NBSTSA Practice Test 2024 Free CST and CSFA Exam Prep

National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) Practice Test 2024 CST and CSFA Exam Prep. Download a free PDF question-answer quiz and study guide. Certified Surgical First Assistant Self-Assessment Examination is administrated by the NBSTSA. You can download the free CST (Certified Surgical Technologist) and CSFA (Certified Surgical First Assistant) practice tests or participate in our quiz.

We do not recommend or endorse any particular study class, seminar, published material, or practice examination, or app, including our own. The information below is intended to help your NBSTSA Test Prep.

NBSTSA Practice Test 2024

The national certification exam and credential are offered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA). It administers the national certification exams and issues the 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: Certified Surgical First Assistant® (CSFA) must earn 75 CE credits before the four-year cycle expires to renew the credential.

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CST Exam Test 2024

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 $190 and All others $290
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 if unsuccessful in passing the examination, then you are limited to taking three (3) examinations in one (1) calendar year

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 results of the job analysis 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 possess a mastery of a broad 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 $190 and All others $290
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 if unsuccessful in passing the examination, then you are limited to taking three (3) examinations in one (1) calendar year

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