AST National Honor Society

Benefits of Membership

1. Members can include this distinction on resumes/applications for employment and future educational endeavors.
2. Members will receive up to three letters of recommendation sent to the student’s choice of potential employers or education institutions.
3. Members will receive recognition at AST’s annual national conference and on the AST web site.
4. Members will receive an NHS certificate, pin and lifetime membership card. Lifetime membership is for the Honor Society alone; it does not include membership in AST.
5. Members will be eligible for the NHS scholarships.

Process for Accepting Nominations

1. Nominations will be accepted only from the program director of a CAAHEP-accredited surgical technology program. The program director may nominate a maximum of three (3) students per class.
2. The program director should review the criteria for student nomination. Nominations must be kept confidential until released by AST.
3. The program director must submit the nomination form to AST 90 days prior to graduation. If forms are not submitted 90 days prior to graduation, students will not be eligible for nomination.
4. AST will review the nominations, verify information submitted and contact the program director for additional information if necessary.
5. AST will make the final selection and notify the program director of successful nominations.
6. AST will send the program director a letter and NHS Membership Acceptance Form for each successful nominee.
7. The acceptance form and $25-lifetime membership fee must be received from the student 30 days prior to graudation or additional postage/mailing fees will be applied.
8. Following receipt of the signed acceptance form and membership fee, AST will forward to the program director the NHS certificate, pin and lifetime membership card. To receive these items overnight or any other shorter period of time as compared to regular mail, the program director and/or student will pay for the cost.
9. The program director can present this honor to the student at graduation in front of peers and/or however they see fit.

Requirements for Membership

1. The student must have completed 75% of the graduation requirements at a CAAHEP-accredited surgical technology program.
2. The student must maintain and have no less than a 3.5 GPA (based on a 4.0 grading scale).
3. The student must have at least a 95% overall attendance rate.
4. The student must be a good school citizen and have neither past nor present disciplinary actions.
5. The student must project qualities of integrity and leadership in academic and extracurricular activities.
6. The student must be a member of AST.

Membership Fees

Upon notification from the program director of the NHS nomination, the student must submit an acceptance form and the $25-lifetime membership fee 30 days prior to graduation before being inducted.

Responsibility of Members

• Demonstrate professional leadership and appropriate personal conduct.
• Enhance the image of surgical technologists through practice and active participation in community affairs and legislation.
• Uphold a high level of honesty and moral integrity.
• Show responsibility toward the patient and oneself that seeks to ensure consistent delivery of quality care to the patient.
• Exhibit a strong surgical conscience by putting the safety and wellbeing of the patient first.

Nomination Policy for Nonacccredited Surgical Technology Programs