National Board of Surgical Technology and surgical assisting

What National Board of Surgical Technology and surgical assisting does

The National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit certification organization founded in 1974 and headquartered in Littleton, Colorado. It administers two nationally recognized credentials—the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST®) and the Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA®)—to roughly 86,000 active practitioners across the United States. Both certifications carry National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) accreditation (CST since 1984, CSFA since 1992, renewed through 04/30/2030) and are co-sponsored and endorsed by the American College of Surgeons and the Association of Surgical Technologists.

NBSTSA's product surface centers on candidate eligibility review, exam administration, credential issuance, and biennial renewal processing. Candidates must graduate from CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited programs, complete a minimum of 120 in-person patient cases (300-400 OR hours), and pass a computer-based examination delivered by PSI Services at testing centers or through on-campus Web Based Testing for accredited programs. The CST exam comprises 175 multiple-choice questions (150 scored; passing score 98) over four hours; the CSFA exam uses a comparable psychometrically validated structure (passing score 99). Supporting technology is the LearningBuilder platform, which handles applications, score reports, certificate retrieval, and a public credential verification portal used by employers. Day-to-day operations are lean: a 1-10 person staff supplemented by Examination Review Committees and 10-member Board of Directors.

Revenue is generated through one-time examination fees for initial CST/CSFA candidates, recurring biennial renewals ($40 CST / $45 CSFA), $40 practice exams sold via PSI's online store, wallet card and replacement certificate sales ($10-$25), and a $100 appeal processing fee. Renewal compliance and continuing education are administered in partnership with AST. Adjacent services include the Student Academic Merit Award scholarship program launched in 2025, an employer-facing verification system, and a job board connecting certified professionals with healthcare hiring managers. NBSTSA serves four primary customer segments: individual surgical technologists and surgical first assistants (primary), healthcare employers verifying credentials, CAAHEP/ABHES-accredited educational programs preparing students for certification, and continuing-education partners.

Name

National Board of Surgical Technology and surgical assisting

Legal name

National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting

Website

https://nbstsa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NBSTSA is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit that administers the NCCA-accredited Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) and Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA) credentialing exams, serving 86,000 practitioners, healthcare employers, and CAAHEP/ABHES-accredited training programs across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Certification Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDADAFAA

National/State Examination Boards & Testing Agencies

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Assessment, Examinations & Qualifications Authorities

SECONDARYEDAAANAI

Healthcare & Clinical Professional Certifications

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Professional Certification Programs

SECONDARYEDANAIAB

Nursing & Allied Health Certification Prep (CNA, EMT/Paramedic, Radiology, Sonography, PT/OT)

Education/Tutoring & Test Preparation/Professional Certification & Licensure Exam Prep

SECONDARYEDADACAF

Continuing Education (CE/CPD) & Provider Accreditation Bodies

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Accreditation Bodies (Institutional & Programmatic)

SECONDARYEDADAFAK

Digital Assessment Platforms & Computer-Based Testing Authorities

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Assessment, Examinations & Qualifications Authorities

Keywords

• Surgical technology certification
• Professional credentialing services
• Healthcare certification programs
• Credential verification services
• Continuing education renewal

Headquarters

HQ city

Littleton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Certification Examination Fees: One-time fees for initial CST and CSFA certification examinations, including application processing and examination administration through PSI testing centers
2. Renewal Fees: Recurring biennial renewal fees: $40 for CST professionals and $45 for CSFA professionals, plus continuing education requirements through AST
3. Credential Products: Sale of wallet cards and replacement certificates: $25 standard purchase, $10 for renewal completers, complimentary for first-time examinees
4. Practice Examinations: CST and CSFA practice exams available for $40 each through PSI Online Store

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

NBSTSA administers nationally recognized certification examinations for surgical technologists (CST) and surgical first assistants (CSFA). Candidates must graduate from CAAHEP or ABHES accredited programs, complete required clinical experience (e.g., 120+ in-person patient cases for CST), and pass the NBSTSA examination. NBSTSA also manages biennial certification renewal, continuing education processing through AST, credential verification for employers, and supporting tools such as practice exams and study evaluations.

Product overview

The National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) offers two core professional certification products: the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST®) and Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA®) credentials. Both are NCCA-accredited certifications requiring completion of accredited educational programs and passage of rigorous examinations. Supporting products include practice exams, study evaluation tools, a student merit award scholarship program, web-based testing services for educational institutions, and certification renewal management. The CST requires 120 in-person patient cases (300-400 hours OR experience), while the CSFA requires graduation from CAAHEP-accredited programs. Both credentials require ongoing continuing education for renewal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Certified Surgical Technologist (CST®) Certification The primary certification credential for surgical technologists, requiring graduation from a CAAHEP or ABHES accredited program, completion of 120 in-person patient cases, and passing the NBSTSA examination. Accredited by NCCA.
• Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA®) Certification Certification credential for surgical first assistants, requiring graduation from a CAAHEP accredited surgical first assistant program and passing the NBSTSA examination. Accredited by NCCA.
• CST® Practice Exams Practice exams that simulate the real testing environment for the CST exam, available in two versions (Form A and Form B) for $40 each. Do not contain live exam questions.
• CSFA® Practice Exams Practice exams for the Certified Surgical First Assistant exam, available through the PSI Online Store.
• CST® Study Evaluation Tool Self-assessment tool designed to identify strengths and weaknesses to guide CST exam preparation.
• CSFA® Study Evaluation Tool Self-assessment tool to identify strengths and weaknesses for CSFA exam preparation.
• NBSTSA Student Academic Merit Award Scholarship program for students in CAAHEP or ABHES accredited surgical technology or surgical first assisting programs, recognizing dedication to education and commitment to quality surgical patient care. Awards include $3,000 Dalton Gay Scholarship, $2,000 and $1,000 merit awards.
• Web-Based Testing (WBT) Service On-campus testing service allowing eligible surgical technology students to take the CST exam at their own school, available to NBSTSA recognized programs through PSI. Students may test up to 30 days prior to or 30 days post-graduation.
• Wallet Card / Replacement Certificate Optional wallet card offering proof of active credential including certification number and current cycle dates. Available for $25 standard purchase, complimentary for exam candidates, $10 for CE renewal completers.
• Certification Renewal Services Renewal services for CST and CSFA professionals requiring continuing education credits submission through AST and renewal application to NBSTSA. Renewal fees: $40 for CST, $45 for CSFA on biennial cycle.

Quantifiable outcome

• 120+ in-person patient cases required before certification
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• American College of Surgeons (ACS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1974ACS co-founded NBSTSA alongside Association of Surgical Technologists and remains actively involved in governance. ACS Board of Regents formally endorsed CST certification pathway in October 2022 statement. ACS appoints one surgeon to NBSTSA Board of Directors.
• Association of Surgical Technologists (AST)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1974AST co-founded NBSTSA alongside American College of Surgeons. AST processes continuing education credits required for CST/CSFA renewal. NBSTSA shares certification and contact information with AST for marketing, statistical data, and AST bylaws validation. AST holds AST-Approved CE credits requirement.
• National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCCA is the accreditation division of Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE). NCCA reviews and grants accreditation to NBSTSA for CST and CSFA certifications. Accreditation currently valid through 04/30/2030. CST first accredited in 1984, CSFA in 1992.
• PSI Services LLCcoreTechnology or IntegrationIndependent exam development vendor contracted to conduct formal job task analysis and manage computer-based testing infrastructure. PSI maintains secure item bank and candidate data in their database with indefinite retention. PSI also provides on-campus WBT setup and examination administrator coordination.
• Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE)majorOthersNCCA is the accreditation division created by ICE to help ensure health, welfare, and safety of public through accreditation of certification programs. NBSTSA certification programs comply with NCCA's Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs.
• Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA)majorOthersAffiliate organization of NBSTSA focused on accreditation of surgical technology and surgical assisting educational programs.
• CLEAR (Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation)minorOthersAffiliate organization of NBSTSA, CLEAR is a professional association for regulatory agencies.
• CAAHEP (Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccrediting agency for surgical technology programs; graduates of CAAHEP-accredited programs are eligible to sit for CST examination. CSFA candidates must graduate from CAAHEP-accredited surgical first assistant programs.
• ABHES (Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccrediting agency for surgical technology programs; graduates of ABHES-accredited programs are eligible to sit for CST examination.
• Association of Surgical Assistants (ASA)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNBSTSA shares current certification and contact information with ASA for marketing, statistical data, and ASA bylaws validation purposes.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• National Board for Certified Counselors: NBCC administers the NCC credential for counselors using NCCA-accredited exams and ongoing CE — comparable in operating a single profession's national certification with similar renewal mechanics and nonprofit structure.
• National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants: NCCPA certifies physician assistants through an NCCA-accredited exam with biennial recertification — the same professional certification model NBSTSA uses, serving an adjacent surgical-care role with comparable employer-mandated credentialing.
• American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography: ARDMS certifies diagnostic medical sonographers through NCCA-accredited examinations with biennial recertification — comparable to NBSTSA in serving an allied health profession operating in hospital procedural settings with employer-preferred credentialing.
• Pharmacy Technician Certification Board: PTCB is the largest nationally recognized certification for pharmacy technicians, using an NCCA-accredited exam with biennial renewal — directly comparable to NBSTSA in structure, scale (~300K+ certified), and healthcare-allied-health positioning.
• Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer: BOC certifies athletic trainers through a national examination with continuing education and recertification — directly analogous to NBSTSA in operating a single profession's national credential with biennial renewal.
• National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians: NREMT certifies EMTs and paramedics through a national exam with recertification requirements — a peer healthcare-certification body using NCCA-aligned standards and serving a similarly broad base of clinical practitioners.
• National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists: NBCRNA administers the NCCA-accredited CRNA credential with required continuing education and recertification cycles — a peer healthcare certification body serving surgical team members with the same exam-and-renewal model.
• American Registry of Radiologic Technologists: ARRT is the national certifying body for radiologic technologists, operating the same NCCA-accredited certification model for an allied health profession with similar exam fees, biennial renewal/CE requirements, and employer-mandated credential use in hospitals.

Broad incumbents

• American Board of Medical Specialties: ABMS is the larger umbrella organization certifying physician specialists through member boards — relevant as a broader incumbent in healthcare professional credentialing that interacts with NBSTSA-certified surgical techs in OR settings.

Others

• Institute for Credentialing Excellence: ICE is the parent organization of NCCA (NBSTSA's accreditor) and serves as the industry association for certification bodies — a peer as an ecosystem/standards organization in the credentialing space rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheNBSTSA
• Xx.com/NBSTSA

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Board of Surgical Technology and surgical assisting