UpTrain
Enroll Now
☰
← Back to Surgical Technologist Program
State Career Guide

Pennsylvania Surgical Technologist Requirements & Career Pathway

Understand Pennsylvania's Surgical Technologist employment requirements, see where NCCT TS-C is recognized by employers, and learn how the UpTrain pathway may fit your career goals.

Pennsylvania•Guide reviewed: October 2026
PA
Pennsylvania
Surgical Technologist Guide
04 · The Bottom Line for Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania recognizes accredited certification pathways — and employer education requirements still apply.

Pennsylvania's Act 80 of 2020 sets qualification standards for Surgical Technologists working in covered hospitals and surgical facilities. It recognizes several ways to qualify.

One route combines completion of a Surgical Technologist program sponsored by an entity with nationally recognized institutional or programmatic accreditation and certification from an accredited certification program. Other routes include qualifying military training and a route based on maintaining accredited Surgical Technologist certification or certain prior employment.

Pennsylvania law does not impose a universal associate-degree requirement or require every candidate to graduate from a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited program. Individual employers can still require those qualifications.

NCCT TS-C is recognized by documented PA employersCheck the exact education and hiring requirements

The UpTrain program is offered with Louisiana State University Shreveport (LSUS), an institution accredited by SACSCOC, and prepares students for the NCCT TS-C Graduate Pathway. UpTrain is a non-degree certificate program and is not CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited. Institutional accreditation, NCCT eligibility, and a specific employer's acceptance are separate questions. Confirm your intended route and employer requirements before enrolling.

Read the full details →

04 · What Is NCCT TS-C?

A nationally accredited Surgical Technologist certification recognized by Pennsylvania employers.

The Tech in Surgery – Certified (TS-C) credential 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

Pennsylvania employer examples—including Allegheny Health Network, Jefferson Health, UPMC, and Tower Health—show recognition of NCCT TS-C or TSC. That recognition does not mean every employer accepts every NCCT-preparation program or that completing UpTrain automatically qualifies someone for a particular job.

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 Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania employers including Allegheny Health Network, Jefferson Health, UPMC, and Tower Health provide documented examples of NCCT TS-C or TSC recognition. Check the current requirements for each position.

AAH is secondary

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

Pennsylvania qualification routes

Act 80 recognizes several routes, including nationally recognized institutional or programmatic education paired with accredited certification and a separate certification-based route. Whether a specific applicant qualifies—and meets employer standards—must be assessed individually.

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.

FeatureNBSTSA CSTNCCT TS-C / UpTrain Pathway
CredentialCertified Surgical TechnologistTech in Surgery – Certified
Certification bodyNBSTSANCCT
NCCA-accredited certificationYesYes
Typical training timelineCommonly 12–24 monthsUpTrain coursework: approx. 4–6 months, plus required surgical cases
Estimated training costVaries widely by institution and programUpTrain: $1,188
Published exam fee$230 AST member / $340 non-memberApprox. $199
Surgical case requirementClinical case requirements through qualifying education125 documented cases, including at least 90 first scrub
Accepted by every employer?NoNo
Pennsylvania employer evidenceRequired or preferred by some employersExplicitly recognized 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

Pennsylvania employer evidence

NBSTSA CSTRequired or preferred by some employers
NCCT TS-C / UpTrainExplicitly recognized by some employers

Pennsylvania-specific takeaway: Act 80 recognizes multiple qualification routes, but employers can set additional education, credential, and experience requirements. Students must verify both statutory and employer-specific eligibility.

What Pennsylvania Employers Are Asking For
07 · Employer evidence

What Pennsylvania Employers Are Asking For

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

Allegheny Health Network — West Penn Hospital

Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaCST or TS-C recognized

A published Surgical Technologist I posting names CST and TS-C as recognized national certifications. It also describes accredited Surgical Technologist program completion, military and prior-employment options, and an American Heart Association CPR requirement.

View employer source ↗

Jefferson Health — Honickman Center

Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaNCCT TS-C explicitly listed

A Surgical Tech posting names the NBSTSA CST and NCCT TS-C credentials and includes Basic Life Support requirements. Additional qualifications depend on the position.

View employer source ↗

UPMC

Multiple Pennsylvania locationsCST or TSC recognized

A published Surgical Technologist posting reflects Pennsylvania's Act 80 qualification routes and lists CST or TSC certification. It also refers to CPR/BLS, applicable clearances, and requirements that depend on the position.

View employer source ↗

Tower Health — Phoenixville Hospital

Phoenixville, PennsylvaniaNBSTSA or NCCT recognized

A published Certified Surgical Technologist posting accepts NBSTSA or NCCT certification, subject to its conditions. It also lists BLS, experience, and education requirements, including a degree or an accepted combination of education and experience.

View employer source ↗

Employer requirements and job postings can change or close. These examples establish credential recognition in specific postings, not universal employer approval of the UpTrain/LSUS program. Confirm requirements directly before applying or enrolling.

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.
  • Are targeting Pennsylvania employers that accept NCCT TS-C.
  • Can verify that your education, certification pathway, and other qualifications meet the jobs you want.

Consider an accredited CST pathway if you:

  • Are targeting employers that specifically require NBSTSA CST.
  • Want a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited Surgical Technology program.
  • Prefer an associate degree or traditional campus-based laboratory and clinical training.
  • Want to keep open opportunities where employers require those particular educational credentials.

Important:Pennsylvania recognizes more than one statutory route. That flexibility does not remove the need to verify a specific employer's standards. If you plan to work only in Pennsylvania, review several target positions before selecting your training pathway.

Job Titles to Search in Pennsylvania
09 · Job-title search terms

Job Titles to Search in Pennsylvania

Surgical TechnologistSurgical TechnicianCertified Surgical TechnologistSurgical TechOperating Room Surgical TechnologistOR Surgical TechnicianSurgical Technologist ISurgical Technologist IISurgical Scrub 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

01

Check your target employers

Review multiple Pennsylvania Surgical Technologist job postings in the region where you plan to work. Check whether employers accept NCCT TS-C, require NBSTSA CST, specify an accredited program or degree, or require experience, BLS/CPR, or other clearances.

02

Understand the included NCCT clinical pathway

For NCCT TS-C, UpTrain students must complete the included surgical externship and 125 documented surgical cases, including at least 90 first-scrub cases. NCCT decides final examination and certification eligibility after reviewing the required documents.

03

Understand Pennsylvania's qualification routes

Act 80 has different routes, and its six-month post-completion certification window applies to the education route described in Section 501(1)(i). Do not assume it applies to every applicant. Continuing education and employer-specific requirements may also apply. Confirm how your intended pathway fits before enrolling.

11 · Next step

Explore your Surgical Technologist pathway

Review the UpTrain curriculum, included surgical externship, tuition, and flexible payment options. If Pennsylvania is your intended employment location, check your target employers' education, certification, and hiring requirements before enrolling.

Return to Program & Enroll →Read Pennsylvania Requirements
$1,188 tuition · Starting at $99/month
Sources & Important Information
12 · Sources & important information

Important information

This guide provides general educational information and is not legal advice. It does not guarantee certification, an externship location, a fixed completion timeline, a particular hiring qualification, or employment. Pennsylvania rules, NCCT requirements, and employer qualifications may change. LSUS institutional accreditation and NCCT authorization are not guarantees of acceptance by every employer.

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