Surgical tech programs in New Mexico

3 surgical tech programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

3 schools offer these surgical technology programs, and New Mexico has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Surgical technologists, also called operating room technicians, prepare operating rooms, arrange the equipment and help doctors during surgery. Most have a certificate or an associate degree from an accredited program, and some employers require certification.¹

In New Mexico, 2 of the 3 programs ask for a high school diploma or equivalent and 1 asks for earlier courses first.

All 3 are the same kind of program: surgical technology (associate degree).

See the 3 programs

How much do surgical tech programs cost in New Mexico?

$4,439 to $6,025

is what the 3 programs with a price cost if you pay yourself

In the typical program

Finished the program: Left out; 7 in 10 of New Mexico's programs report exactly 100%, far more than in other states
Working 6 months later: Not enough data; 2 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Earned a year, estimated: Not enough data; 2 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Length: Not enough data; 3 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in New Mexico may also offer surgical tech programs. How these figures are made

Are there free surgical tech programs in New Mexico?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.²³⁴For a degree, the job center first looks at grants such as a federal Pell Grant; WIOA pays toward what they don't cover.⁴In program year 2024 it paid toward the training of at least 4 people at 1 of the 3 programs here.
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁵ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.⁴
Or pay yourself. These programs cost $4,439 to $6,025.

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

All 3 surgical tech programs in New Mexico approved for WIOA funding

3 programs

Surgical technology (associate degree)In personPrerequisite courses
Surgical Technology (CNM)AA
Central New Mexico Community College -Central-C01
Albuquerque
Accredited school
Prerequisite courses
Central New Mexico Community College -Central-C01, AlbuquerqueSurgical technology (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · Prerequisite courses
Earned a year, estimated$47,000
Price if you pay yourself$4,439
Program website, Surgical Technology (CNM)AA at Central New Mexico Community College -Central-C01
More details about Surgical Technology (CNM)AA at Central New Mexico Community College -Central-C01
Finished
Left out
Working at 6 months
86%
Earned in a quarter
$11,753
Length
122 weeks, 15 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$3,660
Students counted
283
Earned a year, estimated
$47,000
Price if you pay yourself
$4,439
Program website, Surgical Technology (CNM)AA at Central New Mexico Community College -Central-C01
Surgical technology (associate degree)HybridHigh school diploma or equivalent
Surgical Technology, A.A.S.
San Juan College-North-C29
Farmington
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
San Juan College-North-C29, FarmingtonSurgical technology (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$52,500
Price if you pay yourself$6,025
4 students trained with WIOA funding
Program website, Surgical Technology, A.A.S. at San Juan College-North-C29
More details about Surgical Technology, A.A.S. at San Juan College-North-C29
Finished
Left out
Working at 6 months
48%
Earned in a quarter
$13,125
Length
80 weeks, 24 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$2,610
Students counted
124
Earned a year, estimated
$52,500
Price if you pay yourself
$6,025
students trained with WIOA funding
4
Program website, Surgical Technology, A.A.S. at San Juan College-North-C29
Surgical technology (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Surgical Technology - Associate of Applied Science
Southeast New Mexico College
Carlsbad
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Southeast New Mexico College, CarlsbadSurgical technology (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$5,939
Program website, Surgical Technology - Associate of Applied Science at Southeast New Mexico College
More details about Surgical Technology - Associate of Applied Science at Southeast New Mexico College
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
64 weeks, 22 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$6,899
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$5,939
Program website, Surgical Technology - Associate of Applied Science at Southeast New Mexico College

How to pay for surgical tech programs in New Mexico

WIOA funding can pay for surgical tech programs in New Mexico

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for surgical tech programs

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.⁶⁷

GI Bill for surgical tech programs

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.⁸

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Surgical tech programs in Albuquerque, Farmington, Carlsbad and other New Mexico cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above.

Other training in New Mexico

How surgical tech programs compare with the rest of allied health: Allied health programs in New Mexico

Where the New Mexico surgical technology program numbers come from

Which New Mexico surgical technology programs are on this list?

These are the surgical technology programs New Mexico approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).⁹ The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what New Mexico offers.

How the prices and results of New Mexico surgical technology programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

How reliable are the New Mexico figures?

We leave out the share who finished for New Mexico: 7 in 10 of its programs report exactly 100%, far more than in other states.

Sources for the facts about surgical tech programs in New Mexico

Show the 9 sourcesHide the sources

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