CSTs and CSFAs Actively Participate in Continuing Education
to Keep Current with the Latest in Surgical Techniques,
Asepsis and Surgical Patient Care.
The certification cycle renews every four years, wherein
individuals pursuing a CST credential are required to earn 60
continuing education (CE) credits to maintain certification.
Individuals pursuing the CSFA credential are required to earn
75 CE credits in the four-year period. The requirement for
renewal assures employers that the surgical staff is
knowledgeable and actively committed to quality patient
care. Employers can easily verify a prospective employee’s
certification status by visiting the NBSTSA website,
www.nbstsa.org,
or by calling 800-637-7433.
CSTs and CSFAs Work Successfully in Any Area Where a
High Level of Knowledge of Sterile Technique and Surgical
Products is Required.
CSTs and CSFAs can fill a number of roles in the OR, including
scrub, circulator and, with additional training, surgical first
assistant.
In addition to the OR, CSTs are employed in central supply
and purchasing, where they assist in evaluating many
surgical products to facilitate purchasing decisions.
Conversely, many CSTs and CSFAs also work as representatives
for medical products companies and utilize their OR
experience to help facilities knowledgeably select products
to accommodate their surgical needs.
An increasing number of CSTs and CSFAs are applying
their education and sharing operating room experience as
educators in surgical technology programs offered by
universities and community colleges.
Another career option that many CSTs and CSFAs are now
pursuing successfully is the field of assisting in veterinary
surgery.
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A S S O C I A T I O N O F S U R G I C A L T E C H N O L O G I S T S