Revised Statement on Surgical Technology Training and Certification

The ACS Committee on Interprofessional Education and Practice has reviewed and revised the 2016 Statement on Surgical Technology Training and Certification. The revised statement was approved by the ACS Board of Regents at its October 2022 meeting. The statement was revised again and approved by  the ACS Board of Regents at the September 2026 meeting.

Surgical technologists are specialized allied health professionals who prepare operating rooms, maintain sterile environments, and directly assist surgeons by passing tools during medical procedures. With additional education and training, some surgical technologists may function in the role of surgical first assistant.  Surgical technology programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs in tandem with the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting.  ARC/STSA accreditation services were developed in collaboration with the ACS and the Association of Surgical Technologists.¹

Accredited programs provide didactic education, hands-on laboratory training, and supervised clinical experience based on a national core curriculum for surgical technology.

Graduates of accredited surgical technology programs are eligible for certification by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting—a collaborative effort between the Association of Surgical Technologists and the ACS composed of representatives including certified surgical technologists, a surgeon, and a member of the public.

Therefore, the ACS strongly supports the following:

• Ensure that all surgical technologists receive education and training through accredited surgical technology programs offered by accredited educational institutions. This includes successful completion of a nationally recognized certification examination following graduation and ongoing maintenance of professional certification.
• Promote optimal patient care in the operating room by requiring that all surgical technologists participating in surgical procedures graduate from an accredited surgical technology program, rather than solely from an institution holding institutional accreditation, and maintain current professional certification.

References

1. Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting. About ARC/STSA. Available at: https://arcstsa.org/about-arc-stsa/#:~:text=In%20December%201972,Surgical%20Technologists%20(AST). Accessed August 27, 2026.