Florida Surgical Technologist Requirements & Career Pathway

The Bottom Line for Florida

04a · State requirements

The Bottom Line for Florida

Florida does not have an individual state license requirement specifically for Surgical Technologists. But licensed facilities covered by Florida Statute §395.0197 must assess and authorize unlicensed personnel before they assist or participate in surgery. Those activities must take place under a licensed physician’s direct and immediate supervision, with duties limited by the applicable law.[1]

Employers may add their own training, certification, BLS and experience requirements. Some accept NCCT TS-C; others require NBSTSA CST or accredited education.

State law and hiring rules are differentEmployer-dependent hiring

Read the full details →

What is NCCT TS-C?

04b · National certification

What is NCCT TS-C?

Tech in Surgery – Certified (TS-C) is a national Surgical Technologist certification issued by the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT). It is UpTrain’s primary certification pathway for this program.[2]

For the education pathway, NCCT’s competency form requires a verified surgical case log. Training alone does not replace the clinical requirements.

125Documented surgical cases

90+Cases as first scrub

3+Surgical specialties in the case mix

How the UpTrain Pathway Fits

05 · UpTrain pathway

How the UpTrain Pathway Fits

Flexible training with a mandatory surgical externship for the NCCT TS-C pathway.

Offered in partnership with Louisiana State University Shreveport, the UpTrain Surgical Technologist program combines online, self-paced coursework with mentor support, externship-placement assistance and career-placement assistance.

Approximately 4–6 months of online coursework
350 contact hours
Surgical externship included for the NCCT TS-C pathway
125 documented surgical cases are mandatory for that pathway, including at least 90 as first scrub
Mentor and placement-team coordination

Return to Program & Enroll →

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

Surgical professional in operating-room attire with a prepared instrument tray

Included NCCT-pathway surgical externshipPlacement depends on facility acceptance, availability, onboarding and scheduling.

Primary pathway · NCCT TS-C

UpTrain includes placement assistance toward the required, documented 125 surgical cases. The clinical site verifies completed cases; NCCT makes final certification eligibility decisions.

Additional option · AAH

The program also prepares students for the American Allied Health Surgical Technologist certification. NCCT TS-C remains the primary pathway discussed here.

Important program distinction

This is a non-degree certificate program, not a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited Surgical Technology program. It does not provide the standard new-graduate route to the NBSTSA CST exam.

The student works with their mentor and the placement team; a particular clinical site, distance, start date or completion date cannot be guaranteed. Students outside the U.S. coordinate externship timing for when they are able to participate locally.

NBSTSA CST and NCCT TS-C: What’s the Difference?

06 · Certification comparison

NBSTSA CST and NCCT TS-C: What’s the Difference?

Both are national certifications. Their eligibility routes and each employer’s acceptance requirements are not identical.[4]

Feature	NBSTSA CST	NCCT TS-C / UpTrain pathway
Credential	Certified Surgical Technologist	Tech in Surgery – Certified
Certification body	NBSTSA	NCCT
NCCA-accredited certification	Yes	Yes
Typical training timeline	Accredited programs often take 12–24 months; varies by institution	UpTrain coursework approximately 4–6 months, plus completion of mandatory surgical cases
Estimated training cost	Varies widely by school, residency, program and fees	UpTrain tuition: $1,188
Certification exam fee	Confirm current pricing directly with NBSTSA	Confirm current pricing directly with NCCT
Surgical case requirement	Clinical requirements are set through accredited education and applicable eligibility rules	125 documented cases, at least 90 first scrub; specific case mix required
Accepted by every employer?	No	No
Employer acceptance	Specified by some Florida employers and positions	Accepted by some Florida employers, sometimes with additional education and experience requirements

Credential

NBSTSA CSTCertified Surgical Technologist

NCCT TS-CTech in Surgery – Certified

Certification body

NBSTSA CSTNBSTSA

NCCT TS-CNCCT

NCCA-accredited

NBSTSA CSTYes

NCCT TS-CYes

Typical training timeline

NBSTSA CSTOften 12–24 months, program dependent

NCCT TS-CUpTrain 4–6 months of coursework plus required clinical cases

Estimated training cost

NBSTSA CSTVaries by institution

NCCT TS-CUpTrain tuition: $1,188

Exam fee

NBSTSA CSTConfirm with NBSTSA

NCCT TS-CConfirm with NCCT

Surgical case requirement

NBSTSA CSTClinical requirements through accredited training

NCCT TS-C125 cases; 90+ first scrub

Accepted by every employer?

NBSTSA CSTNo

NCCT TS-CNo

Employer acceptance

NBSTSA CSTRequired by some employers

NCCT TS-CAccepted by some employers, often with additional requirements

Accreditation refers to the certification programs, not to UpTrain's non-degree training program. Exam fees and institution-specific costs should be verified before publication and periodically afterward.

What Florida Employers Are Asking For

07 · Florida employer examples

What Florida Employers Are Asking For

These verified postings illustrate different qualifications. A job posting is not a program endorsement or a promise of employment.

HCA Florida Largo Hospital

Largo, FloridaNCCT / NBSTSA listed

A Surgical Technologist posting specifies graduation from an approved program, certification through NCCT or NBSTSA, and BLS. OR experience is preferred.

View employer source ↗

AdventHealth

Davenport, FloridaNCCT TS-C preferred

A Surgical Technologist posting lists graduate-level program preparation and required BLS; NCCT TS-C or NBSTSA CST is preferred rather than universally required.

View employer source ↗

Orlando Health

Multiple Florida locationsTraining routes vary

A system-wide Surgical Technologist posting lists Surgical Technology training, military medical training or equivalent on-the-job training, with entry-level options and BLS timing requirements.

View employer source ↗

Mayo Clinic

Jacksonville, FloridaAccredited / CST-focused

A posting requires graduation from accredited or military Surgical Technology training and NBSTSA certification within one year of hire. Not all NCCT pathways match such requirements.

View employer source ↗

Employer postings reviewed in September 2026. Postings can close or change; confirm the current role's exact credential, training and experience requirements directly with the employer.

Which Pathway May Be Right for You?

08 · Choose your pathway

Which Pathway May Be Right for You?

UpTrain / NCCT TS-C may be worth considering if you:

Prefer online, self-paced coursework and a non-degree training option
Are prepared to complete the mandatory 125-case surgical externship
Want mentor support, placement coordination and career assistance
Are targeting employers whose precise education and certification criteria accept your pathway

Consider accredited CST education if you:

Want an associate degree or accredited Surgical Technology education
Have target employers requiring NBSTSA CST or CAAHEP/ABHES education
Prefer traditional campus-based training with an integrated clinical program
Want the standard new-graduate NBSTSA CST route

Job Titles to Search in Florida

09 · Job-title search terms

Job Titles to Search in Florida

Surgical TechnologistSurgical TechnicianCertified Surgical TechnologistOperating Room TechnicianScrub TechnicianOR Surgical TechnologistPerioperative Technician

A job title alone does not establish eligibility. Always review the qualification section.

Before You Enroll

10 · Before enrolling

Check three things before you enroll

01

Check your target employers

Find several positions near your preferred location. Compare accepted certifications, approved or accredited training requirements, BLS and prior-experience expectations.

02

Understand your NCCT clinical pathway

The included externship requires 125 documented cases, at least 90 first scrub, and the required general and specialty case mix. Your clinical site verifies the log.

03

Confirm Florida facility requirements

Ask about competency authorization, direct and immediate physician supervision where applicable, and site onboarding. Placement depends on clinical-site approval and availability.

11 · Next step

Ready to take the next step?

If this pathway fits your goals and the requirements of the employers you want to pursue, explore the UpTrain Surgical Technologist curriculum, included surgical externship, tuition, payment plans and enrollment.

Return to Program & Enroll →Read Florida Requirements

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

Sources & Important Information

12 · Sources & important information

Official sources

2026 Florida Statutes, §395.0197(1)(b)(3) — competency assessment, facility authorization and physician supervision.
NCCT TS-C — current educational eligibility routes.
NCCT critical-skills / case documentation — 125 cases, first-scrub and case mix.
NBSTSA CST eligibility — accredited training route.
Detailed Florida requirements and source notes.

Important information

General educational information only; not legal advice. This guide does not guarantee certification eligibility, a specific externship site or start date, completion of required cases, or employment. State requirements, clinical-site standards, certifying-body rules and job postings can change.

Reviewed: September 22, 2026. Employers are linked individually in Section 07. Confirm current rules before enrollment.