Surgical Assistants
O*NET Code: 29-9093.00
Education Level
Zone 3 - Medium Prep
Associate degree or apprenticeship
Description
Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons. May, in accordance with state laws, help surgeons to make incisions and close surgical sites, manipulate or remove tissues, implant surgical devices or drains, suction the surgical site, place catheters, clamp or cauterize vessels or tissue, and apply dressings to surgical site.
🗺️ Explore Your Career Path
Visualize advancement opportunities, lateral moves, and skill development roadmaps. See interactive career maps showing transition difficulty and salary progression.
💼 Also Known As
Certified First Assistant (CFA)Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant (CRNFA)Certified Surgical Assistant (CSA)Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA)Certified Surgical TechnicianClinical AssistantFirst AssistantGastrointestinal Technician (GI Technician)Med Surg PCA (Medical Surgical Patient Care Assistant)Medical Surgical Nursing AssistantOperating Room AssistantOperating Room TechnicianOR Aide (Operating Room Aide)OR Surgical Tech (Operating Room Surgical Technician)Oral Surgery AssistantPerioperative AssistantRegistered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA)Surgery AssistantSurgery Technician
⚡ Skills (14)
Active Listening4/100
Speaking4/100
Reading Comprehension4/100
Critical Thinking4/100
Monitoring4/100
Coordination3/100
Service Orientation3/100
Complex Problem Solving3/100
Operations Monitoring3/100
Writing3/100
+ 4 more skills
📚 Knowledge (0)
💪 Abilities (0)
🔧 Technologies & Tools (11)
🔥MEDITECH software
Medical software
🔥Microsoft Excel
Spreadsheet software
🔥Microsoft Office software
Office suite software
🔥Microsoft PowerPoint
Presentation software
0Electronic medical record EMR software
Medical software
0Nursing documentation software
Medical software
0Patient scheduling software
Medical software
0Patient tracking software
Medical software
0Supply documentation software
Medical software
0Surgery workflow communication software
Medical software
0Word processing software
Word processing software
🔄 Career Transition Paths
Occupations with similar skills and natural career progression opportunities
Physician Assistants
Salary: $50,000
Education: Zone 5 - Extensive Prep(↑2 levels)
Anesthesiologist Assistants
Salary: $50,000
Education: Zone 5 - Extensive Prep(↑2 levels)
Respiratory Therapists
Salary: $50,000
Education: Zone 3 - Medium Prep
Acute Care Nurses
Salary: $50,000
Education: Zone 4 - High Prep(↑1 level)
Critical Care Nurses
Salary: $50,000
Education: Zone 4 - High Prep(↑1 level)
Nurse Anesthetists
Salary: $50,000
Education: Zone 5 - Extensive Prep(↑2 levels)
Nurse Practitioners
Salary: $50,000
Education: Zone 5 - Extensive Prep(↑2 levels)
Anesthesiologists
Salary: $50,000
Education: Zone 5 - Extensive Prep(↑2 levels)
Cardiologists
Salary: $50,000
Education: Zone 5 - Extensive Prep(↑2 levels)
Emergency Medicine Physicians
Salary: $50,000
Education: Zone 5 - Extensive Prep(↑2 levels)
📊 Skills Comparison
Surgical Assistants → Nurse Practitioners
Transition Difficulty: Moderate (57% skill overlap)
✅ Transferable Skills (13)
Skills you already have that transfer to the new role
Reading Comprehension
Current: 4Target: 4
→
Active Listening
Current: 4Target: 4
→
Critical Thinking
Current: 4Target: 4
→
Complex Problem Solving
Current: 3Target: 4
→
Writing
Current: 3Target: 4
→
Speaking
Current: 4Target: 4
→
Active Learning
Current: 3Target: 4
→
Monitoring
Current: 4Target: 4
→
Social Perceptiveness
Current: 3Target: 4
→
Judgment and Decision Making
Current: 3Target: 4
→
Service Orientation
Current: 3Target: 4
→
Coordination
Current: 3Target: 4
→
Learning Strategies
Current: 3Target: 4
→