Surgical technology training ยท Indianapolis, IN

Surgical Tech Programs in Indianapolis, IN

Surgical tech programs in Indianapolis include public college and hospital-based associate degrees with classroom, lab and clinical training. You can compare published tuition, daytime attendance requirements and accreditation before choosing where to prepare for the CST exam.

Compare programs How to pay for training
Public college optionIvy Tech: 62 credits, 5 semesters
Hospital program startAscension: January 2027; application deadline October 31, 2026
National examCST eligibility: CAAHEP or ABHES surgical technology graduate

Local surgical technology programs to compare

These Indianapolis programs publish upcoming admissions information and local classroom or clinical training. The check line under each school names its accreditor record, checked October 27, 2026; Ivy Tech's record retains its former Lawrence address.

2 local programs listed

SchoolProgramCredentialLengthScheduleCost
Ivy Tech Community CollegeIndianapolis, INCAAHEP-accredited Surgical Technology program, Indianapolis; directory program 929
Selective admission; application window March 15-May 15. November 10, 2026 information session. Health Sciences moved to Illinois Fall Creek Center; CAAHEP retains the former Lawrence address. Confirm classroom details.
School page 		Surgical TechnologyAssociate of Applied Science (AAS)62 credit hours; 5 semestersFull-time daytime courses; program begins each fall$2,577.11 per full-time semester for Indiana residents (tuition page, Fall 2025 through Summer 2027); fees extra
Ascension St. Vincent College of Health ProfessionsIndianapolis, INABHES: Institutional with Surgical Technology, I-370; grant through February 28, 2032
January 2027 applications close October 31, 2026; a mandatory information session is required. ABHES I-370 grant expires February 28, 2032.
School page 		Surgical Technology ProgramAssociate of Applied Science17 months; 4 semestersFull-time; on-site 4 days weekly; typical clinical hours 6:30 a.m.-3 p.m.$5,000 tuition; $552 material and facility fees (school tuition page, checked October 27, 2026; school labels figures approximate)

Indianapolis campuses first, then nearby cities. Details come from each school's website; costs and start dates change, so confirm with the school.

Surgical technologist schools near Indianapolis: campus details

Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN

Ivy Tech's Indianapolis surgical technology degree includes general education and specialized coursework to prepare students for surgical care environments.

CAAHEP-accredited Surgical Technology program, Indianapolis; directory program 929
Program
Surgical Technology
Credential
Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
Length
62 credit hours; 5 semesters
Schedule
Full-time daytime courses; program begins each fall
Published cost
$2,577.11 per full-time semester for Indiana residents (tuition page, Fall 2025 through Summer 2027); fees extra
Address
2535 N. Capitol Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46208
Phone
(317) 206-7465 ext. 14430
Program page

Ascension St. Vincent College of Health Professions Indianapolis, IN

Ascension's hospital-sponsored degree combines classroom lessons, skills practice and supervised rotations in operating rooms across its clinical facilities.

ABHES: Institutional with Surgical Technology, I-370; grant through February 28, 2032
Program
Surgical Technology Program
Credential
Associate of Applied Science
Length
17 months; 4 semesters
Schedule
Full-time; on-site 4 days weekly; typical clinical hours 6:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Published cost
$5,000 tuition; $552 material and facility fees (school tuition page, checked October 27, 2026; school labels figures approximate)
Address
8402 Harcourt Road, Suite 210, Indianapolis, IN 46260
Phone
(317) 338-8434
Program page

From surgical technology classes to CST certification

  1. 1

    Check your program accreditation

    Use the CAAHEP program search or Ascension's ABHES record to match the program. NBSTSA requires graduation from a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited surgical technology program for CST exam eligibility.

  2. 2

    Review entry dates and prerequisites

    Ivy Tech requires prerequisites before a selective program application. Ascension requires attendance at an information session and lists an October 31, 2026 application deadline for January 2027 enrollment.

  3. 3

    Complete laboratory and clinical work

    Plan transportation around your assigned clinical shifts. Ascension's published weekly schedule requires on-site attendance four days a week and lists typical clinical hours of 6:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

  4. 4

    Apply for the CST exam

    After meeting NBSTSA eligibility requirements, submit the exam application and fees. The NBSTSA application page directs applicants to its practitioner account system.

  5. 5

    Understand Indiana practice requirements

    Indiana Code 25-36.1, reproduced by AST protects the CST title and sets conditions for surgical technology practice in healthcare facilities. Certification is one route; the law also contains exceptions, so review it with your program and employer.

Surgical technologist employment and pay in the metro

The BLS May 2025 OEWS estimates show 860 surgical technologist jobs (SOC 29-2055) in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN metro area. BLS reported a median wage of $30.89 per hour and $64,240 per year for this occupation and area. The release tables identify May 2025 as the latest available OEWS year.

An employment estimate counts existing jobs, rather than advertised vacancies. The BLS survey explanation also distinguishes median pay from an average. These metro figures do not set a new graduate's starting rate. When comparing a hospital or surgery center position, ask about shift hours, on-call duties, benefits and the exact pay offered.

Surgical technology tuition and funding choices

Ascension's tuition page publishes $5,000 tuition and $552 in material and facility fees, marked approximate by the school. The enrollment agreement sets the actual charges. Ivy Tech lists $2,577.11 per full-time semester for Indiana residents through Summer 2027.

Check FAFSA and Pell eligibility at Ivy Tech; Ascension does not participate in Title IV federal student aid. For workforce assistance, contact WorkOne Indy or WorkOne Central about WIOA before committing to a course. Ask about employer support through Ivy Tech's Achieve Your Degree program. Veterans and eligible dependents can check VA college benefit rules and verify the exact program before using GI Bill benefits.

Read the full guide to paying for training

Questions for a surgical technology program

  • Does accreditation cover this exact location and entering cohort?
  • Which prerequisites must I finish before applying?
  • What is the next available start and application deadline?
  • Where do labs meet, and how far could I travel for clinicals?
  • What is the full tuition bill, including clinical and CST exam charges?
  • How does the program document CST exam eligibility?
  • How many students complete training and pass the CST exam on their first attempt?

How to check a school

Common questions

Can I fit surgical technology classes around a job?

Ivy Tech describes a full-time program with daytime courses and says schedules will not change to accommodate work. Ascension requires on-site attendance four days a week, with clinicals typically starting at 6:30 a.m. Ask for your cohort calendar before setting work shifts, child care or transportation plans.

How long do the local surgical tech programs take?

Ivy Tech lists five semesters for its associate degree. Ascension St. Vincent describes four semesters over 17 months. Those descriptions may handle prerequisites differently. Request a plan showing any required classes before entry and your expected graduation date based on the credits you already have.

Which national certification follows surgical technology training?

The credential discussed here is Certified Surgical Technologist, or CST, through NBSTSA. The exam eligibility route requires graduation from a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited surgical technology program. NBSTSA makes the eligibility decision. Completing a degree alone does not award the CST credential; ask how your school handles the application, supporting documents and exam scheduling.

Does Indiana require every surgical technologist to hold CST certification?

Indiana's surgical technology law includes certification and several alternative routes or exceptions. These include certain military training, work before July 1, 2009, federal duties, a limited period after an accredited degree and abilities determined by the healthcare facility. Separately, the law reserves the CST title for people who maintain the NBSTSA credential. Have a prospective employer explain the route it accepts.

Why is IU Health Methodist absent from this comparison?

The IU Health Methodist surgical technology page marks its application deadline as closed for 2026. This comparison focuses on programs with current enrollment information or a published upcoming start. Check with IU Health for its next admissions announcement before treating that certificate as an available application choice; its past course schedule does not establish a new opening.

Other programs near Indianapolis

HVACElectricianWeldingMedical AssistantDental AssistantCNALPNPhlebotomyCDLCosmetologyBarberEstheticianNail TechFree CNA TrainingPaid CDL Training
Sources (23)

We check these pages when we update this guide. If something has changed, tell us.

Compare class and clinical commitments

Contact each program directly for a cohort-specific course plan, clinical travel details and written tuition charges.

Compare programs
Compare programs