NBSTSA Surgical Technology Board Review Questions and Practice Tests

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“You will get a better score... Some questions are very similar to the actual examination.”

Danie
CST

gold key Key Surgical Technologist Board Review Features

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Surgical Technologist Board Review Topics Covered:

  • Anatomy and Physiology
  • Microbiology
  • Pre-Operative Preparation
  • Equipment Sterilization and Maintenance
  • Intra-Operative Procedures
  • Surgical Pharmacology
  • Post-Operative Procedures
  • Administrative and Personnel

Surgical Technologist Editor

Karen L Chambers, CST, FAST, MHA/Ed

Karen is the Program Director for the AAS in Surgical Technology for Eastwick College in Ramsey, NJ. She has published numerous scholarly articles, authored an educational textbook, and in June 2016 she was awarded the highest recognition given by the Association of Surgical Technologist, the FAST (Fellow of the Association of Surgical Technology) credential.

About the CST Examination

As stated by the NBSTSA, "the National Certifying Examination for Surgical Technologists covers the knowledge and skills common to competent entry-level Surgical Technologists in varied settings and geographical locations."

What is covered on the CST Exam?

According to the CST Examination Content Outline, the following topics are covered:

I. Peri-Operative Care (91 items)

  1. Preoperative Preparation (18 items)
  2. Intraoperative Procedures (61 items)
  3. Postoperative Procedures (12 items)

II. Ancillary Duties (26 items)

  1. Administrative and Personnel (9 items)
  2. Equipment Sterilization and Maintenance (17 items)

III. Basic Science (33 items)

  1. Anatomy and Physiology (20 items)
  2. Microbiology (6 items)
  3. Surgical Pharmacology (7 items)

How long is the CST Exam?

The CST exam is comprised of 175 questions,150 of which are scored. The 25 pretest items (unscored) are randomly distributed throughout the examination for the purpose of analysis and statistical evaluation.

Surgical Technology Careers

Surgical technology is a great career that’s growing fast – over 12% in the next ten years according to the bureau of labor statistics. The median pay is $46,310 annually. For those of us that do it, it’s been a really rewarding career helping others. In general, it’s a low paperwork job… you’ll spend a significant amount of time in the operating room. Once you pass the exam, there are significant opportunities. But, the test is a significant milestone. Many (but not all) positions require a technical certification.

CST Exam Tips

Intra-operative procedures are an important part of the exam, and you will find that the BoardVitals question bank focuses heavily on this subject area.

Suggested Reading

We suggest using Mosby’s PDQ for Surgical Technology. This is a go-to book for tables, images, and your general reference type materials. We suggest using it alongside our Surgical Technology question bank when practicing, and then also being able to complete our exam (in test mode conditions) without the reference guide. Another good book is Differentiating Surgical Instruments, if you need specific review and you are a visual learner.

The NBSTSA exam is computer-based, and our format follows very closely. You can change your answers, skip questions, and mark questions for review (in both our platform as well as actual exam conditions).