Decatur, IL – On Wednesday, March 19, Brooke Oliver – Richland Community College’s Program Director of Surgical Technology and president of the Illinois State Assembly of Surgical Technologists – will testify at the state capitol to advocate for the Operating Room Safety Act.
Currently, Illinois does not require surgical technologists to complete accredited education programs or maintain national certification. That is why lawmakers are now considering SB0251 / HB1598. This legislation was introduced to the General Assembly in January 2025; it requires surgical technologists hired or contracted by a healthcare facility after January 1, 2028, to meet educational and certification mandates.
For years, Brooke Oliver has been fighting for mandated educational requirements for surgical technologists.
“Education for me is more of a lifelong process. It’s not just to complete a degree or certification. As a surgical technologist, there’s new technology emerging all the time that you must learn. There’s always a next step,” she said. “We have some facilities in the state that are taking people from housekeeping and the cafeteria and in six weeks, training them on the job on live patients. This is opposed to an accredited program where they take a full year of didactic and lab classes, ensuring they are competent on skills, before they’re allowed to even enter the hospital environment.
“This lack of standardization creates inconsistencies in training, skills, and competency levels among those working in the field. Without formal education and certification requirements, surgical technologists may lack the essential theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience needed to navigate the complexities of an operating room and assist the surgeon during operative procedures.”
To learn more about the field of Surgical Technology and Richland’s robust program, visit richland.edu/surgical-technology.