Surgical Technologist in Colorado
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for CO. Updated with 2024 BLS OEWS wage data.
BLS OEWS 2024, Colorado.
Jobs (CO)
10-yr job growth
Time to complete
route How to become a surgical technologist in Colorado
To work as a Surgical Technologist in Colorado, individuals must register with the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), Division of Professions and Occupations. While the state does not mandate specific education or national certification for registration, many employers recognize national certifications like the NBSTSA Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) or NCCT Tech in Surgery-Certified (TS-C), which typically require graduation from an accredited program. A fingerprint-based criminal background check is a prerequisite for registration, and registrations must be renewed annually.
bar_chart Salary percentiles
Source: BLS OEWS 2024 for Colorado. Metro-area wages may differ significantly from the state aggregate.
checklist Colorado requirements
| Licensing body | Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), Division of Professions and Occupations |
| State license | Not required |
| Education | Not mandated by the state for registration, but national certification (CST or TS-C) is recognized by employers and typically requires graduation from a CAAHEP or ABHES accredited program. |
| Exam | National certification is not required by the state for registration. The NBSTSA CST exam and NCCT TS-C exam are recognized national certifications. |
| Renewal | Every 1.0 year |
| Notes | Colorado requires registration with DORA, not a license or certification. Performing surgical technology duties without registration is a class 2 misdemeanor. Registration expires annually on March 31st. A fingerprint-based criminal background check is required prior to registration. National certification (CST or TS-C) is not required by the state for registration, but is recognized by employers. NBSTSA CST certification requires 60 CE credits per 4-year cycle for maintenance. |
Source: Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), Division of Professions and Occupations
work_outline Job outlook
AI & tech impact
This career has low exposure to AI automation. Most tasks require physical presence, human judgment, or hands-on skills that AI cannot easily replicate.
balance Is it worth it?
- infoNo state license required — lower barrier but weaker signal
- check_circleLow AI disruption risk