Surgical Technologist Apprentice

Earn While You Learn – Launch Your Career in Surgical Services!

Want to play a vital role in the operating room? UPMC’s Surgical Technology Apprenticeship Program offers the chance to earn a full-time salary while working part-time hours—all while completing a 20-month associate’s degree in Surgical Technology with Carlow University.

This “earn while you learn” opportunity combines classroom instruction with hands-on training in UPMC’s surgical services. You’ll gain real-world operating room experience, work side by side with expert surgeons, nurses, and surgical technologists, and receive progressive pay increases as you advance toward becoming a Certified Surgical Technologist (CST).

What is Required

• Enrollment in Carlow’s Surgical Technology program
• Ability to work on-site at a UPMC location while attending school

Why Join UPMC’s Surgical Technology Apprenticeship

• Earn while you learn – full-time salary, part-time hours
• Graduate with your Associate’s in Surgical Technology from Carlow University
• Sit for the CST Certification Exam and step into a Surgical Tech role
• Get hands-on training in the operating room, from setup to cleanup
• Be part of UPMC, a world-renowned healthcare provider headquartered in Pittsburgh

What You’ll Learn

• Prepare sterile setups for surgical procedures, including patient prep and positioning
• Pass instruments, sponges, and sutures to surgeons and surgical assistants
• Assist with equipment checks, sterile supplies, and room turnover
• Manage special trays, graft materials, and record patient data
• Support the surgical team before, during, and after procedures

What To Expect

• Attend 20-month associate degree program with UPMC’s School of Surgical Technology in partnership with Carlow University to learn the following skills/duties: Pre-Operative, Intra-Operative, and Post-Operative
• Complete all on-the-job training activities at a satisfactory level or higher
• Comply with all Surgical Technologist training program policies and procedures, including safety, personal conduct, and dress code
• Successful completion of both the apprenticeship program and associate’s degree will allow graduates to test for the CST Certification, and upon successful completion they’ll become qualified to move into a permanent Surgical Technologist role