Which Surgical Tech Certification is Right for You? 

Look deep into the value of NCORST, CST and TS-C Surgical Tech Certification

Surgical Tech Skills have become the global currency of the 21st century economies!

In a world where competition for jobs, pay increases, and academic success continues to increase, NCORST, CST and TS-C OR Tech and Surgical Tech certifications offer hope because they are a credible, third-party assessment of one’s skill and knowledge for a given subject.

There are only 3 Surgical Tech and OR Tech Certifications! All 3 are good choices, but which one makes most sense for you? What should you pursue right now, for where you are in your career and where you want to go? To help you understand your options, we’ve put together the key facts and figures in one place. Now, you can digest all of Surgical Tech and OR Tech career-boosting certifications and decide which one—or ones—are best for your advancement, goals and interests.

The National Healthcare Workers Association (NHCWA) The National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting  (NBSTSA) and the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT). are the three most important credentialing bodies to consider when pursuing Surgical Tech Certification. To guarantee that you have the skills and information necessary to offer patients safe and effective care, these three groups administer certification exams. We have produced a summary of distinctions between the three test families to assist you in making your decision.

Surgical Tech Job Description

Closing the global Surgical Tech skills gap

Many employers in countries and regions around globe report a shortage of qualified surgical Techs workers. Although employers have many job openings, they struggle to find skilled, qualified applicants to fill those positions.  Earning Surgical Tech Certification from NHCWA, NBSTSA or NCCT helps close the gap.

What is the difference?

Click here to visit NHCWA

Nationally Certified Operating Room and Surgical Technician (NCORST) designation.

Click here to visit NBSTSA

Certified Surgical Technologist (CST)

Click here to visit NCCT

Tech in Surgery (TS-C)

Employer’s Top Choice NHCWA (NCORST) is world-renowned as the standard of achievement for those who work in the OR as Surgical Tech’s, Scrub Tech’s and Operating Room Tech’s

The NHCWA CORST Examination

The NHCWA NCORST exam contains 300 questions and covers 101 knowledge areas relating to work as a surgical technician, surgical and anatomical knowledge, and general safety. 

NHCWA Certification Eligibility

Candidates for the CORST certification must meet both of the following requirements:

  • High-school graduation
  • Graduation from a formal surgical tech program, or one year of surgical technician work experience

The CST Examination

Once eligible, candidates of the CST designation complete a written exam. The exam covers three major areas: perioperative care, additional duties, and basic science. Certification candidates contact the NBSTSA trough their website to prepare for and schedule the exam and pay examination fees. Some surgical techs choose to take the exam within the last month of training or within one year of graduation from a CAAHEP-accredited surgical tech program.

The TS-C Examination

The TS-C exam covers topics such as medical terminology, asepsis and infection control, pharmacology, OSHA regulations, surgical knowledge and other career skills. Candidates can prepare using NCCT review materials, and must pay exam fees.

After passing the exam and becoming certified, the TS-C certification must be renewed each year through continuing education, some of which is offered by the NCCT.

 

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