91´ÎÔª

State Licensing Requirements

State	State Licensing Board or Department website	State Licensing Requirements	Notes
Alabama	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
Alaska	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
American Samoa	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
Arizona	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
Arkansas		Meets Requirements	Arkansas Medical Board regulations for surgical technologists require current national certification but allow credentials from NBSTSA or another national organization approved by the Board. The Board’s materials list NBSTSA CST and NCCT Tech in Surgery‑Certified (TS‑C) as acceptable options, so TS‑C satisfies the state’s certification requirement for surgical technologists, assuming all other state conditions are met.
California	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
Colorado		Meets Requirements	Colorado’s Surgical Assistants and Surgical Technologists Practice Act requires individuals who perform the duties of a surgical technologist to register with the state. The law focuses on registration and scope of practice rather than a particular national certification brand. Holding TS‑C does not by itself satisfy the registration requirement, but TS‑C is fully compatible with Colorado law and may be used to demonstrate competency alongside state registration.
Connecticut	N/A	Meets Requirements	Connecticut law (Public Act 23‑195) requires surgical technologists employed in hospitals and ASC settings to have completed an accredited surgical technology program and to hold certification from a national certifying body for surgical technologists recognized by the Department of Public Health or to qualify under grandfathering or military pathways. NCCT’s TS‑C is an NCCA‑accredited national surgical technology certification, so it can satisfy the state’s certification requirement where recognized by the Department.
Delaware	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
District of Columbia	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
Federated States of Micronesia	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
Florida	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
Georgia	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
Guam	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
Hawaii	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
Idaho	N/A	Meets Requirements	Idaho hospital licensing rules define surgical technologists and their functions but do not impose a specific statewide requirement to hold a particular national certification such as CST. Facilities may set their own policies. TS‑C therefore aligns with Idaho rules and can be used to demonstrate competency where an employer or facility requires certification.
Illinois		Does Not Meet Requirements	Illinois regulates surgical technologists through the Registered Surgical Assistant and Registered Surgical Technologist Title Protection Act and related rules. Current IDFPR licensure/registration guidance requires applicants to hold the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) credential from NBSTSA in order to obtain the state Surgical Technologist license/registration. TS‑C is a separate NCCT credential and does not, by itself, satisfy the Illinois statutory credential requirement, although it may still have value for employers in addition to the required CST.
Indiana		Does Not Meet Requirements	Indiana Code 25‑36.1 provides that an individual may not practice surgical technology in a health care facility unless the individual is certified under IC 25‑36.1‑1 or qualifies under limited alternative pathways (grandfathering, military service, federal employment). Certification under IC 25‑36.1‑1 is explicitly defined as holding and maintaining the CST credential administered by NBSTSA. Because TS‑C is not the NBSTSA CST credential, TS‑C alone does not satisfy Indiana’s statutory certification requirement to practice as a surgical technologist (absent another qualifying pathway).
Iowa	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
Kansas	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
Kentucky	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
Louisiana	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
Maine	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
Maryland	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
Massachusetts	N/A	Does Not Meet Requirements	Massachusetts General Laws c.111 § 235 require hospital surgical technologists to complete an accredited surgical technology program and to hold a ‘certified surgical technologist’ credential from a nationally recognized certifying body that (i) is accredited by NCCA and (ii) is recognized by the American College of Surgeons and the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST). In practice, this requirement is satisfied by the NBSTSA CST credential. NCCT’s TS‑C is nationally accredited but is not the credential recognized in the statute via ACS/AST; therefore TS‑C by itself does not satisfy Massachusetts’ legal certification requirement for hospital surgical technologists.
Michigan	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
Minnesota	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
Mississippi	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
Missouri	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
Montana	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
Nebraska	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
Nevada		Does Not Meet Requirements	Nevada law (NRS 449.24185 and related regulations) generally prohibits hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers from employing surgical technologists unless they have completed an accredited surgical technology program and obtained certification as a Certified Surgical Technologist by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA), or qualify under military/grandfathering exceptions or a limited ‘diligent search’ exception. Because the statute specifies the NBSTSA CST credential, TS‑C alone does not meet Nevada’s primary statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists.
New Hampshire	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
New Jersey		Meets Requirements	New Jersey law (P.L.2011, c.148) requires surgical technologists in licensed health care facilities to complete a nationally accredited ST program and to hold and maintain the ‘certified surgical technologist’ credential administered by NBSTSA or another nationally accredited credentialing organization approved by the Department of Health. NCCT’s TS‑C is an NCCA‑accredited national ST credential, and where the Department approves NCCT as a credentialing organization, TS‑C satisfies the statutory certification requirement. Programs and individuals should verify current DOH recognition of NCCT.
New Mexico	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
New York		Does Not Meet Requirements	New York Public Health Law § 2824 requires hospitals and certain other facilities to ensure that surgical technologists have completed an approved ST program and hold and maintain the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) credential from NBSTSA, or qualify under enumerated grandfathering or military pathways. Because TS‑C is an NCCT credential and not the NBSTSA CST, TS‑C alone does not satisfy New York’s statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists.
North Carolina	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
North Dakota	N/A	Meets Requirements	North Dakota regulates certain unlicensed assistive personnel and requires registration for surgical technologists in some settings but does not mandate a particular national surgical technology certification (such as CST). TS‑C is therefore compatible with North Dakota requirements and may be used to meet employer or facility expectations, but separate state registration rules still apply where required.
Northern Mariana Islands	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
Ohio	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
Oklahoma	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
Oregon	N/A	Meets Requirements	Oregon statute (ORS 676.875, updated via HB 4106 and HB 3596) requires individuals practicing as surgical technologists in hospitals/ASCs to complete an approved ST program and obtain surgical technologist certification from a nationally accredited certifying organization approved by the Oregon Health Authority. The law and related legislative history expressly recognize certification through NCCT (Tech in Surgery‑Certified, TS‑C) as one of the approved options. TS‑C therefore satisfies Oregon’s statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists when all other conditions are met.
Pennsylvania		Does Not Meet Requirements	Pennsylvania’s Central Service Technician and Surgical Technologist Regulation Act (Act 80 of 2020) requires health care facilities to employ surgical technologists who have completed an accredited ST program and hold and maintain a surgical technologist certification from an accredited certification program, or who qualify under military/grandfathering exceptions.
Puerto Rico	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
Republic of Palau	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
Republic of the Marshall Islands	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
Rhode Island	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
South Carolina		Does Not Meet Requirements	South Carolina Code § 44‑7‑380 requires hospitals and surgery centers to employ surgical technologists who have completed an approved education pathway and obtained the Surgical Technologist Certification credential administered by NBSTSA, or who qualify under limited exceptions (grandfathering, military, etc.). Because the statute specifically names the NBSTSA surgical technologist credential, TS‑C alone does not meet South Carolina’s statutory requirement for surgical technologists (unless the individual also qualifies through another listed pathway).
South Dakota	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
Tennessee	N/A	Does Not Meet Requirements	Tennessee’s revised surgical technologist statute (updated in 2024) requires most surgical technologists in licensed health care facilities to complete an approved education pathway and hold certification as a surgical technologist from a national certifying body recognized by the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission, or to qualify under grandfathering/military exceptions.
Texas	N/A	Meets Requirements	Texas Health & Safety Code § 259.002 requires surgical technologists in hospitals and ASCs to complete an approved education pathway and to hold and maintain a national surgical technology certification (or qualify under limited exceptions). Statute and regulatory guidance list NBSTSA CST and NCCT Tech in Surgery‑Certified (TS‑C) among the acceptable national certifications. TS‑C therefore satisfies Texas’s statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists when all other state conditions are met.
U.S. Virgin Islands	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
Utah	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
Vermont	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
Virginia		Meets Requirements	Virginia law (as amended by HB 2222 and related bills) regulates surgical technologists practicing in certain settings and generally requires completion of an approved surgical technology education program and holding a current national certification as a surgical technologist, or qualifying under specified alternatives (such as on‑the‑job training within a defined transition period). The statute does not appear to limit recognition to NBSTSA only. Because TS‑C is an NCCA‑accredited national ST certification, it can be used to satisfy Virginia’s national certification requirement where accepted by the Board of Medicine or Department of Health.
Washington		Meets Requirements	Washington’s Revised Code (RCW 18.215) and implementing rules (WAC 246‑939) require surgical technologists to be registered with the Department of Health and to meet certain training/education criteria, but they do not mandate a specific national credential such as CST. TS‑C is therefore compatible with Washington’s requirements and may be used to demonstrate competence or meet facility preferences, while state registration remains a separate legal requirement.
West Virginia	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
Wisconsin	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.
Wyoming	N/A	Meets Requirements	State does not appear to impose a specific statewide statutory certification requirement for surgical technologists. TS‑C is not required by law but may be used to satisfy employer or facility preferences or internal policies.