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.
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.
Your full practice pool — 350 questions total, written to mirror the real exam blueprint, with full answer explanations for every question.
Including Preoperative Preparation, Intraoperative Procedures, Postoperative Procedures, and more.
A complete, realistic exam-day simulation with the same question count and time limit as the real thing.
Covering every key term, concept, and framework you're expected to know.
Hand-picked walkthroughs and explainers organized by topic.
Visual breakdowns of the frameworks and models the exam tests you on.
The exact formulas and calculations you need, ready to review before test day.
A searchable glossary so unfamiliar terminology never slows you down.
See your accuracy by domain, spot weak areas early, and follow a built-in study schedule.
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.
Study anywhere — your progress syncs on the device you are using and picks up where you left off.
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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Add anything you like — you can also add other exams to the same order before checking out once.
Full study portal: question bank, quiz & exam modes, flashcards, glossary, progress tracking. One-time purchase, lifetime access.
A mock exam written specifically for your order — not from the standard bank. Does not include portal access on its own. Order as many as you like; every order is a new batch, different from the one you previously purchased.
Adjust quantity in your cart — always unique
A tougher, "exam-hard" mock exam written specifically for your order, pushed past standard difficulty. Does not include portal access on its own. Order as many as you like; every order is a new batch, different from the one you previously purchased.
Adjust quantity in your cart — always unique
Portal Access plus one bonus Higher-Difficulty mock exam — the best-value way to start. (Extra Mock Exams can be added separately anytime, as many as you like.)
A custom set of flashcards written specifically for your order — pick how many you want. Delivered as its own unique link & code, separate from portal access.
Price updates automatically — nothing to calculate yourself.
Adjust quantity in your cart — always unique
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.
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%
Real pass rate, retake policy, scoring, and a study timeline for CST Exam — free, no purchase required.
Common questions
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