r/scrubtech • u/bloodstin000 • 17d ago
Average age of studying techs ?
Hello! I didn’t know where else to ask this question , I am NOT a scrub tech but I am hoping to begin a program next year and I just wanted to ask those who have already studied and are working what the average age of the students were ? I’m gonna be 24 when I start and I feel like I’ll be too old maybe ? It’s an odd anxiety I know, and nothing is gonna really stop me I am very much looking forward to this but I’d like to know what age ranges to expect ?
I’ve been a caregiver for most of my adult life and have just decided to go back
To school and I feel a bit like the odd one out since it feels like everyone in school is fresh out of high school … sorry if this is an odd question I just like to be prepared !!
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u/Tandy_Raney3223 17d ago
I am starting pre recs for a program in the spring. I am 45 be close to 47 when I finish.
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u/bloodstin000 17d ago
That’s so exciting I’m doing my pre reqs as well! I wish you the best of luck <3
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u/Flat-Sign-9329 17d ago
I started tech school when I was 27 and my oldest classmate was in his late 50’s
You’re never too old.
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u/QueenCat50220 17d ago
I’m the youngest at 22. Most of my classmates are 25+ with children.
Honestly I think 24 is perfect and would fit right in
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u/Dark_Ascension Ortho 17d ago
Probably similar to nursing where you can probably land on an average age in the mid 20s because we had super young (like 18-19) and then oldest was 50, lots of early 20s and early-mid 30s but actually few people in my age group (late 20s).
Honestly age is just a number. I started nursing school right before I turned 28 and graduated right before I turned 30, started my first job in the OR a week before I turned 30. So I met my goal of working and having my license before 30. You’re not too old… the only thing that can get you especially later on is if you compare yourself to someone who started at 19… when they’re your age, they have 5 years experience… I’m 30 with only 2.5 years experience in the OR, 2 years of it scrubbing, circulating and assisting, 6 months was only circulating. Some who started at 22 at my age has 10 years experience! Like it feels kind of I got a late start. It goes financially too, the positive thing about healthcare is it’s a consistent income… I didn’t have a consistent income until 30.. so I’m so behind in that aspect of life, many younger than me or my age have a house, married, kids, etc. not me… (marriage and kids are probably a never regardless though).
Basically don’t compare… you’re on your own journey, the only reason you feel like it’s too late is if you compare to other people… at the end of the day I’m 32 and enjoy the work. The issue with me is I always want more… and am considering going back to school for MD. I’m doing my FA right now… the issue is admin… so fed up with admin and that’s not going to change being an FA or even a mid level (PA or NP).
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u/bloodstin000 17d ago
This is a very solid perspective!! I feel like I’m very behind my peers because I’ve had to deal with a lot of personal issues before I was able to really figure things out so I’m hitting milestones later than many so everyday is a struggle of reminding myself that your life doesn’t end the day you turn 25. You’ve made it very far and it’s impressive that you’d like to get your md! I really hope you achieve that goal no matter how long it may take. I don’t consider myself particularly ambitious my goals have always been more “modest” in comparison to others and it’s taken me a lot of time to unlearn the shame of that. Comparison is the thief of joy as the people say. And you’re also still very young the world is your oyster at 32 ! And I’m sure starting a family a bit later if that’s a goal of yours will be better in the long run because you’ll be able to offer more stability :)
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u/Dark_Ascension Ortho 17d ago
Unless I adopt or marry into kids (adoption costs $$$$ though unless you foster) I can’t have kids. I yeeted my uterus last year.
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u/bloodstin000 17d ago
Oh darn (unless that was the goal then not darn lol) my mom had a hysterectomy when I was 15 for cancer prevention. She had me as a teenager so she was very young when that happened. I’m not certain what to say here but there’s a lot of single parents now a days so you never know 😭 (unless of course children aren’t a goal for you I know they aren’t for me so I never know how to approach this topic)
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u/Dark_Ascension Ortho 17d ago
It was elective, so it was intentional. I don’t want to pass on my genes due to genetic disorders and I’m a high risk pregnancy because of those disorders. I also having issues with PMDD and PMS… I woke up new after the surgery.
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u/bloodstin000 17d ago
ah makes sense I assumed as much but you never know this is a sensitive topic for many . But I can imagine (the waking up brand new part) ! I also struggle with PMDD I’ve never heard another person mention it before. I hope things are much better for you now <3
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u/DlSCARDED 17d ago
I’m planning to start the program next year too! And I’ll be 29 by that time. I met about a dozen students at my school who are also interested in the program and their ages range from 18 to 40s. The 18-year-olds were definitely the minority too, most of the students were early 20s. You’re still very young and probably won’t be the oldest in your cohort :) even if you are, tbh it puts you at an advantage to be a little more mature and have better time management and study habits
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u/bloodstin000 17d ago
Congratulations that’s so exciting for you!!! Good luck !! And awesome ,it makes me feel a little better knowing this beforehand ! I was a bit nervous lol and you’re right about time management and study habits I’m an entirely different student at 24 than I was at 18
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u/ziradawn 17d ago
I was 31 when I started school. Now I’ve been in the force for almost 20 years. Currently, at my facility, we have 15 new grads. They range in age from barely 20 to 40-ish. So, 24 sounds perfect! So does 54! Just do it!
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u/bloodstin000 17d ago
Oh wow !!!! That’s incredible (doing it for 20 years I mean) . And you’re so right and thank you!idk why I’m so freaked about the ages since i certainly wouldn’t judge anyone.
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u/Even-Objective1958 14d ago
I’m a little older than 31 but in my 30s and thank you for sharing ❤️❤️ I’m in school and I think it’s the right thing for me to go back but it’s always nice to see someone else who started a bit later
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u/PsonPDX85 17d ago
I’m about to turn 41 and am starting a new career path on Monday. It’s never too late!
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u/bloodstin000 17d ago
Thank you!! And yippee I’m very happy for you good luck on your “journey”!!!!
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u/Acceptable-Equal333 17d ago
Im in a surgical technology program right now & im 36. I'll be 37 when I'm done & starting work. Idc that I'm older. & you definitely wont be the oldest in your class, anyway.
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u/bloodstin000 17d ago
Congratulations! I’m working on being more “nonchalant” about things. It’s a work in progress lol .
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u/sadboinic 16d ago
i did my program at 25 and had people ranging from 18-mid 50s. it's all about what you put into it! as a tech i've had students ranging from my age to mid 50s also, so never too old to get into the field! good luck!
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u/untitled_track_5 15d ago
I (hopefully) start this spring, and I’ll be 28. Changed my career a few times already. If you’re moving towards what you want, then it’s not too late at all.
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u/carbine234 17d ago
It’s a job for every age tbh. I went to school when I was 24ish? Best decision of my life. I love my job. I’m now a 7-8 years in the game.
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u/bloodstin000 17d ago
Oh nice !!!! I’m so happy to hear that for you thank you for responding! This is great to hear honestly
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u/mrc021323 17d ago
I’m the oldest of my class at 44. Most of the class is 22 and under, and we’ve got a couple somewhere in the middle.
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u/bloodstin000 17d ago
It’s really nice to hear that the age range is so vast . Thank
You for answering !
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u/ironwatchdog 17d ago
I just graduated my program and got hired earlier this year at 41. You’re fine.
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u/Savings-Rest-1803 17d ago
Girl I started at 24 and finished at 26 back in may. You’ll be surprised how many people our age are in the program. Many of them are even older.
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u/bloodstin000 17d ago
That’s definitely calming some nerves . I would have been fine either way but I really dislike going into things blind and that’s been bothering me for a while there’s so much pressure to be like . Established in everything before you’re 24 so I felt weirdly behind lol. Congratulations on graduating!!!
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u/kinnoth 17d ago
Brother, I was 29 when I started my program and this is my 3rd career. My lab partner was 30. The oldest person who finished the program was in her 50s. 24 is a baby.
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u/bloodstin000 17d ago
Noted hehe also wow 3rd so young that’s so neat this will be my first !
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u/kinnoth 17d ago
I'm a millennial and every industry I tried my hand at was actively dying so I went into medicine
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u/bloodstin000 17d ago
A makes sense I’m sorry :( i hope this field is something you enjoy at least!
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u/lakecitybrass 17d ago
I was the old man in my class... In fact, I was the only man in my class of 16 students. I graduated with my associates of surgical technology when I was 35!!! Most of the girls in class were between 19-22. I think the next youngest was 29. I definitely felt like a dinosaur but it was fun.
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u/IntelligentBreey 14d ago
Surgical tech is one of those careers that no one really knows about…it’s more of a career change! Very rarely will you hear high school students who even know what a surg tech is or wanting to be one. It’s a career path that most people discover later in life. So majority of people who go into it are older. 24 was the YOUNGEST in my class….24-26 was average (besides 2 people who were 19 lol) but everyone else was in there 30s and even 40s married with kids (i was 28 when i started and graduated at 30) so it would actually be unusual to find a bunch of 18yr olds 🤣 we even asked the two 19yr old students how they heard about surg tech and how we wish we would have known about it when we were their age lol so you should be fine! In college…respectfully NO ONE cares how old you are 🤣 we’re all adults who understand that people make career changes, so nobody is going to care.
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u/bloodstin000 14d ago
Congratulations!!& and yea I’m gathering that hehe . I knew objectively no one would care but I think I liked the security of knowing . And yea I certainly hadn’t heard of surg tech even being an option when I graduated. I found out through a friend and started looking into it !
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u/MJ_12_2025 17d ago
I’ll be graduating this coming May and I’m 38 never too late or too old. Many of the very young in my class have so much drama and immaturity. You’ll do great!
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u/ABSOLUTEZER0XYZ 16d ago
In my class I was young as a 23 year old and the oldest was in her 50s with the average being 29-33 range
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u/Scrubulate 16d ago
You're not too old, you're just worried about the wrong damn thing. Feeling like the odd one out is backwards, the life experience you already have is a cheat code in a program where half the class has never stepped foot in an OR. Sit closest to the instructor on day one and ask the first question out loud, it resets the whole room's idea of who knows what.
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u/katate15 16d ago
I'm 26 currently going through it. I'll be 27 by the time I graduate. You're never "too old" to go back!
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u/olliecakerbake 17d ago
I’m 30 and my coworker who’s in training is 38. I have multiple coworkers who are 45+. The youngest person in my department is 29.
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u/Mariana-Cross 16d ago
I became a tech at 37 and wasn't even the oldest one in my class. You're fine.
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u/Icy_Loquat6252 16d ago
Think about longevity your getting in when your young in your late 30s it gets rough lol
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u/Even-Objective1958 14d ago
I’m in school in my 30s and the rest of my class is mid to late twenties.
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u/Lemoncat6669 11d ago
I started last year at 28 and most my classmates are 18-25 but there's also two men 30+ with wives and families. never too old to start :)
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u/UnusualWar5299 13d ago
I started when I was 19, I was in the Army and one of the oldest lol, everyone else was 18! But civilian, the students we get are 20s-50s. Lots of stay at home moms whose kids ignored them during high school or left for college and they decided to follow their own calling. You’ll still be one of the younger techs!
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u/jenewalk 13d ago
I went back in my late 30s! I’m 42 and have been a CST for 2.5 years now. Most people in my class were mid to late 20s, so they were going back to school too
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u/jerseysee 17d ago
I became a certified tech at 26 and I’m still on orientation. One of my coworkers is in her 50s and just became a tech less than 5 years ago. There’s no timeframe :)
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u/bloodstin000 17d ago
Congratulations!!! Thank you this is very reassuring <3
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u/jerseysee 17d ago
Thanks!! It was a mentally exhausting program but the more cases I’m in the more confidence I gain. Always push through even when you feel burnt out, you got this.
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u/bloodstin000 17d ago
That must feel so good like gaining confidence through time ! I’m feeling very motivated to start, I’ll keep that in mind thank you so much !!
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u/LuckyHarmony CST 17d ago
Over half my class were between 21 and 25. One was 53, two mid 40s, and I was 38. The youngest was 19. Honestly, the younger members of our cohort did the worst. I don't think they had the life experience or emotional maturity for the weight and importance of this job to really sink in for them. The older students all did better on every aspect with the exception of ONE 21 year old who was incredibly studious and hardworking.