Medical
NBSTSA CSTCertified Surgical Technologist
The Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) exam is administered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) and is the predominant entry-level credential for surgical technologists scrubbing in alongside the surgical team.
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Exam facts
Everything you need to know about the NBSTSA CST exam.
- Passing score
- 102 / 150 scored questions (≈68%)
- Format & length
- 175 multiple-choice questions (150 scored + 25 pilot) · 4 hours
- Voucher cost
- $190 USD AST members / $290 non-members
- Prerequisites
- Graduation from a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited surgical technology program (one to two years, typically an associate degree or diploma)
- Validity
- 4 years (60 CE credits submitted through AST; $40 renewal fee)
What’s tested
Key topics on the NBSTSA CST exam.
The Cert Climb question bank is mapped to every domain on the official NBSTSA CST exam blueprint, so what you study is what the test asks.
- Perioperative Care (65%, including pre-, intra-, and postoperative)
- Ancillary Duties (15%, including administrative, equipment sterilization & maintenance)
- Basic Science (20%, including anatomy & physiology, microbiology, surgical pharmacology)
Who it’s for
Built for the people taking this exam.
Graduates of CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited surgical technology programs pursuing entry-level scrub-tech roles in hospital ORs and ambulatory surgical centers.
Why it matters in 2026
The career signal.
CST is the predominantly required credential for hospital surgical technologists and is named in many state laws regulating the role (TX, NJ, IN, SC, MA, others). With most employers preferring or requiring CST for credentialing and many states moving toward formal title protection, the credential is becoming a hard floor for the role rather than a nice-to-have.
What you get
Everything you need to actually pass.
Full question bank
750 questions covering every objective on the official NBSTSA CST exam blueprint, with detailed explanations on every option — right and wrong.
Quiz modes
Timed exam simulation, missed-only review, topic drills, and a daily question of the day. Practice the way you study best.
Flashcards
Spaced-repetition flashcards generated from each topic. Pull them up on a phone in the gap between meetings.
Progress tracking
See per-topic accuracy and answered counts. Find weak areas before they cost you on test day.
Per-category premium
Unlocking NBSTSA CST unlocks every other Medical exam in the Cert Climb catalog — pay once, stack credentials.
No-fluff explanations
Every wrong answer comes with a 2-3 sentence explanation of why it’s wrong, not just “the correct answer is X.” Pattern recognition is the whole game.
Read while you study
NBSTSA CST articles & study guides
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about NBSTSA CST
How many questions does the NBSTSA CST bank have?
750 questions, organized into 3 subject areas mapped to the official exam objectives.
Is the free trial really free?
Yes. 30 questions, no credit card, no email-trap, no “activate by Friday or pay” spam. You either upgrade because the bank’s good, or you don’t.
What does premium cost?
Premium is sold per category and unlocks every Medical exam in the Cert Climb catalog. Plans are 1-month, 3-month, or 12-month — see the upgrade modal for current pricing.
How current is the NBSTSA CST content?
We track exam version updates and refresh the bank within weeks of new objectives. Where the version of an exam matters (e.g. CompTIA SY0-701 vs. SY0-601), question explanations call it out.
Can I cancel my subscription anytime?
Yes. Cancellation is one click from your profile. Your access continues through the end of the period you’ve already paid for.
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