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CST Exam
Healthcare & Nursing

Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) Examination — National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting

The NBSTSA Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) exam tests the knowledge a surgical technologist needs before, during and after surgery, with intraoperative procedures making up nearly half of the scored questions. The real exam has 175 multiple-choice questions, 150 of them scored, in four hours. SummitCert's portal gives you explained practice questions, flashcards, a timed 150-question mock exam and progress tracking by domain.

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One-time purchase · lifetime access · study on any device

Everything included — in full detail

This is exactly what you unlock. No vague promises — real numbers, straight from the portal.

350+ exam-style practice questions quiz pool

Your full practice pool — 350 questions total, written to mirror the real exam blueprint, with full answer explanations for every question.

8 exam domains covered

Including Preoperative Preparation, Intraoperative Procedures, Postoperative Procedures, and more.

Full mock exam — 150 questions, 206-min timed

A complete, realistic exam-day simulation with the same question count and time limit as the real thing.

1000+ flashcards

Covering every key term, concept, and framework you're expected to know.

199+ curated video lessons

Hand-picked walkthroughs and explainers organized by topic.

45+ diagrams & visual references

Visual breakdowns of the frameworks and models the exam tests you on.

13+ key formulas & quick-reference sheet

The exact formulas and calculations you need, ready to review before test day.

136+ term glossary

A searchable glossary so unfamiliar terminology never slows you down.

Progress tracking & study planner

See your accuracy by domain, spot weak areas early, and follow a built-in study schedule.

Sage — your personalized AI study companion

Tailored to this exam: it knows your progress and weak areas, remembers your earlier chats, and picks up where you left off on your other devices.

Works on phone, tablet & desktop

Study anywhere — your progress syncs on the device you are using and picks up where you left off.

Lifetime access, one-time purchase

No subscriptions, no renewals — buy once and keep studying until you pass.

See the CST Exam portal

Real screenshots — this is exactly what you'll be studying in. Click to zoom in.

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Topics you'll drill

8 core topics pulled straight from the real question bank.

  • Preoperative Preparation
  • Intraoperative Procedures
  • Postoperative Procedures
  • Administrative and Personnel
  • Equipment Sterilization and Maintenance
  • Anatomy and Physiology
  • Microbiology
  • Surgical Pharmacology

CST Exam exam requirements & cost

Straight from the certifying body — separate from what we charge for the study portal.

Eligibility
Decided by NBSTSA: typically graduation from a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited surgical technology program, with other documented routes such as military training; confirm with NBSTSA
Real exam cost
An NBSTSA processing fee plus an examination fee, paid each time you test; confirm the current amounts with NBSTSA
Format
175 multiple-choice questions (150 scored) · four hours · computer-based · you pass with a score of 98 on the 150 scored questions

NBSTSA describes the computer-based CST exam as 175 multiple-choice questions in four hours, of which 150 are scored; the portal mock uses 150 questions and 206 minutes, the same scored size at the same pace. NBSTSA states that you pass with a score of 98 on the scored questions, which is about 65 percent of the 150 scored questions. The CST examination content outline effective January 1, 2023 lists eight content areas with these shares of the scored questions: Preoperative Preparation 12.7 percent, Intraoperative Procedures 45.3, Postoperative Procedures 6.7, Administrative and Personnel 4.7, Equipment Sterilization and Maintenance 10.7, Anatomy and Physiology 12, Microbiology 4 and Surgical Pharmacology 4. NBSTSA states that you pass with a score of 98 on the 150 scored questions, about 65 percent. The 25 unscored questions are not identified, and the portal mock shows a percent score only as a rough self-check. NBSTSA charges a processing fee for the eligibility review and an examination fee, and you pay the total testing fee each time you test; the current amounts are on nbstsa.org, so confirm them before you apply. The content outline spreads questions across 8 areas; the largest are Intraoperative Procedures (45.3%); Preoperative Preparation (12.7%); Anatomy and Physiology (12.0%). The full list of areas and weights is on the portal exam page. Decided by NBSTSA: typically graduation from a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited surgical technology program, with other documented routes such as military training; confirm with NBSTSA.

CST Exam exam blueprint

Real domain weighting from the certifying body's own published exam syllabus.

  • Preoperative Preparation12.7%
  • Intraoperative Procedures45.3%
  • Postoperative Procedures6.7%
  • Administrative and Personnel4.7%
  • Equipment Sterilization and Maintenance10.7%
  • Anatomy and Physiology12%
  • Microbiology4%
  • Surgical Pharmacology4%
Last verified: October 2026·Exam blueprint: Verified on October 30, 2026 against the NBSTSA CST certification page (175 questions, 150 scored, four hours, passing score of 98), the NBSTSA application process (accredited-program eligibility, six-month authorization, three attempts per calendar year) and the CST examination content outline effective January 1, 2023 (eight content areas; shares are the outline question counts out of 150). Fees are not stated and not quoted.·Primary source: NBSTSA: CST certification ↗
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Real pass rate, retake policy, scoring, and a study timeline for CST Exam — free, no purchase required.

Common questions

NBSTSA describes the computer-based CST exam as 175 multiple-choice questions in four hours, of which 150 are scored; the portal mock uses 150 questions and 206 minutes, the same scored size at the same pace. NBSTSA states that you pass with a score of 98 on the scored questions, which is about 65 percent of the 150 scored questions. The CST examination content outline effective January 1, 2023 lists eight content areas with these shares of the scored questions: Preoperative Preparation 12.7 percent, Intraoperative Procedures 45.3, Postoperative Procedures 6.7, Administrative and Personnel 4.7, Equipment Sterilization and Maintenance 10.7, Anatomy and Physiology 12, Microbiology 4 and Surgical Pharmacology 4. Format: 175 multiple-choice questions, 150 scored, in four hours; the portal mock has 150 questions in 206 minutes, the same scored size at the same pace.

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