Legislative Mission
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 or ABHES-accredited surgical technology program; and
(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 legislation. Federal employees are exempt from the state law.
State Law Overview
Surgical Technologists
The following states have passed laws related to surgical technologist education, certification, and/or registration. For more information, click on the Map of State Laws (members
only):
Laws related to education/certification or registration with educational/certification standards (Virginia):
Laws related to registration:
This map of state laws has additional information for each state.
In addition to these states, hospitals and ASCs generally have requirements for personnel demonstrating current competence. Hospitals and ASCs would expose themselves to considerable liability by allowing untrained personnel to perform the functions of
a surgical technologist. Hospital and ASCs bylaws and policies and procedures provide credentialing requirements and oversight regarding who can provide surgical technologist services in their facilities. The exposure to liability that hospitals face
for surgical errors or hospital-acquired infections resulting from insufficiently trained personnel performing tasks is incentive for hospitals and ASCs to ensure their staff has demonstrated current competence.
Here is a handout you can save and email or print and hand to your employer.
Please contact the facility’s risk manager if you have questions regarding the procedures and functions surgical technologists are allowed to perform at that facility.
The Association of Surgical Technologists provides this information on an educational and informational basis and does not offer legal advice. AST recommends that individuals or healthcare facilities consult with their attorneys for answers to legal questions. This information should not be considered complete or exhaustive and may not reflect the most current information. As a result, AST does not represent this information as complete, accurate, and up-to-date.
Surgical Assistants
The following states have laws related to surgical assistant licensure, certification, and/or reimbursement:
Texas (2002)
Kentucky (2004)
Illinois (2004, 2013, 2018)
Washington, D.C. (2007)
Indiana (2011)
Virginia (2015, 2020)
Colorado (2016)
Tennessee (2017)
Nebraska (2017)
For details, visit the state on the Map of State Laws.
In addition to these states, hospitals and ASCs generally have requirements for personnel demonstrating current competence. Hospitals and ASCs would expose themselves to considerable liability by allowing untrained personnel to perform the functions of
a surgical assistant. Hospital and ASCs bylaws and policies and procedures provide credentialing requirements and oversight regarding who can provide surgical assistant services in their facilities. The exposure to liability that hospitals face for
surgical errors or hospital-acquired infections resulting from insufficiently trained personnel performing tasks is incentive for hospitals and ASCs to ensure their staff has demonstrated current competence.
The Association of Surgical Technologists provides this information on an educational and informational basis and does not offer legal advice. AST recommends that individuals or healthcare facilities consult with their attorneys for answers to legal questions. This information should not be considered complete or exhaustive and may not reflect the most current information. As a result, AST does not represent this information as complete, accurate, and up-to-date.