Florida Surgical Technologist Requirements — Detailed Review

1. Overview

01 · Florida context

1. Overview

Florida does not issue a separate professional license specifically for Surgical Technologists. However, the absence of an individual license does not mean anyone can participate in surgery without restrictions. Florida Statute §395.0197 sets conditions for licensed facilities that allow unlicensed personnel to assist or participate in surgical procedures.[1]

The law that regulates facility authorization is different from an employer's education, certification and experience requirements. Both matter when assessing potential career opportunities.

In short: Florida does not mandate one Surgical Technologist certification statewide. Covered facilities must assess competence, authorize participation and follow the direct-and-immediate physician-supervision rule. Hospitals and surgical facilities can set stricter hiring criteria.

2. Current Florida Requirements

02 · Current law

2. Current Florida Requirements

Florida Statute §395.0197(1)(b)(3) addresses facilities' use of unlicensed personnel in surgical procedures. Under this provision, a licensed facility cannot authorize participation without the required safeguards.[1]

Competency assessment

The facility assesses the individual's competency before authorizing the person to assist or participate.

Physician supervision

The participation takes place under the direct and immediate supervision of a licensed physician.

Scope restrictions

Unlicensed personnel may not perform tasks that the law reserves to licensed healthcare practitioners.

Important: These rules apply to licensed facilities covered by this section. Other facility-specific and professional regulations may also apply. The facility, not a national certificate by itself, must make the required authorization and competency determination.

Employers may separately require or prefer approved or accredited Surgical Technology training, national certification, BLS or previous operating-room experience. The requirement depends on the facility and the position.

3. Florida Law & Clinical Externship

03 · Clinical experience

3. Florida Law & Clinical Externship

How the facility rules affect externship students

Before permitting a student to participate in surgical procedures, a Florida clinical site must determine which activities the student is authorized to perform, conduct the applicable competency assessment and meet relevant supervision rules. Site-specific onboarding and screening requirements may also apply.[1]

Externship included for the NCCT TS-C pathway: UpTrain includes surgical externship-placement assistance and the mandatory 125 documented surgical cases for students pursuing NCCT TS-C. Students coordinate with their mentor and placement team; the accepting clinical site provides the supervised setting and verifies successful case completion.

How placement works

Finish the required online courseworkComplete the 350-contact-hour, self-paced program and meet applicable academic and administrative requirements.

Coordinate with your mentor and placement teamThe placement team helps identify a suitable participating clinical facility as close to the student's location as reasonably possible. No particular distance or location can be promised.

Complete facility onboardingThe host site decides whether to accept the student and may require health documentation, immunizations, screening, background checks, drug testing or facility-specific competency validation.

Participate in the surgical externshipThe student works under the site's required supervision and completes the applicable surgical cases and case mix, subject to procedural availability and successful participation.

Obtain clinical-site verificationA qualifying clinical supervisor, instructor or preceptor documents and verifies the successful cases using NCCT's applicable forms.

Scheduling: Externship start dates, daily hours, case availability and completion times depend on the site and the student's participation. Students temporarily outside the United States may coordinate the clinical component for a period when they can attend an eligible placement. The included externship is not an additional purchase.

4. NCCT's 125-Case Requirement

04 · Required case log

4. NCCT's 125-Case Requirement

NCCT's critical-skills documentation for the education pathway requires at least 125 successfully completed surgical cases, including a minimum of 90 performed as first scrub. The qualifying case log must include the required mix of general surgery and surgical specialties.[3]

125Total documented cases

90+First-scrub cases

3+Different surgical specialties

NCCT's published documentation specifies a mix of 30–50 general surgeries and 75–95 specialty cases across at least three specialties. Qualified verifiers confirm the cases. First scrub has defined clinical responsibilities and is not interchangeable with observing a procedure.

Distinction between exam timing and certification: NCCT's education pathways may permit eligible applicants to test before they have finished all case documentation, subject to NCCT's deadlines and current requirements. Full certification requires the applicable documentation. UpTrain still includes the mandatory externship and 125 cases for students pursuing its NCCT TS-C pathway.[2]

5. National Certification Pathways

05 · Certification options

5. National Certification Pathways

National certification may be required or preferred by an employer, but a credential is not the same as a Florida-issued license or authorization to participate in surgery at a particular facility.

Primary UpTrain pathway

NCCT Tech in Surgery – Certified (TS-C)

National certification from the National Center for Competency Testing
Current-student and graduate education eligibility routes require qualifying NCCT-authorized training and applicable documentation
125 documented cases, 90+ first scrub, required case mix
Final eligibility and certification decisions are made by NCCT

NBSTSA Certified Surgical Technologist (CST)

Separate national certification through NBSTSA
Standard new-graduate route requires graduation from a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited program
Separate military and other NBSTSA-recognized routes may apply
Some Florida employers specifically require this credential

Program distinction: The UpTrain Surgical Technologist program is a non-degree certificate program and is not CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited. It does not provide the standard new-graduate NBSTSA CST route. The program also prepares for AAH certification as a secondary option.

6. What This Means for You

06 · Student pathway

6. What This Means for You

The UpTrain student journey

Complete online studyFinish the 350-hour course and the applicable academic requirements. The LSUS Certificate of Completion is issued after successful program completion and fulfillment of payment obligations.

Coordinate an eligible externshipWork with your mentor and the placement team. The receiving facility controls acceptance, onboarding, supervision and scheduling.

Complete and document 125 surgical casesSuccessfully fulfill the required cases, including 90+ first scrub and the specified case mix. The clinical site verifies the completed work.

Apply under the appropriate NCCT routeSubmit the necessary eligibility and critical-skills documentation and meet NCCT's current requirements. NCCT decides final exam and certification eligibility.

Use career support and review target employersReadyToWork job-placement assistance can help eligible completers pursue opportunities. Employment, employer acceptance and any specific outcome are not guaranteed.

An example of employer variation: HCA Florida Largo Hospital lists both NCCT and NBSTSA plus approved training and BLS. Mayo Clinic Jacksonville lists accredited or military training and NBSTSA certification within one year of hire. Review individual postings rather than assuming one credential qualifies for every role.

7. Key Takeaways

07 · Summary

7. Key Takeaways

Florida does not issue an individual Surgical Technologist license.
Covered licensed facilities must still satisfy the competency, authorization and physician-supervision rules of §395.0197.

UpTrain's mandatory NCCT-pathway externship is included.
The required 125 cases and qualifying case mix must be successfully completed and verified by the clinical site.

NCCT TS-C is a national credential.
It is not a Florida facility authorization; NCCT makes final eligibility and certification decisions.

Employers decide their individual hiring standards.
Some accept TS-C; others require CST or accredited education, plus other qualifications.

8. Official Sources & Important Information

08 · References

8. Official Sources & Important Information

Florida Legislature — 2026 Florida Statutes, §395.0197. Internal risk-management and safeguards for unlicensed personnel in surgical procedures. View the official chapter ↗
NCCT — Tech in Surgery TS-C. Official eligibility options and program / graduate requirements. View NCCT ↗
NCCT — Forms & Documents. Tech in Surgery eligibility and critical-skills competency documentation, case requirements and approved verifiers. View current forms ↗
NBSTSA — CST eligibility. Standard eligibility and recognized education routes. View NBSTSA ↗
Employer evidence. See the individual AdventHealth, HCA Florida, Orlando Health and Mayo Clinic postings linked in the main Florida guide.

Important information: General education only, not legal advice. The clinical externship and 125 cases are included for NCCT TS-C students, but no particular placement site, geographic radius, schedule, completion date, certification or job is guaranteed. Rules and hiring standards can change; verify current facts with Florida authorities, NCCT, the receiving facility and prospective employers.

Guide reviewed: September 22, 2026. Review legal and employer sources periodically and before publication.

Next steps

Ready to continue?

Return to the Florida guide to compare pathways and employer evidence, or explore the complete UpTrain Surgical Technologist program, included clinical externship and payment options.

Back to Florida Guide →Return to Program & Enroll

$1,188 tuition · Starting at $99/month

← Back to Florida Surgical Technologist Guide