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Navy NEC · Medical

L23A Surgical Technologist

Current service use not established

This code is listed in the directory. Inclusion alone does not confirm current service use.

A Navy Enlisted Classification: a skill designation sailors hold in addition to their rating.

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Overview

A Surgical Technologist assists medical officers with surgical techniques and provides patient care, safety, and support before, during, and after surgery. They select, sterilize, and prepare surgical instruments and materials, assist anesthetists during procedures, maintain equipment and records, and help train personnel assigned surgical duties.

Minimum clearance: Secret

Core Skills

  • Surgical instrument selection and sterilization
  • Artificial respiration and resuscitator assistance
  • Surgical equipment maintenance and recordkeeping
  • Surgical trainee instruction and evaluation

Civilian Career Paths

Career associations are editorial assessments of the cited evidence, not an official crosswalk unless the evidence explicitly says so. O*NET supplies civilian occupation information, not proof of a military match. Related experience does not confer civilian qualifications. Tasks and tools below describe civilian work, not military training.

Surgical Technologists

Preparing sterile instruments, supporting patients throughout surgery, and assisting medical officers during procedures directly overlap with civilian surgical technology work.

How to prepare: Check the target state's registration or certification rules and the employer's education and credential requirements, including whether your documented military surgical training satisfies an accepted entry route.

What the civilian work involves
  • Maintain a proper sterile field during surgical procedures.
  • Provide technical assistance to surgeons, surgical nurses, or anesthesiologists.
  • Prepare patients for surgery, including positioning patients on the operating table and covering them with sterile surgical drapes to prevent exposure.
Civilian tools and software (examples)
  • Electronic medical record EMR software

Notes & Sources

Evidence for this guidance (2 documents)
  1. NAVPERS 18068F Vol II (NEOCS, Jul 2026 edition): NEC L23A

    [1] NEC entry "L23A - Surgical Technologist"; cached text line 7877; NAVPERS 18068F Vol II, 2026-07 edition

    Supports: Surgical instrument selection and sterilization, Artificial respiration and resuscitator assistance, Surgical equipment maintenance and recordkeeping, Surgical trainee instruction and evaluation, Surgical Technologists (O*NET 29-2055.00)

  2. O*NET: Surgical Technologists

    [2] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Surgical Technologists (O*NET 29-2055.00)

Defense contractor jobs for L23A

Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.

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