About the CST exam
The National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) gives the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) exam. It has 175 multiple-choice questions, and 150 of them are scored. The other 25 are unscored pretest questions mixed in at random. You get 4 hours, and the clock keeps running during breaks.
Sources: CST certification, checked October 16, 2026; CST examination content outline, checked October 16, 2026.| Content area | Scored questions |
|---|---|
| Perioperative care | 97 |
| Basic science | 30 |
| Ancillary duties | 23 |
What the practice exam will include
The CST pass will include full practice exams that follow NBSTSA’s content outline, a question bank by area, every answer explained, and insights that show which areas to review. A certified surgical technologist reviews every question, so the CST exam will open after our TEAS practice.
Join the CST waitlist
After every practice set, you’ll see which CST topics to work on next. Ten minutes counts, and it saves your place.
CST practice questions
We’re writing these now
Every question will follow the exam owner’s published outline, and every answer will explain why the right choice is right and the others aren’t. Join the waitlist and we’ll email you the day they’re ready.
Where you take the CST exam
You take the CST at a PSI test center, or on campus if your program offers it to students. TODO: confirm with NBSTSA whether any remote option exists before saying it doesn’t.
How to study for the CST exam
Perioperative care is 97 of the 150 scored questions, and intraoperative procedures alone are 68 of those. Spend most of your time there, then cover basic science (30 questions, mostly anatomy and physiology) and ancillary duties (23). With 175 questions in 4 hours, you have about 1.4 minutes per question, and the clock keeps running during breaks.
Common questions about the CST exam
What’s the CST passing score?
You need 98 correct out of the 150 scored questions.
How much does the CST exam cost?
NBSTSA charges $230 for members of the Association of Surgical Technologists and $340 for everyone else. TODO: confirm whether NBSTSA’s $60 processing fee is included in these amounts.
Who can take the CST exam?
Graduates of a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited surgical technology program can apply, along with graduates of a military surgical technology program and current or former CSTs.
Can I retake the CST exam?
Yes. NBSTSA has no waiting period and allows up to 3 attempts a calendar year, with a new application and fee each time.