Owensboro Community and Technical College’s Surgical Technology program has received the annual merit award from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) for achieving a 100% pass rate on the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) examination for the third year in a row.
OCTC students have achieved a 100% pass rate for five consecutive years. Graduates obtaining national certification as a CST demonstrate, by examination, understanding of the basic competencies for safe patient care in the operating room. The CST is widely recognized in the health care community as the foremost credential for surgical technologists in the nation. The CST is required for employment within many local, state and national health care organizations.
According to NBSTSA Chief Executive Officer Ben Price, the NBSTSA has a 40-year history in CST examination development. The CST examination is a fully accredited examination by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) for surgical technologists.
NCCA accreditation assures that the CST examination meets stringent standards of examination development and administration. Certification as a surgical technologist exhibits professional pride, the desire to be recognized for mastery of surgical competencies, and most importantly an ongoing commitment to quality patient care.
“This honor is a testament to the value of our program, the graduating students are well prepared academically and technically,” said OCTC President Scott Williams. “They are not only prepared to take the exam, but they are all prepared to excel, both in the classroom and in the operating room. We are very proud that the program has received this honor three years in a row.”
