Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) Exams

The National Certifying Examination for Surgical Technologists and Surgical First Assistants covers the knowledge and skills common to competent entry-level Surgical Technologists and Surgical First Assistants in varied settings and geographical locations. NBSTSA committee members designed the examinations to assess the skills that comprise the core body of knowledge for all surgical technologists and surgical first assistants. The CST and CSFA examinations examine practical knowledge, and one night of studying will not lead to passing grades.

The CST test consists of 200 questions on a variety of topics. You’ll need to get a minimum of 118 questions correct to pass the exam. Below are three categories you will likely see on the test:

Perioperative Care
- Preoperative Preparation
- Intraoperative Procedures
- Postoperative Procedures
Additional Duties
- Administrative and Personnel
- Equipment, Sterilization and Maintenance
Basic Science
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Microbiology
- Surgical Pharmacology

Make sure you are prepared for your Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) Exams. McRee Learning Center can help.