CE Course Library

Renewal By Continuing Education Credits

• Two-Year Certification Cycle - CSTs
  Certified Surgical Technologists (CST) must earn 30 CE credits, including 4 defined as live, before their two-year cycle expires to renew their credential.
• Two-Year Certification Cycle - CSFAs
  Certified Surgical First Assistants (CSFA) must earn 38 CE credits, including 8 defined as live, before their two-year cycle expires to renew their credential.

Certification Renewal is a Two-Step Process

Earning and submitting CE and renewal of certification is a two-step process and both steps must be completed to avoid the expiration of your CST or CSFA credential:

Step One: Earn and Submit Continuing Education (CE) Credits to AST

Earn CE Credits

• All CE must be earned from AST-approved sources.
• Unapproved CE or CE earned after the expiration date of your certification will not be added to your CE credit record for your current certification cycle.

Submit CE Credits

• Go to the AST CE Reporting Form to submit CE.
• Additional fees may apply to submit approved CE earned in any period of non-membership during your certification cycle.

Step Two: Submit Certification Renewal Application to the NBSTSA

• All CE must be earned within the dates of your certification cycle - not before or after.
• You must renew your certification before the renewal date by submitting the Certification Renewal Application and renewal fee .
• The NBSTSA will verify your CE credit total after receiving the renewal application and fee.
• The NBSTSA strongly encourages you to submit the required CE credits to AST 60 days in advance of your renewal date to avoid any delay in processing your new card and certificate.

For more information regarding the recertification process, visit https://www.nbstsa.org/renewals-recertification

*A member is defined as having a current paid membership with AST, separate from the NBSTSA certification.

When completing a test or package, please read through the following to register your CE Credit(s) online:

• You may read an article or take a test as many times as you wish prior to passing.
  • Once the test(s) are passed and added to the CART, payment must be applied prior to receiving your earned credits. These will automatically be applied to your AST account.
  • Purchase the CE Credit(s) with a credit card and it will instantly record to your CE Credit History. We accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express.
• You can also view your CE Credit History online.
• Each CE Credit Package and/or journal tests may only be submitted once in an 8-year period.
• If needed, print out the Certificate of Completion in the Certificates tab by clicking on the certificate number.

To submit journal test or package answer sheets to AST by mail or email:

• Mail: AST, 6 West Dry Creek Circle, Ste 200, Littleton, CO 80120-8031
• Email: [email protected] . Scan and save your documents as a PDF file and email them to Membership Services.

For Live CE Videos, please make sure your Mac operating system is up to date in order to view the videos.

*Once you have completed all required Continuing Education Credits, your certification is not renewed. Please contact your certification company for the second step of the renewal process.

For questions regarding Continuing Education Credits or to report any difficulties, please use our Live Chat located at the bottom right of the screen or contact us by phone at 800-637-7433.

Live CE

In 2019, the National Board for Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) announced that the certification cycle for the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) and the Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA) was changed from four to two years, effective January 1, 2020.

For those in the new two-year cycle, CSTs are required to earn a total of 30 CE credits, including 4 CE credits earned in Live CE settings, and CSFAs are required to earn 38 CE credits, including 8 earned in Live CE settings. For details, visit: https://www.nbstsa.org/renewals-recertification

Live CE is defined as all CE sessions presented at AST-approved conferences, workshops, AST State Assembly meetings, AST medical missions, employer in-services, grand rounds, physician professional meetings, including live or on-demand CE webinars or videos, and live CE offered by manufacturers.

Examples of live CE that will be accepted and processed for recertification include:

• Live CE processed for recertification earned at conferences, workshops, State Assembly meetings, medical missions, employer in-services, grand rounds, and physician professional meetings must be approved by AST or otherwise comply with the AST Continuing Education Policies for the CST and CSFA.
• AST will approve Live CE offered by manufacturers, but not on-demand CE webinars or videos.
• For documentation requirements when submitting Live CE credits, visit: https://www.ast.org/Members/AST_CE_Policies/

How and where can I earn Live CE?

AST State Assembly Meetings

• Upcoming Programs: https://www.ast.org/State_Assemblies/Upcoming_Programs/
• Connect With Your State Assembly: https://www.ast.org/State_Assemblies/State_Websites/