Surgical Technologist Resume Keywords (2026): 60+ ATS Skills to Land Interviews
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TL;DR: Essential surgical technologist resume keywords for 2026 include CST (Certified Surgical Technologist), Sterile Technique, Surgical Instrumentation, Patient Positioning, Surgical Counts, Infection Control, and specialty keywords (Orthopedic, Cardiovascular, Neurosurgery). Include 15-25 keywords matching the job description.
🚨 Not getting surgical technologist interviews? Your resume is missing the OR keywords recruiters search for.
In 2026, over 97% of healthcare systems use ATS to filter surgical staff resumes. Missing terms like "Sterile Technique," "CST Certified," or "Surgical Counts" can instantly disqualify you, even with years of OR experience.
This guide gives you 60+ ATS-approved surgical technologist keywords, organized by specialty, with real examples and optimization strategies.
👉 Scan Your Surgical Technologist Resume for Missing Keywords - Free
What Are Surgical Technologist Resume Keywords?
Surgical technologist resume keywords are the clinical competencies, certifications, equipment, and operating room terminology that ATS systems and recruiters search for when screening scrub tech resumes. These keywords typically include:
- Core OR skills: Sterile Technique, Surgical Instrumentation, Patient Positioning, Draping, Surgical Counts
- Certifications: CST (Certified Surgical Technologist), TS-C, BLS, Surgical Specialty Certifications
- Equipment: Da Vinci Robotic Surgery, Laparoscopic Equipment, Electrosurgical Units, Surgical Lasers
- Safety and compliance: Infection Control, Aseptic Technique, Tissue Handling, Specimen Management
When your resume includes these keywords naturally and in context, ATS systems rank it higher, getting you past the digital filter and in front of surgical services hiring managers.
Why Surgical Technologist Keywords Matter in 2026
Surgical technologists are in high demand as hospitals expand surgical capacity and outpatient surgery centers grow. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects steady growth for surgical tech roles, and the Association of Surgical Technologists reports increasing demand for certified professionals.
Healthcare ATS systems are particularly strict for OR positions due to patient safety requirements. Recruiters use keyword filters to identify candidates with specific certifications and surgical experience.
The critical distinction: Surgical tech resumes with specific procedure names and equipment mentioned get 40% more interview callbacks than those with generic phrases like "assisted in surgeries." Your resume needs to demonstrate hands-on OR competency.
75% of healthcare resumes are rejected by ATS before reaching a recruiter. For surgical techs, the #1 reason is using vague language instead of specific surgical terminology.
Table of Contents
- Core Surgical Skills Keywords
- Sterile Technique and Safety Keywords
- Surgical Specialty Keywords
- Equipment and Technology Keywords
- Certifications and Education
- OR Environment Keywords
- Surgical Tech Keywords by Specialty
- Strong vs Weak Resume Examples
- Keyword Integration Strategy
60+ Essential Surgical Technologist Resume Keywords (2026)
Core Surgical Skills
| Category | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Instrumentation | Surgical Instrumentation, Instrument Handling, Instrument Preparation, Instrument Assembly, Surgical Trays, Instrument Sets, Retractors, Forceps, Clamps |
| Positioning | Patient Positioning, Surgical Positioning, Positioning Devices, Lateral Position, Prone Position, Lithotomy Position, Trendelenburg |
| Draping | Sterile Draping, Surgical Draping, Drape Application, Fenestrated Drapes, Isolation Drapes |
| Anticipation | Surgeon Anticipation, Procedure Flow, Instrument Passing, Surgical Rhythm, Case Progression |
Sterile Technique and Safety
| Category | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Sterile Field | Sterile Technique, Aseptic Technique, Sterile Field Maintenance, Contamination Prevention, Sterility Assurance |
| Surgical Counts | Surgical Counts, Sponge Counts, Instrument Counts, Needle Counts, Count Verification, Retained Foreign Object Prevention |
| Infection Control | Infection Control, Infection Prevention, Surgical Site Infection (SSI) Prevention, Antimicrobial Protocols, Hand Hygiene |
| Safety Protocols | Patient Safety, Surgical Safety Checklist, Time Out Procedure, Universal Protocol, Fire Safety, Specimen Handling |
Surgical Specialty Keywords
| Specialty | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Orthopedic Surgery | Orthopedic Surgery, Total Joint Replacement, Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA), Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA), Fracture Fixation, ORIF, Spine Surgery, Arthroscopy |
| General Surgery | General Surgery, Laparoscopic Surgery, Cholecystectomy, Appendectomy, Hernia Repair, Colectomy, Bariatric Surgery |
| Cardiovascular Surgery | Cardiovascular Surgery, CABG (Coronary Artery Bypass Graft), Valve Replacement, Open Heart Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Thoracic Surgery |
| Neurosurgery | Neurosurgery, Craniotomy, Spinal Fusion, Laminectomy, Brain Tumor Resection, Stereotactic Surgery |
| OB/GYN Surgery | OB/GYN Surgery, Cesarean Section, Hysterectomy, Laparoscopic Gynecology, Robotic GYN Surgery |
| Urology | Urology Surgery, Cystoscopy, Prostatectomy, Nephrectomy, TURP, Robotic Urology |
| ENT Surgery | ENT Surgery, Tonsillectomy, Adenoidectomy, Sinus Surgery, Mastoidectomy, Cochlear Implant |
| Plastic Surgery | Plastic Surgery, Reconstructive Surgery, Breast Reconstruction, Skin Grafting, Flap Procedures |
Equipment and Technology
| Category | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Robotic Surgery | Da Vinci Robotic Surgery, Robotic-Assisted Surgery, Robotic Instrumentation, Robotic Docking, Intuitive Surgical |
| Laparoscopic | Laparoscopic Equipment, Laparoscopic Instruments, Trocars, Insufflation, Camera Operation, Endoscopic Surgery |
| Electrosurgical | Electrosurgical Unit (ESU), Bovie, Cautery, Harmonic Scalpel, LigaSure, Argon Beam Coagulation |
| Power Equipment | Power Instruments, Surgical Drills, Saws, Reamers, Oscillating Saw, Pneumatic Equipment |
| Specialty Equipment | Surgical Lasers, C-Arm Fluoroscopy, Ultrasound, Microscope, Cell Saver, Autotransfusion |
| Sterilization | Autoclave, Steam Sterilization, STERRAD, Low-Temperature Sterilization, Sterile Processing |
Certifications and Education
| Category | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Primary Certification | CST (Certified Surgical Technologist), NBSTSA Certified, National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting |
| Advanced Certification | TS-C (Tech in Surgery-Certified), CST-CFA (Certified First Assistant), CSFA (Certified Surgical First Assistant) |
| Life Support | BLS (Basic Life Support), ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support), CPR Certified |
| Education | Associate Degree in Surgical Technology, CAAHEP Accredited Program, Surgical Technology Diploma, Clinical Rotations |
| Specialty Training | Orthopedic Specialty Training, Cardiovascular Training, Neurosurgery Training, Robotic Surgery Certification |
OR Environment
| Category | Keywords |
|---|---|
| Team Collaboration | Surgical Team, OR Team, Surgeon Collaboration, Anesthesia Coordination, Circulator Coordination, Perioperative Team |
| Case Management | Case Preparation, Room Turnover, Case Cart System, Preference Cards, Surgeon Preferences, Back Table Setup |
| Documentation | Surgical Documentation, OR Records, Implant Documentation, Count Documentation, Operative Notes |
| Patient Care | Patient Advocacy, Patient Comfort, Pre-Operative Preparation, Post-Operative Handoff, Patient Transport |
| Environment | Operating Room, Surgical Suite, Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC), Outpatient Surgery, Level I Trauma Center, Teaching Hospital |
Surgical Tech Keywords by Specialty
| Specialty | Must-Have Keywords | Common Procedures | Setting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orthopedic | Joint Replacement, Fracture Fixation, Power Equipment, Implants | TKA, THA, ORIF, ACL Repair | Hospital, ASC |
| General Surgery | Laparoscopic, Minimally Invasive, GI Surgery | Cholecystectomy, Hernia Repair, Appendectomy | Hospital, ASC |
| Cardiovascular | Open Heart, Cardiopulmonary Bypass, Perfusion | CABG, Valve Replacement | Hospital, Cardiac Center |
| Neurosurgery | Microscope, Craniotomy, Stereotactic | Brain Surgery, Spine Surgery | Hospital, Neuro Center |
| Robotic Surgery | Da Vinci, Robotic Docking, Console | Prostatectomy, Hysterectomy | Hospital, ASC |
| Trauma | Rapid Response, Emergency Surgery, Damage Control | Exploratory Laparotomy, Trauma Resection | Level I Trauma Center |
👉 Want to instantly check which surgical technologist keywords your resume is missing? Upload your resume + job description and get your gap analysis in seconds.
Strong Example: Keyword-Optimized Surgical Technologist Resume
Experience Section:
Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) | Regional Medical Center | 2022 - Present
- Scrub for 300+ surgical cases annually across orthopedic, general surgery, and neurosurgery specialties in a Level I Trauma Center
- Maintain sterile technique and aseptic field throughout all procedures, achieving zero surgical site infections attributable to scrub technique
- Perform accurate surgical counts (sponge, instrument, needle) with 100% compliance, preventing retained foreign objects
- Anticipate surgeon needs and provide efficient instrument passing for complex procedures including total joint replacements, spinal fusions, and craniotomies
- Set up and operate Da Vinci robotic surgery system for robotic-assisted prostatectomy and robotic hysterectomy cases
- Handle laparoscopic equipment including trocars, insufflation, and camera systems for minimally invasive procedures
- Operate electrosurgical units, Harmonic scalpels, and LigaSure devices for hemostasis and tissue dissection
- Ensure proper patient positioning using positioning devices for lateral, prone, and lithotomy positions
- Collaborate with surgical team including surgeons, anesthesia providers, and circulating nurses to ensure optimal patient outcomes
- Prepare instrument trays, verify preference cards, and manage case cart system for efficient room turnover (average 15 minutes)
Skills Section:
Surgical Competencies: Sterile Technique, Surgical Instrumentation, Patient Positioning, Surgical Counts, Aseptic Field, Surgeon Anticipation Specialties: Orthopedic Surgery, General Surgery, Neurosurgery, Robotic Surgery, Laparoscopic Surgery Procedures: Total Joint Replacement, Spinal Fusion, Craniotomy, Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy, Robotic Prostatectomy Equipment: Da Vinci Robotic System, Electrosurgical Units, Laparoscopic Equipment, Power Instruments, Surgical Lasers Certifications: CST (NBSTSA Certified), BLS, Robotic Surgery Trained Education: Associate Degree, Surgical Technology, CAAHEP Accredited Program
Weak Example: Missing Keywords
Experience Section:
Surgical Technologist | Hospital | 2022 - Present
- Assisted surgeons in the operating room
- Set up equipment before surgeries
- Helped keep things sterile
- Counted supplies during procedures
Skills Section:
Surgery, Operating Room, Sterile, Team Player
Why it fails:
- No CST certification mentioned
- No specific surgical specialties listed
- No procedure names (TKA, CABG, laparoscopic)
- No equipment mentioned (Da Vinci, electrosurgical)
- No surgical count specificity
- Generic language that ATS cannot match to specific job requirements
Keyword Integration Strategy
1. Lead with Your Certification
Your resume summary should immediately identify your CST certification:
"NBSTSA-certified Surgical Technologist (CST) with 4 years of experience scrubbing for orthopedic, general, and neurosurgical procedures in a Level I Trauma Center."
2. List Specific Procedures
Healthcare ATS systems search for exact procedure names. Do not write "assisted with surgeries." Write:
"Scrubbed for total knee arthroplasty (TKA), total hip arthroplasty (THA), laparoscopic cholecystectomy, spinal fusion, and craniotomy procedures"
3. Name Your Equipment
ATS filters for specific equipment experience. Include:
- Robotic systems (Da Vinci)
- Laparoscopic equipment
- Electrosurgical devices (Bovie, Harmonic, LigaSure)
- Power instruments (drills, saws)
4. Quantify Your OR Experience
Recruiters search for surgical techs who can handle volume:
- Cases per year (300+ surgeries annually)
- Specialties covered (3+ specialties)
- Room turnover times (15 minutes average)
- Count compliance (100% accuracy)
5. Emphasize Safety and Sterility
Patient safety keywords are essential:
- "Maintained sterile technique with zero SSI incidents"
- "100% surgical count compliance"
- "Zero retained foreign object incidents"
Related Articles
Healthcare Resume Keywords (Cluster)
- Resume Keywords by Industry (2026): The Ultimate List - Master hub for all 50+ role-specific keyword guides
- Medical Assistant Resume Keywords (2026) - Clinical support role keywords
- Nursing Resume Keywords (2026) - RN and LPN keywords
- CNA Resume Keywords (2026) - Certified nursing assistant keywords
- Nurse Practitioner Resume Keywords (2026) - Advanced practice nursing keywords
- Physician Assistant Resume Keywords (2026) - PA-C and clinical provider keywords
ATS Optimization Guides
- How to Pass ATS in 2025 - Complete ATS compatibility guide
- Free ATS Resume Scanner - Test your resume compatibility instantly
Surgical Tech Career Resources
- AST (Association of Surgical Technologists) - Professional association and career resources
- NBSTSA (National Board of Surgical Technology) - CST certification information
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Surgical Technologists - Job outlook and salary data
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