Last Updated on November 8, 2024
NBSTSA Practice Test 2025: CST and CSFA Exam Prep – Enhance your preparation for the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) and Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA) exams with our free downloadable PDF quiz and study guide. Administered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA), these self-assessment examinations are crucial for certification.
Download our CST and CSFA practice tests or participate in our interactive online quiz to test your knowledge and readiness for the official exams.
Please note, while we provide these resources to assist with your NBSTSA test prep, we do not endorse or recommend any specific study classes, seminars, published materials, practice examinations, or apps, including those offered by us. The information provided is intended solely to support your exam preparation.
NBSTSA Practice Test 2025
The National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) offers the national certification exam and credential. It administers the exams and issues certification for CSTs and CSFAs.
Four-Year Certification Cycle — CSTs : Certified Surgical Technologist® (CST) must earn 60 CE credits before the four-year cycle expires to renew the credential.
Four-Year Certification Cycle—CSFAs: To renew the credential, a Certified Surgical First Assistant® (CSFA) must earn 75 CE credits before the four-year cycle expires.
- Certified Surgical Technologist Practice Test (175 Question Answers)
CST Exam Test 2025
The CST examination content is based on tasks performed by CSTs nationwide. Job analysis surveys are conducted to identify specific tasks related to the frequency and importance of Surgical Technologists nationwide.
The results of the job analysis are used to develop the content outline for the examination, which is evaluated on a prescribed schedule to ensure that the overall examination content reflects current surgical technology practices. Read More Official CST Candidate Handbook
| CST Stands for | Certification of Surgical Technologists |
| Administered by | NBSTSA |
| Accredited By | The National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) |
| Purpose | Certified individuals possess a mastery of a broad range of skills related to surgical procedures, aseptic technique, and patient care. |
| Total number of questions in CST exam | The CST examination consists of 175 questions, 150 of which are scored. The 25 pretest items (unscored). |
| Examination duration | four (4) hours |
| Passing score | a minimum of 120 questions out of 150 must be answered correctly. |
| FEES | •AST/ASA Member $299 and All others $399 |
| Mode of Payment | Money Order, Personal Check, Institutional Check, Visa, Master Card, Discover |
| Eligibility | Graduate of a CAAHEP or ABHES accredited Surgical Technology Program. OR Graduates of a military training surgical technology program |
| Retesting Limit | You are limited to taking three (3) examinations. There is no waiting period before you may apply for a re-test. |
CSFA Exam Test 2024
The content of the examination is based on tasks performed by CSFAs nationwide. A job analysis survey was conducted to identify specific tasks related to the frequency and importance of Surgical First Assistants nationwide. The job analysis results were used to develop the content outline for the examination, which is evaluated on a prescribed schedule to ensure that the overall examination content reflects current surgical first assistant practice. Read more Official CSFA Candidate Handbook
| CSFA Stands for | Certified Surgical First Assistant |
| Administered by | NBSTSA |
| Accredited By | The National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) |
| Purpose | Certified individuals master a wide range of skills related to surgical procedures, aseptic techniques, and patient care. |
| Total number of questions in CST exam | The CST examination consists of 175 questions, 150 of which are scored. The 25 pretest items (unscored). |
| Examination duration | four (4) hours |
| Passing score | a minimum of 120 questions out of 150 must be answered correctly. |
| FEES | •AST/ASA Member $299 and All others $399 |
| Mode of Payment | Money Order, Personal Check, Institutional Check, Visa, Master Card, Discover |
| Eligibility | Graduate of a CAAHEP-accredited Surgical First Assistant program |
| Retesting Limit | You are limited to taking three (3) examinations. There is no waiting period before you may apply for a re-test. |
CST, CSFA and CST/CSFA are federally registered trademarks and service marks owned by the NBSTSA.
NBSTSA Study Guide
1. Learn about the examination by reviewing your candidate handbook: This candidate handbook contains a content area outline, recommended reference list, and sample questions.
2. Examination content area outline: Familiarize yourself with each subject listed in the outline – all of these items may appear on the examination.
3. Recommended reference list: These references were used to create the examination questions. Cross-reference the content outline with these materials.
4. Practice: The NBSTSA offers Practice Examinations online at nbstsa.org. Candidates can print this to continue to study from and will
receive an analysis of individual questions and overall performance.
5. Evaluate: Complete the Examination Study Evaluation on nbstsa.org to find out what areas of the examination you need to focus your
study attention.
6. Connect: Like us on Facebook and connect with other candidates and CSFAs and find out what did and didn’t work for them when taking
the examination. Find people in your area and create a study group!
NBSTSA Reference Book
The Certification Examination Reference Lists contain the texts used to develop the questions for the certification examinations. The NBSTSA CST and CSFA Examination Review Committee uses the most current edition of each text listed for reference when creating examination questions.
New editions of each text may be published after the Candidate Handbook is printed. Candidates need to be sure they utilize the most recent edition of each text. Candidates may find the texts at libraries, bookstores, or on the internet.
MISC/INSTRUMENTATION
- The Ethicon Knot Tying Manual PDF
- AST Guidelines for Best Practices in Surgical Technology
- American Heart Association – CPR Guidelines www.heart.org
- Surgical Instrumentation: 2018, 3rd Edition – Nemitz ISBN# 9780323523707
- Taber’s Cyclopedia Medical Dictionary, 2017, 23rd Edition, F.A. Davis ISBN# 9780803659049
SURGERY
- Alexander’s Care of the Patient in Surgery, 2019, 16th Edition, Jane C. Rothrock ISBN# 9780323479141
- Basic Surgical Techniques, 2018, 7th Edition, RM Kirk ISBN# 0702073229
- Berry & Kohn’s Operating Room Technique, 2017, 13th Edition, Nancy Marie Phillips ISBN# 978323399265
- Schwartz’s Principles of Surgery, 11th Edition, Brunicardi ISBN# 9781259835353
- Surgical Technology: Principles and Practice, 2018, 7th Edition, Joanna Kotcher ISBN# 9780323394734
- Surgical Technology for the Surgical Technologist: A Positive Care Approach, 2018, 5th Edition, Kevin Frey ISBN# 9781305956414
A&P
- Recommended Addition: Principles of Anatomy and Physiology, 2013, 14th Edition, Tortora ISBN# 9781118345009
PHARMACOLOGY
- Pharmacology for the Surgical Technologist – 2017, 4th Edition, Snyder & Keegan ISBN# 9780323415019
REFERENCE
- Taber’s Cyclopedia Medical Dictionary, 2017, 23rd Edition, F.A. Davis ISBN# 9780803659049