Surgical Technologist in Iowa

Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for IA. Updated with 2024 BLS OEWS wage data.

Median annual salary

$53,920

trending_down -14.2% vs. national

BLS OEWS 2024, Iowa.

engineering

730

Jobs (IA)

monitoring Strong

+4.5%

10-yr job growth

payments

$190

Licensing fees

schedule

Typically 9-24 months for an accredited program

Time to complete

route How to become a surgical technologist in Iowa

To become a Surgical Technologist in Iowa, while there is no state license required, most employers mandate national certification. Aspiring surgical technologists should complete a surgical technology program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). Graduates are then eligible to take the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) exam administered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) or the Tech in Surgery-Certified (TS-C) exam from the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT). A new bill (HF77) in Iowa, effective July 1, 2026, will require 15 hours of annual continuing education for those practicing surgical technology.

bar_chart Salary percentiles

10th percentile (entry) $41,880

25th percentile $48,700

50th (median) $53,920

75th percentile $61,310

90th (experienced) $65,240

Source: BLS OEWS 2024 for Iowa. Metro-area wages may differ significantly from the state aggregate.

checklist Iowa requirements

Licensing body	National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) or National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT)
State license	Not required
Education	Graduation from a CAAHEP or ABHES accredited surgical technology program, or completion of a military surgical technology program, or equivalent experience prior to July 1, 2025.
Exam	CST exam (NBSTSA) or TS-C exam (NCCT) ($190)
Renewal	Every 2.0 years
Continuing education	30.0 hours per cycle
Notes	Iowa does not have state-level licensing for Surgical Technologists, but a new bill (HF77) effective July 1, 2026, will require 15 hours of annual continuing education. Most employers require national certification from the NBSTSA (CST) or NCCT (TS-C).

Source: National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) or National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT)

work_outline Job outlook

10-year growth

+4.5%

Faster than average

Annual openings

7,000

Nationwide per year

Total employment

115,600

Nationwide

neurology

AI & tech impact

verified Low exposure -0.48/1.00

This career has low exposure to AI automation. Most tasks require physical presence, human judgment, or hands-on skills that AI cannot easily replicate.

hub

balance Is it worth it?

infoNo state license required — lower barrier but weaker signal
check_circleLow AI disruption risk

psychology

Wondering if a surgical technologist career is the right fit?

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Frequently asked questions

How do you get certified as a surgical technologist in Iowa? expand_more

The path to surgical technologist licensure in Iowa: complete the required education (Graduation from a CAAHEP or ABHES accredited surgical technology program, or completion of a military surgical technology program, or equivalent experience prior to July 1, 2025.), and pass the CST exam (NBSTSA) or TS-C exam (NCCT).

Can I work as a surgical technologist in Iowa without a license? expand_more

No state license is needed to work as a surgical technologist in Iowa. Note: Iowa does not have state-level licensing for Surgical Technologists, but a new bill (HF77) effective July 1, 2026, will require 15 hours of annual continuing education. Most employers require national certification from the NBSTSA (CST) or NCCT (TS-C).

What do surgical technologists earn in Iowa? expand_more

The median surgical technologist salary in Iowa is $53,920 per year. That's 14% below the national median of $62,830. New surgical technologists start around $41,880; seasoned professionals can reach $65,240.

What are the fees to become a surgical technologist in Iowa? expand_more

Between exam fee ($190), expect to invest around varies in total to get started.

What's the timeline to become a surgical technologist in Iowa? expand_more

Expect to spend Typically 9-24 months for an accredited program from start to finish in Iowa — covering coursework, supervised experience, and examination.

What are the continuing education requirements for surgical technologists in Iowa? expand_more

License renewal in Iowa requires completing 30.0 hours of continuing education on a 2.0-year cycle.