AST Continuing Education Policies for the CST and CSFA - 4 year Certification Cycle

6 1. ARC/STSA 2. CST Study Guide Revision Panel 3. NBSTSA Item Writers Committee 4. CSFA Study Guide Revision Panel 5. NBSTSA Job and Task Analysis Committee 6. CST or CSFA Core Curriculum Revision Panel 7. NBSTSA Examination Review Committee – CST 8. NBSTSA Examination Review Committee – CSFA 9. AST Education & Professional Standards Committee Enduring material CE credits can be earned through the following methods. a) CE courses – hardcopy or electronic b) Authoring CE articles for health-related publications Important Notes a) CE activities must be relevant to the medical-surgical practice of surgical technology or surgical first assisting. b) Training provided by employer and work experience. 1. CE credits are not awarded for on-the-job training and work experience that the CST and CSFA completes as an employee of the facility providing the training. For example, a CST completes on-the-job training to learn the first scrub role to be a member of the surgery department’s cardiovascular team. This training is distinct from attending an employer sponsored in-service that is described on pages 9 - 10. CONTINUING EDUCATION - LIVE AST CE Credit Value for a Live Event or Committee Activity a) One CE credit equals 50 – 60 minutes of activity for live events or viewing a recorded CE lecture and completing the post-lecture exam. b) Partial CE credits are accepted by AST. However, the CE activity must be a minimum of 30 minutes (0.5 CE credits). Partial CE credits are accepted in 15-minute increments past the required minimum of 30 minutes. For example, an activity that is one hour and 15 minutes will be awarded 1.25 CE credits. c) When possible, the lectures provided at CE programs will be combined to award the maximum number of CE credits, if the lectures are subject related. For example, an orthopedic seminar offers several lectures that are 15 minutes in length; the lectures will be combined to determine the total number of CE credits that will be accepted by AST. Activities of AST, ARC/STSA, and NBSTSA Boards, Standing Committees and Panels a) National boards, standing committees, panels, and individuals that complete volunteer activities are recognized by AST as CE learning opportunities, wherein, the CST or CSFA learns through their contribution. The types of activity that could be awarded CE credits include: 1. research and development of CE policies, 2. research and review accreditation policies, 3. research and author guidelines for best practices in surgical technology,