New York Surgical Technologist Requirements & Career Pathway

04 · The Bottom Line for New York

NCCT TS-C has documented New York employer acceptance — and education requirements also apply.

New York does not issue a separate individual Surgical Technologist license. Instead, Public Health Law §2824 establishes minimum employment qualifications for Surgical Technologists working in covered hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities.

Under the standard route, New York requires both successful completion of a nationally accredited Surgical Technology educational program and a credential administered by a nationally accredited Surgical Technologist credentialing organization.

NCCT TS-C is accepted by documented NY employersEducational eligibility must also be verified

UpTrain is a non-degree certificate program and is not CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited. Students planning to work in New York should confirm the education requirements of target employers before enrolling.

Read the full details →

04 · What is NCCT TS-C?

A nationally accredited Surgical Technologist certification accepted by some New York employers.

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

125documented surgical cases

90+first-scrub cases

NCCAaccredited certification

NYC Health + Hospitals expressly names NCCT as an example of an acceptable nationally accredited credentialing organization, and the University of Rochester accepts NCCT Tech in Surgery or NBSTSA CST within its published requirements. Certification acceptance and educational eligibility remain separate questions.

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
Surgical externship-placement assistance
Career-placement support
Included and mandatory 125 documented surgical cases for students pursuing NCCT TS-C
At least 90 first-scrub cases

Students coordinate with their mentor and placement team after completing the applicable coursework and program requirements. 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

Return to Program & Enroll →

NCCT acceptance in New York

NYC Health + Hospitals and the University of Rochester provide explicit evidence that NCCT TS-C is accepted within New York.

AAH is secondary

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

New York education requirement

Recognition of NCCT does not by itself establish that UpTrain’s particular educational program satisfies New York’s nationally accredited education requirement.

Surgical Technologist clinical training visual

NCCT TS-C pathwayOnline coursework + included clinical externship + documented 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
New York employer evidence	Required by some employers	Explicitly accepted 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

New York employer evidence

NBSTSA CSTRequired by some employers

NCCT TS-C / UpTrainExplicitly accepted by some employers

New York-specific takeaway: the question is not simply whether an employer accepts NCCT. Students must also verify that their educational pathway satisfies New York law and the hiring requirements of the specific employer.

What New York Employers Are Asking For

07 · Employer evidence

What New York Employers Are Asking For

The evidence shows real NCCT TS-C acceptance in New York, but acceptance is not universal and education requirements remain important.

NYC Health + Hospitals

New York CityNCCT explicitly accepted

Surgical Technologist Level II requirements allow NBSTSA CST or, with qualifying nationally accredited education or military training, a credential from another nationally accredited organization such as NCCT. The system also requires 15 hours of continuing education annually.

View employer source ↗

University of Rochester

Rochester, New YorkNCCT TS-C or NBSTSA CST

Published career requirements accept NCCT Tech in Surgery or NBSTSA CST within 12 months. The standard education route separately requires an associate degree from a CAAHEP-accredited Surgical Technology program.

View employer source ↗

Northwell Health

Multiple New York locationsReviewed positions specify NBSTSA CST

Reviewed Surgical Technologist postings generally require nationally accredited Surgical Technology education plus NBSTSA CST, or an applicable statutory alternative route. NCCT was not listed as the standard option in the cited posting.

View employer source ↗

NewYork-Presbyterian

New York CityNBSTSA CST specified

A reviewed operating-room Surgical Technologist position requires NBSTSA CST, with a time-limited certification provision for newly qualified candidates. NCCT TS-C is not listed as an alternative in the cited position.

View employer source ↗

Employer requirements and job postings can change. These examples show that NCCT TS-C has documented employer recognition in New York, but it is not universally accepted. Students should verify current requirements directly with the employers they intend to pursue.

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 training option
Are prepared to complete the included 125-case surgical externship
Have identified New York employers that accept NCCT TS-C
Can confirm that your particular educational pathway meets their requirements
May also consider employment in states with different education requirements

Consider an accredited CST pathway if you:

Intend to work primarily in New York under the standard statutory route
Are targeting employers that specifically require NBSTSA CST
Want CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited Surgical Technology education
Want an associate degree
Prefer traditional training with integrated laboratory and clinical education

If New York is your only intended employment location, verify the educational-program requirement with several target employers before enrolling.

Job Titles to Search in New York

09 · Job-title search terms

Job Titles to Search in New York

Surgical TechnologistSurgical TechnicianCertified Surgical TechnologistOperating Room TechnicianOR Surgical TechnologistScrub TechnicianSurgical Technologist Level IIOperating Room Technologist

Job title alone does not determine eligibility. Review the education, certification, experience and statutory qualification route in every posting.

Before You Enroll

10 · Before enrolling

Check three things before you enroll

01

Check your target employers

Review several Surgical Technologist positions near where you plan to work. Look for NCCT TS-C or NBSTSA CST, nationally accredited education, CAAHEP or ABHES requirements, degree requirements, OR experience, BLS and annual continuing education.

02

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. NCCT makes the final certification eligibility determination.

03

Understand New York’s additional requirements

New York’s standard route requires qualifying education and certification. The law also requires 15 hours of continuing education annually and appropriate direction and supervision in surgery.

11 · Next step

Explore your Surgical Technologist pathway

Review the UpTrain curriculum, included surgical externship, tuition and payment options. If New York is your intended employment location, confirm the educational requirements of your target employers before enrolling.

Return to Program & Enroll → Read New York Requirements

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

Sources & Important Information

12 · Sources & important information

Official 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 or employment. New York requirements, certification rules and employer qualifications can change.

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