State Career Guide

Georgia Surgical Technologist Requirements & Career Pathway

Learn about Georgia's Surgical Technologist employment standards, see where NCCT TS-C is recognized in actual employer postings, and understand how the UpTrain pathway may fit your career goals.

Georgia•Guide reviewed: October 2026

Georgia

Surgical Technologist Guide

04 · The Bottom Line for Georgia

Georgia does not require an individual Surgical Technologist license — but employer requirements still matter.

Georgia currently has no statewide Surgical Technologist licensure or registration requirement, nor a general state law requiring every Surgical Technologist to hold one specified national certification before employment.

That does not mean every training program or certification is accepted by every hospital. Georgia employers establish their own education, certification, clinical experience, and hiring standards. Some recognize NCCT Tech in Surgery – Certified (TS-C), while others require a CST credential, an accredited Surgical Technology program, prior operating-room experience, or a combination of qualifications.

No individual Georgia Surgical Technologist license required · Employer hiring qualifications apply

The UpTrain Surgical Technologist program, offered with Louisiana State University Shreveport (LSUS), is a non-degree certificate program that prepares students for the NCCT TS-C Graduate Pathway. LSUS is institutionally accredited by SACSCOC; the UpTrain/LSUS certificate is not represented as CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited. Students should confirm that their specific program, clinical preparation, and certification will satisfy the positions they intend to pursue.

Read the full details →

04 · What Is NCCT TS-C?

A nationally accredited Surgical Technologist certification recognized in documented Georgia employer postings.

The Tech in Surgery – Certified (TS-C) credential is issued by the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT). The certification program is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).

Northside Hospital identifies NCCT TS-C as a preferred certification in published Georgia positions. AdventHealth Gordon explicitly lists TS-C as an acceptable certification option for a Certified Surgical Technologist position. Wellstar also names TS-C as a qualifying credential in a published Roswell position requiring substantial prior experience. Those are specific credential-recognition examples, not blanket approval of UpTrain/LSUS training by any employer.

125documented live surgical cases

90+first-scrub cases

NCCAaccredited certification

How the UpTrain Pathway Fits

05 · How the UpTrain Pathway Fits

Flexible Surgical Technologist training with an included surgical externship

Primary certification pathway: NCCT TS-C

The UpTrain Surgical Technologist program, offered in partnership with Louisiana State University Shreveport, provides online, self-paced career training in sterile technique, surgical instrumentation, infection control, operating-room procedures, patient preparation, and surgical safety.

Approximately 4–6 months of online coursework
350 contact hours
Mentor support
Included, mandatory surgical externship for NCCT TS-C
UpTrain externship-placement coordination
Career-placement support
NCCT requirement: 125 documented live surgical cases
At least 90 first-scrub cases

The UpTrain mentor and placement team helps coordinate the included surgical externship after students complete applicable coursework and prerequisites. Placement depends on clinical-site participation, acceptance, onboarding requirements, scheduling, and suitable surgical procedures. Clinical-site personnel document and verify completed cases. A particular facility, start date, exact distance, schedule, or completion timeline is not guaranteed.

$1,188 tuitionStarting at $99/month

Explore Program Details →

NCCT recognition in Georgia

Northside Hospital, AdventHealth Gordon, and published Wellstar positions provide examples of Georgia employers recognizing NCCT TS-C. Check the exact education, certification, and experience requirements in each position.

AAH is secondary

The program also prepares students for AAH Surgical Technologist certification. NCCT TS-C remains the primary certification pathway emphasized in this guide.

Employer-specific requirements

Recognition of NCCT TS-C does not mean an employer accepts every training program. Check the employer's specific education, clinical experience, BLS, and work-experience requirements before choosing a pathway.

Surgical Technologist clinical training visual

NCCT TS-C pathwayOnline coursework + supervised externship + 125 documented live surgical cases.

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 NCCA-accredited national Surgical Technologist certifications. Employer acceptance and educational requirements differ.

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	Commonly 12–24 months	UpTrain coursework: approx. 4–6 months, plus required surgical cases
Estimated training cost	Varies widely by institution and program	UpTrain: $1,188
Published exam fee	$230 AST member / $340 non-member	Approx. $199
Surgical case requirement	Clinical case requirements through qualifying education	125 documented cases, including at least 90 first scrub
Accepted by every employer?	No	No
Georgia employer evidence	Required or preferred by some employers	Explicitly recognized or preferred by some employers

Credential

NBSTSA CSTCertified Surgical Technologist

NCCT TS-C / UpTrainTech in Surgery – Certified

NCCA accreditation

NBSTSA CSTYes

NCCT TS-C / UpTrainYes

Typical training timeline

NBSTSA CSTCommonly 12–24 months

NCCT TS-C / UpTrainApprox. 4–6 months coursework + cases

Surgical case requirement

NBSTSA CSTThrough qualifying education

NCCT TS-C / UpTrain125 cases, including at least 90 first scrub

Georgia employer evidence

NBSTSA CSTRequired or preferred by some employers

Explicitly recognized or preferred by some employersNCCT TS-C / UpTrainExplicitly recognized by some employers

Georgia-specific takeaway: Georgia's lack of an individual Surgical Technologist licensing mandate does not make either certification universally accepted. Employers may still require particular credentials, accredited education, clinical experience, or prior employment.

What Georgia Employers Are Asking For

07 · Employer evidence

What Georgia Employers Are Asking For

The following employer examples show genuine TS-C/TSC recognition in Georgia. They also show why employer education and hiring requirements must be checked separately.

AdventHealth Gordon

Calhoun, Georgia · NCCT TS-C accepted as a qualifying certification

AdventHealth Gordon's Certified Surgical Technologist II posting explicitly includes NCCT TS-C among the certifications meeting its required credential standard. The role also requires technical/vocational education and Basic Life Support (BLS) certification. An associate degree and two or more years of certified Surgical Technologist experience are listed as preferred.

View employer source ↗

Northside Hospital — Atlanta

Atlanta, Georgia · NCCT TS-C preferred; additional eligibility requirements

Northside Hospital's Operating Room Surgical Technologist posting explicitly lists NCCT TS-C as a preferred certification. Its required qualifications separately call for graduation from an accredited Surgical Technology program with two years of Surgical Technologist experience, or five years of qualifying full-time operating-room employment within the past seven years. American Heart Association BLS certification is also required.

View employer source ↗

Wellstar Health System — North Fulton Hospital

Roswell, Georgia · NCCT TS-C accepted; five years' experience required

Wellstar's Surgical Tech – Labor & Delivery PRN Night Shift posting explicitly lists NCCT TS-C among acceptable certifications. The position is a senior-level role requiring at least five years of experience, plus BLS certification. It demonstrates recognition of the NCCT credential; it is not an entry-level position.

View employer source ↗

Employer requirements and vacancies can change or close. The examples above show credential language in specific postings, not statewide acceptance or employer approval of the UpTrain/LSUS program. Verify current requirements and the precise credential accepted before applying or enrolling.

Only published Georgia positions explicitly naming NCCT TS-C are included. Some cited jobs require prior experience or may have closed. Employer recognition of NCCT does not establish approval of the UpTrain/LSUS program.

Which Pathway May Be Right for You?

08 · Choose your pathway

Which Pathway May Be Right for You?

Explore UpTrain / NCCT TS-C if you:

Prefer online, self-paced coursework.
Want a lower-cost, non-degree certificate option.
Are prepared to complete the included surgical externship and 125 documented cases.
Have identified Georgia employers that recognize NCCT TS-C and whose education and experience requirements you can meet.
Understand that certification eligibility and an individual employer's hiring decision are separate.

Consider an accredited CST pathway if you:

Are targeting employers that specifically require CST or the NBSTSA CST credential.
Want a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited Surgical Technology program.
Prefer an associate degree or a traditional campus-based laboratory and clinical program.
Want to pursue positions that require a particular accredited education route or additional experience.

Important: Georgia's employer-driven hiring landscape can offer more than one path, but it does not make every path equally acceptable to every facility. Review several positions in the Georgia region where you hope to work before selecting training.

Job Titles to Search in Georgia

09 · Job-title search terms

Job Titles to Search in Georgia

Surgical TechnologistSurgical TechnicianCertified Surgical TechnologistSurgical TechSurgical Technologist ISurgical Technologist IICVOR Surgical TechnologistLabor & Delivery Surgical TechOperating Room Surgical TechnologistScrub Technician

Job title alone does not determine eligibility. Read the education, certification, experience, BLS/CPR, and other conditions in each job posting.

Check three things before you enroll

10 · Before enrolling

Check three things before you enroll

Check your target Georgia employers

Review multiple Surgical Technologist openings in the Georgia region where you intend to work. Check whether NCCT TS-C is accepted, preferred, or not listed; whether CST is mandatory; and whether specific accredited education, prior operating-room experience, BLS, or other qualifications are required.

Understand the included NCCT clinical pathway

Students pursuing NCCT TS-C through UpTrain must complete the included surgical externship and 125 documented surgical cases, including at least 90 first-scrub cases and the required case mix. NCCT decides final examination and certification eligibility after reviewing the submitted documentation.

Plan for the clinical training commitment

The approximately 4–6 months of online coursework is only one phase of the pathway. Completing 125 verified live surgical cases, including 90 first-scrub cases, depends on clinical-site availability, acceptance, supervision, and suitable procedures. Understand that an exact site, externship start date, or overall completion timeline cannot be guaranteed.

11 · Next step

Explore your Surgical Technologist pathway

Review the UpTrain curriculum, included externship, tuition, and flexible payment options. Confirm target Georgia employers' education, NCCT recognition, and experience requirements before choosing a pathway.

Explore Program Details →Read Georgia Requirements

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

Sources & Important Information

12 · Sources & important information

Official and primary sources

Important information

This guide provides general educational information and is not legal advice. It does not guarantee certification, a particular clinical placement, a fixed completion timeline, an individual employer's acceptance, or employment. Certification requirements and employer qualifications may change. LSUS institutional accreditation and NCCT preparation do not themselves establish an employer's approval of a particular education program.

Reviewed: October 2026. Confirm current requirements directly with official sources, NCCT, the educational program and prospective employers.