Surgical Technologist resume example. Plus the keywords recruiters search for.
A surgical technologist resume that shows a clean sterile field, accurate counts and a scrub who anticipates the surgeon — with the CST credential and specialty keywords OR managers look for.
Reviewed by Nazir Elmurodov · Updated
/ The example
Surgical Technologist resume example.
Tasha Greene
Certified Surgical Technologist, CST
Nashville, TN · tasha.greene@email.com · (615) 555-0157
Summary
Certified surgical technologist with 5 years in hospital ORs and an ambulatory surgery center. I scrub general, orthopedic and robotic-assisted cases, keep the sterile field tight and have the next instrument ready before the surgeon asks.
Experience
Surgical Technologist, Stones Ferry Medical Center · Mar 2022 – Present
- • Scrub 4–6 cases a day in general, orthopedic, gynecologic and robotic-assisted surgery, including total joints and laparoscopic procedures
- • Set up the back table and Mayo stand from surgeon preference cards, and perform sponge, sharps and instrument counts with the circulating nurse
- • Updated 40+ surgeon preference cards with the OR team, cutting supplies opened but not used on those cases
- • Take call for trauma and emergency cases, and pass instruments, handle specimens and maintain sterile technique through each case
Surgical Technologist, Old Hickory Surgery Center · Aug 2020 – Feb 2022
- • Scrubbed 6–8 outpatient cases a day in orthopedics, ENT and general surgery
- • Cut average room turnover from 25 to 18 minutes by opening the next case's supplies in a set order with the circulator
- • Checked instrument trays from sterile processing and flagged missing or damaged instruments before each case
Education & certifications
A.A.S. Surgical Technology, Davidson Bend Community College (CAAHEP-accredited program), 2020 · CST (NBSTSA) · BLS
Skills
Sterile technique · Aseptic technique · Surgical counts · Back table setup · Preference cards · Instrumentation · Robotic-assisted surgery · Laparoscopic surgery · Orthopedic surgery · Specimen handling · Room turnover · Time-out · Patient safety
Tasha Greene
Certified Surgical Technologist, CST
tasha.greene@email.com · Nashville, TN
(615) 555-0157
Summary
Certified surgical technologist with 5 years in hospital ORs and an ambulatory surgery center. I scrub general, orthopedic and robotic-assisted cases, keep the sterile field tight and have the next instrument ready before the surgeon asks.
Experience
Surgical Technologist — Stones Ferry Medical Center
Mar 2022 – Present
• Scrub 4–6 cases a day in general, orthopedic, gynecologic and robotic-assisted surgery, including total joints and laparoscopic procedures
• Set up the back table and Mayo stand from surgeon preference cards, and perform sponge, sharps and instrument counts with the circulating nurse
• Updated 40+ surgeon preference cards with the OR team, cutting supplies opened but not used on those cases
• Take call for trauma and emergency cases, and pass instruments, handle specimens and maintain sterile technique through each case
Surgical Technologist — Old Hickory Surgery Center
Aug 2020 – Feb 2022
• Scrubbed 6–8 outpatient cases a day in orthopedics, ENT and general surgery
• Cut average room turnover from 25 to 18 minutes by opening the next case's supplies in a set order with the circulator
• Checked instrument trays from sterile processing and flagged missing or damaged instruments before each case
Education
Davidson Bend Community College (CAAHEP-accredited program)
A.A.S. Surgical Technology · 2020
Certifications
CST (NBSTSA)
BLS
Skills
Sterile technique, Aseptic technique, Surgical counts, Back table setup, Preference cards, Instrumentation, Robotic-assisted surgery, Laparoscopic surgery, Orthopedic surgery, Specimen handling, Room turnover, Time-out, Patient safety
Why it works
The CST credential is in the headline, each job gives case volume and specialties, and the bullets show what keeps an OR safe and on time: counts, sterile technique, preference cards and turnover.
Use this as your starting point
Opens in the editor with every section filled in. Swap in your own details and download a PDF or Word file free.
Start from this exampleSample resume. Names, companies and figures are illustrative.
/ Summary examples
Three summary examples. Pick the one closest to you.
Two or three lines: your level, your field and one result.
- New graduate
New graduate of a CAAHEP-accredited surgical technology program with clinical cases in general, orthopedic and OB surgery. CST (NBSTSA) certified and BLS trained.
- Experienced
Certified surgical technologist with 5 years in hospital ORs and an ambulatory surgery center. I scrub 4–6 cases a day, including robotic-assisted and total joint cases.
- Senior
Lead surgical technologist with 12 years in a Level I trauma center. I precept students, run our orthopedic service line's preference cards and scrub complex spine and trauma cases.
More for other jobs and situations (no experience, career change, senior): resume summary examples.
/ Bullet points
Bullet point examples. From duty to result.
Turn duties into results: what you did, how, and what changed.
Case volume
Instead of: Scrubbed in on surgeries
Write: Scrubbed 4–6 cases a day in general, orthopedic, gynecologic and robotic-assisted surgery
Counts
Instead of: Helped with counts
Write: Performed sponge, sharps and instrument counts with the circulating nurse on every case
Preference cards
Instead of: Updated cards
Write: Updated 40+ surgeon preference cards, cutting supplies opened but not used
Turnover
Instead of: Helped turn rooms over
Write: Cut average room turnover from 25 to 18 minutes by opening supplies in a set order
Trauma
Instead of: Took call
Write: Took call for trauma and emergency cases and maintained sterile technique through each one
Instruments
Instead of: Checked trays
Write: Checked trays from sterile processing and flagged missing or damaged instruments before each case
/ Keywords
Keywords and skills for surgical technologists.
These come up often in surgical technologist job posts. Include only the ones you can back up in an interview, and use the exact wording from the post you're applying to.
- Sterile technique
- Aseptic technique
- Surgical counts
- Back table setup
- Preference cards
- Instrumentation
- Robotic-assisted surgery
- Laparoscopic surgery
- Orthopedic surgery
- General surgery
- Specimen handling
- Room turnover
- Sterile processing
- Time-out
- Patient safety
- CST (NBSTSA)
- BLS
/ ATS tips
ATS tips for surgical technologists.
Name the credential and who issued it
CST comes from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA). Write CST in your headline and list NBSTSA next to it.
List your specialties
General, orthopedic, robotic-assisted, cardiac, neuro and OB cases need different instruments. Say which ones you scrub most and which you can cover.
Give a case volume
"4–6 cases a day" or "6–8 outpatient cases" shows a manager your pace.
Show safety habits
Counts, time-outs and sterile technique are what OR leaders worry about most. Put them in a bullet, not just your skills list.
Check your state's rules
Some states require surgical technologists to be certified or registered. If yours does, list that credential too.
How does your surgical technologist resume compare?
Free ATS score, missing keywords and fixes in about 10 seconds.
/ Questions
Surgical Technologist resume FAQ.
Writing the cover letter too? See Tasha's cover letter, annotated
How do I become eligible for the CST exam?
The NBSTSA's main route is graduating from a surgical technology program accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES. It also lists routes for military-trained technologists and for recertification. Check nbstsa.org for current eligibility.
Should I list robotic surgery experience?
Yes, if you scrub robotic-assisted cases. Say which service lines and what you do, such as draping and docking, so it's clear how much you've done.
What should a new surgical tech put on a resume?
Your accredited program, CST status and clinical cases: the specialties you rotated through and whether you scrubbed first or assisted. Add BLS and any sterile processing experience.
Should I include call experience?
Yes. Taking trauma and emergency call shows you can scrub cases you didn't plan for. Many hospital jobs require it.
How long should a surgical technologist resume be?
One page. CST at the top, then one or two jobs with case volume, specialties and bullets on counts, sterile technique and turnover.