a surgical first assistant?
You become a surgical first assistant by completing an accredited surgical technology or surgical first assistant program, accumulating clinical hours in an operating room, and then earning your CNFA or CSFA certification through a recognized credentialing body. Many candidates start as surgical technologists, build case volume across specialties, and then complete a formal first-assist training program before sitting for certification.
How do you get hired as a surgical first assistant with little experience?
Getting hired with limited experience means leading with your certification, case-type exposure during training rotations, and any scrub-tech experience you can document with procedure specifics. Target smaller ambulatory surgery centers and specialty clinics, which are more likely to invest in developing newer first assistants than large hospital systems. Emphasizing your training in a high-demand specialty like orthopedics or general surgery also strengthens your candidacy early on.
What does the surgical first assistant interview process look like?
The surgical first assistant interview process typically starts with a phone screen by a recruiter or nurse manager, followed by an in-person or video interview with the surgical services director or lead surgeon. Many facilities include a clinical scenario round where you walk through your first-assist decisions for a specific case type. A credential and reference check, and sometimes a tour of the OR suite, usually complete the process before an offer is extended.
Where can I find and apply to surgical first assistant jobs?
You can find and apply to surgical first assistant jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Find roles that match your specialty and experience level, then apply directly to each listing. No detours to external sites are needed.
See All 190+ Surgical First Assistant Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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