Legislative Overview
AST advocates to pass state
laws that, in order
to be hired to practice surgical technology, the candidate must:
(1) graduate
from a CAAHEP-accredited surgical technology program;
(2) obtain the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST®) credential from the National Board of Surgical Technology
and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA); and
(3) maintain the CST® credential by completing mandatory continuing
education (CE) hours.
These requirements would
apply to new-hires employed on or after the effective date of the law. Federal
employees are exempt from the state law.
NOTE: When a state passes this law, nothing
in the law prevents an employer from requiring all of its surgical technologist employees (not just new-hires) to meet the full requirements of the law
regardless of whether the employee fits into the “grandfathered” or “military”
exceptions.
State Law Overview
The
following states have passed law related to the education and certification of
surgical technologists. For more information, click on the Map of State Laws (members
only):
- Indiana (2009)
- Massachusetts (2012)
- Nevada (2017)
- New Jersey (2011)
- New York (2015)
- Oregon (2016)
- Pennsylvania (2020)
- South Carolina (2018)
- Tennessee (2013)
- Texas (2009)
- Idaho (1991) - Idaho has an
administrative rule requiring that surgical technologists (referred to as “operating room
technicians” in the rule) either complete a CAAHEP-accredited program OR satisfy the NBSTSA requirements
for CST/certification.
The
following states require surgical
technologists to register in order to work in the state:
- Colorado (2016) (CST not required for registration)
- North Dakota (2011) (“Unlicensed Assistive Person”
registry; CST not required for registration)
- Washington (2010) (CST not required for registration)
The
following states offer optional registration/title protection for
surgical technologists:
- Arkansas (2017) (Must be a CST in order to qualify for the
registry/title protection)
- Illinois (2004) (Must be a CST in order to qualify for the
registry/title protection)
- Virginia (2014) (Must be a CST in order to qualify for the
registry/title protection)