Surgical Technologist Skills & Tools

What skills do surgical technologists need?

Surgical Technologists need technical skills such as aseptic technique and sterile field maintenance, surgical instrument identification, and surgical counts, plus people skills like anticipating needs and focus and stamina. They also use tools such as Back table and Mayo stand setups and Surgical instrument trays (retractors, hemostats, scissors, forceps).

Technical (hard) skills

Aseptic technique and sterile field maintenance
Surgical instrument identification
Surgical counts
Gowning and gloving
Specimen handling
Surgical anatomy and procedures

People (soft) skills

Anticipating needs
Focus and stamina
Calm under pressure
Precise communication

Tools, equipment and technology

Back table and Mayo stand setups
Surgical instrument trays (retractors, hemostats, scissors, forceps)
Electrosurgical units
Suction and irrigation systems
Laparoscopic towers and cameras
Sterilization indicators and wrappers

Skills in action: common tasks

These step-by-step guides show how surgical technologists put their skills to work:

How to show these skills on a resume

Lead your skills section with the technical skills from the job posting, for example, “Aseptic technique and sterile field maintenance” and “Surgical instrument identification.”
Prove soft skills with results: instead of listing “anticipating needs,” describe a situation where you used it.
List credentials such as CST (NBSTSA) near the top, with the issuing organization and date.
Use the employer’s vocabulary. Our surgical technologist glossary covers the terms hiring managers expect.

How to build these skills

Formal training, supervised practice and certification are the most direct routes. Our Surgical Technologist training introduces each of these skills with plain-language lessons, procedures and a final knowledge check: a strong foundation before hands-on training or your first day.

Build these skills Test your knowledge