Skip to content
VerifyED

Healthcare License Verification

How to Verify a Surgical Technologist Certification

Surgical technologists (also called scrub techs or operating room technicians) work in sterile surgical fields. Most employers and several states require national certification. Here is how to verify a surgical tech's credentials.

· 6 min read

Quick answer

The primary surgical tech credential is the CST (Certified Surgical Technologist) from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA). Verify at nbstsa.org using the credential verification tool. A second credential, TS-C (Tech in Surgery — Certified), is issued by NCCT and verifiable at ncct.com.

CST certification (NBSTSA)

The Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) credential from the NBSTSA is the dominant national certification for surgical technologists. It is required by most hospitals and surgical centers and is the standard recognized by the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST).

CST requirements include:

  • Graduation from a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited surgical technology program
  • Passing the CST national certification exam
  • 60 continuing education credits every 4 years for recertification

To verify a CST credential:

  1. Go to nbstsa.org
  2. Use the “Verify a Credential” or credential lookup tool
  3. Search by name or CST number
  4. Confirm: Active status and expiration date

TS-C certification (NCCT)

The National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) offers the Tech in Surgery — Certified (TS-C) credential as an alternative national certification pathway. TS-C is less common than CST but is accepted by some employers. Verify at ncct.com using the credential lookup.

When a surgical tech presents a TS-C instead of a CST, confirm the employer's credentialing requirements accept both certifications before proceeding.

State licensure requirements

Most states do not independently license surgical technologists — they rely on national certification (CST or TS-C) as the credential standard. However, several states have enacted surgical technology laws that require state registration or certification:

States with surgical tech licensure or registration requirements

  • South Carolina: Surgical tech certification required; CST or TS-C accepted; verify through the SC Dept. of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
  • Tennessee: Certification or training requirement for surgical techs in hospitals
  • Texas: Surgical tech certification strongly preferred; some facilities require it by policy
  • Idaho, Montana, Nevada: Have enacted surgical tech practice acts; verify current requirements with state licensing offices

Requirements change. Check current state requirements before assuming only national certification is needed.

Red flags

  • CST certification number cannot be verified at nbstsa.org
  • Expired CST — 4-year renewal cycle; confirm active status
  • Claims of “OR tech certification” with no verifiable NBSTSA or NCCT record
  • Training from a program not accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES — some states require graduates from accredited programs for CST eligibility
  • In a state with surgical tech licensure requirements, only national certification presented but no state registration

Verification checklist

  • 1. Collect the surgical tech's name and CST or TS-C number
  • 2. Verify at nbstsa.org (CST) or ncct.com (TS-C) — confirm Active and expiration date
  • 3. Check if the state of employment has a surgical tech licensure or registration requirement
  • 4. If state registration is required, verify with the state agency
  • 5. Confirm the tech's training program was accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES if required by the role

Verify surgical technology program accreditation

Surgical technology programs should be accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES. Use VerifyED to confirm whether a training school's surgical tech program meets accreditation requirements.

Search Schools and Accreditation →