What are the requirements for a CST
I am wanting to become a certified surgical tech. I am finishing basics right now but want more on traveling surgical tech vs just working in area hospital. ##surgical-technology #medicine #surgery #healthcare #hospital-and-health-care
18 answers
Christina’s Answer
At least 1 year of experience is needed to become a traveling tech, I suggest working at either a smaller state hospital for good experience and on job training. If you would like training in emergency surgery then I would suggest bigger medical centers.
Leo’s Answer
Find a trauma level one hospital, the more you get under your belt the better, and get at least two years experience in it. Most agencies will not take you with less. Unless they know you worked at a place like Parkland hospital Dallas, they get everything under the sun there.
At a level one you won't come across everything but it should be a good foundation, also get experience in a surgery center, the speed and efficiency will help you tremendously in prioritizing how you do things!
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Tracey’s Answer
Carlos’s Answer
CST is a great career. I suggest once you are done, you find a job locally. Learn As many specialties as possible. It’ll make you more valuable. You’ll have more opportunities and the ability to climb up the ladder. Once you get at least a year or two in, you can try traveling. Start locally, give yourself a good rep. Then try going outta state. Make sure your contract is enough to cover your stay and expenses. You never know, you may find a place you’d like to relocate to.
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Brian’s Answer
Typical requirements include two year associate degree and certification as a surgical technician
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Rana Codrean BS, CSFA,CST
Rana’s Answer
Michelle’s Answer
Your school can and will provide any information regarding CST exam. If your like me and not certified after 25 years. Well it cost 500$ and you on line to get that information.
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Ummer’s Answer
After completing one of each course you will be eligible for the same
Debbra’s Answer
Dat’s Answer
I believe in order to be a CST, experiences count the most. The more experiences the better you are. If you are not experienced with CST, you'll need to have an education on surgical technology program to get the license. Last, being passionate with science and surgical technology at any point. In conclusion:
- Experience
- CST license / education
- Passion
Reference:
<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">“CST Certification.” </span>The National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">, www.nbstsa.org/cst-certification.</span>
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Kimberly’s Answer
Oakley’s Answer
I hope this helps! Get a job in a bigger teaching hospital, preferably a research facility and a trauma center. This will prepare you the best for traveling. If you’re looking for per diem travel (shift by shift basis in smaller surgery centers) then this isn’t as important. But if you want 13-week contracts in hospitals, I’d start here.
Best of luck!
Axel’s Answer
If you truly want to be a great travel CST, id suggest gaining as much experience from as many services within the OR as possible. Although it is possible to get a contract as a travel ST without any work/paid experience, you’ll be doing yourself, the contractor, the patient, and the staff a disservice by working as a travel Tech with no experience. In all honesty, majority of places make travel techs work the hardest cases, the longest cases, the more involved cases and the cases nobody wants to be in, the most. So in that case you’ll have to know your stuff in order to be as successful as possible. Going into traveling straight out of school is highly discouraged.
Gain experience from a hospital first and be in all services (ESPECIALLY orthopedics, vascular, ophthalmology, Neuro, and spine) for about 2 years minimum. Once you feel like you can safely be in a vast majority of cases and services, you should be OK to start considering a travel assignment. Now there’s specially travel assignments in which you can choose to be in just one service, those services are usually CVOR which encompasses Peripheral Vascular, Cardiac (Open Heart Surgery), EndoVascular and Thoracic surgery (Open, VATS, Robotic). Orthopedic surgery which encompasses Sports surgery, Ortho Trauma, Ortho Spine and Joints.
Ophthalmic surgery. And Neuro/Spine.
In those contracts, usually those really experienced in those specialties are preferred for those contracts.
I hope this was some help.
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Leo’s Answer
well since you are doing basics, that's a degreed CST. there are two types of certification.
one through NCCT. ( trade school) non degree accelerated and about 13 months to complete , and the other through a college ( generally a community college), a two year program.
Mine being through NCCT , I so far have not had any issues with being employable in the state of Texas.
the degree route will help to advance to a team lead/ supervisor role and possibly more wage negotiation power.
they both perform the same duties in the surgical setting. the main goal is to get experience under as many services as you can ( the broader the base the taller the tower), you will be very employable after two years experience.
you may like one specialty than the others, but learn the one you dislike the most, it's not fun being scrubbed in when the surgeon asks for instruments you know nothing about.
if you have no family commitments, maximize your earnings by travel, but get advice, no travel assignment is the same nor pays the same.
if you choose the degree plan (associates) will will help if you pursue other degreed positions in healthcare.
and please do get plenty of experience under you belt, especially at a busy level 1 trauma center, you will be grateful you did.
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Ruth’s Answer
You must have completed an accredited program for surgical technology then you can apply for certification exam . If you are currently in a program this process usually is or will be accommodated by that program. Many of the facilities are making certification a requirement for employment. You can go to NBSTSA. Homepage
I hope this is helpful. This is a job that required emotional stamina and caring. I hope your up for it. The reward is very gratifying.
Good Luck!
Ummer’s Answer
Get ACLS BCLS CERTIFICATE ALSO
Ummer’s Answer
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