what is a cst in healthcare

A CST in healthcare stands for Certified Surgical Technologist. A CST is a medical professional who assists in preparing the operating room for surgery and assists the surgeon before, during, and after the surgery. During surgery, the CST keeps careful count of supplies such as sponges, passes equipment to the nurses and surgeons, and provides manual assistance like holding tools or organs. To become a CST, one must attend an accredited surgical technologist program or complete a military training program in surgical technology, and then pass the CST certification exam. Certification is strongly suggested and preferred by many employers. The most common credential for a CST is offered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) . Some states require CST certification for the employment of surgical technologists, but even if your state doesn’t, you’ll likely come across employers who will expect you to be a CST. The average hourly pay for a Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) is $24.48 in 2023/Hourly_Rate).