Best Surgical Tech Programs in Texarkana, Texas (2026)

Updated July 3, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Surgical techs in Texas earn a median $65,220 a year (BLS OEWS, 2025), and Texarkana sits within reach of accredited training. Compare CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited certificate and associate degree programs near Texarkana, plan your clinical rotations, and prepare for the NBSTSA CST exam.

Key Facts

  • Texas median wage: $65,220/yr
  • Projected growth: +4.5% (2024–2034)
  • Annual openings (U.S.): ~7,000/yr
  • Typical program length: 12–24 months
  • SOC code: 29-2055 (Surgical Technologists)

Sources: BLS OEWS, 2025; BLS Employment Projections, 2025; CAAHEP/ABHES program data, 2024; BLS, 2025.

Surgical Tech Schools Near Texarkana

Schools below are sorted by distance from Texarkana (closest first). Compare program length, schedule, accreditation, and credential alignment.

How We Rank Schools

We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
25%
Average net price (lower is better)
20%
Retention rate
15%
Fully online availability
10%

Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#2

South Arkansas College

El Dorado, AR 83.3 miles away BOC Score 49.6
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 27.9% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 31
  • Annual completions: 771
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $48,099 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

Bossier Parish Community College

Bossier City, LA 67.7 miles away BOC Score 42.3
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 14.2% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 72
  • Annual completions: 1693
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $43,033 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Paris Junior College

Paris, TX 84.5 miles away BOC Score 32.4
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 37.1% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 38
  • Annual completions: 613
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $45,220 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

Southern University at Shreveport

Shreveport, LA 64.0 miles away BOC Score 24.1
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Programs offered: 37
  • Annual completions: 189
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $45,588 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

Surgical Technologist Pay and Job Outlook

Annual Wage by Percentile - Surgical Technologists
Surgical Technologists annual wage percentiles, BLS OEWS May 2025P10 $45940, P25 $54690, P50 $64650, P75 $79750, P90 $96940.10th$45,94025th$54,69050th (median)$64,65075th$79,75090th$96,940
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
Surgical Technologists annual wage percentiles
PercentileAnnual wage
10th$45,940
25th$54,690
50th (median)$64,650
75th$79,750
90th$96,940
Projected employment growth, Surgical Technologists, 2024-2034
Surgical Technologists employment 2024 vs 2034 projection, BLS Employment Projections2024 employment 115600; 2034 projected employment 120800; percent change +4.5%.2024115,600 jobs2034 (proj.)120,800 jobsChange: +4.5%
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034
Surgical Technologists employment projection 2024 to 2034
YearEmployment
2024115,600
2034 projected120,800
Percent change+4.5%

Surgical Tech Pay & Outlook

Surgical technologists in Texas earn a median of $65,220 per year, ranging from about $39,950 (10th percentile) to $92,580 (90th percentile) (BLS OEWS, 2025).

Texas employed about 10,160 surgical technologists (BLS OEWS, 2025).

Nationally, BLS projects employment to change about +4.5% over 2024–2034, with roughly 7,000 openings a year (BLS Employment Projections, 2025).

How to Become a Surgical Tech in Texas

  1. Enroll in an accredited surgical technology program. Complete a certificate, diploma, or associate degree in surgical technology from a program accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES.
  2. Complete clinical rotations. Finish supervised clinical rotations in an operating room, mastering sterile technique, instrumentation, and case setup.
  3. Pass a national certification exam. Sit for the NBSTSA Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) exam or the NCCT Tech in Surgery-Certified (TS-C) exam, based on employer preference.
  4. Apply for surgical tech positions. Apply to hospitals and outpatient surgery centers; many employers list CST certification as a hiring or advancement requirement.

Pathways & Clinical Hours

Surgical technology is learned through accredited classroom-plus-clinical programs rather than registered apprenticeships. Programs combine lab work on instrument sets with supervised operating-room rotations; total clinical hours vary by school, so confirm requirements with each program and the state health board.

What You Study

  • Sterile technique, aseptic practice, and infection control
  • Surgical instrumentation and case setup
  • Anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology
  • Operating-room roles and patient safety
  • Supervised clinical rotations

Choosing a Surgical Tech Program

  • Confirm accreditation recognized by CAAHEP or ABHES first.
  • Ask about lab time on instrument sets and simulation equipment.
  • Compare evening, weekend, and accelerated schedules that fit your life.
  • Review clinical placement support and certification exam pass rates. Individual outcomes may vary.

In Texas

Related trades & nearby areas

Next Steps

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do surgical techs earn in Texas?

Surgical technologists in Texas earned a median wage of $65,220 per year (BLS OEWS, 2025). Pay varies by employer, shift, and experience.

Is surgical technology a growing career?

BLS projects employment of surgical technologists to change about +4.5% over the 2024–2034 decade (BLS Employment Projections, 2025), with roughly 7,000 openings a year.

How long is a surgical tech program near Texarkana?

Most surgical technology programs take about 12 to 24 months. Certificate and diploma tracks are shorter, while associate degrees run roughly two years. Confirm the schedule with each school.

What certification do surgical techs need?

Many employers prefer the NBSTSA Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) credential or the NCCT Tech in Surgery-Certified (TS-C). Requirements vary by employer; some states regulate the title.

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2025-10-25)