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Tech in Surgery-Certified TS-C (NCCT) — Requirements & Free Practice

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Tech in Surgery-Certified TS-C (NCCT)

NCCT national competency certification for surgical technologists performing preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative tasks; initial certification requires the TS-C certification examination and applicable eligibility and documentation.

Licensing authority: National Center for Competency Testing · Application information

Initial by examination
TS-C (NCCT) certification exam
Clinical Documentation
The currently linked TS-C Critical Skill Competency form requires 125 cases, at least 90 as first scrub, 30–50 general surgeries and 75–95 cases in at least three listed specialties; diagnostic scopes are limited to 15. First scrub requires all five specified activities and second scrub is partial participation. Cases require live patient experience and a facility verifier with firsthand knowledge; simulated, mannequin, classroom and observational experiences do not qualify. This is documentary verification of existing training/clinical experience, not a separate administered or scored exam. Instructor documentation likewise requires 125 cases and 90 first-scrub cases.
Educational Documentation Timing
The TS-C-specific route sheet and handbook p.10 allow at most two years from the test date for case documentation (the graduate text says successful program testing); the current TS-C competency form explicitly applies two years from the certification test date to students and graduates and withholds certification until all cases and other required documents are verified. These TS-C-specific provisions govern this certification rather than substituting the general education-route wording about program completion.
Eligibility Alternatives
["Current student in an NCCT-authorized postsecondary surgical technology program, including U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship programs; U.S. high school graduation or equivalent; program diploma, completion certificate or signed transcript with graduation date and TS-C Critical Skills Competency documentation required for full certification.","Graduate within the past five years of an NCCT-authorized postsecondary surgical technology program, including U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship programs; U.S. high school graduation or equivalent; program graduation documentation and TS-C Critical Skills Competency form required.","Experience: U.S. high school diploma or equivalent and three years of verifiable full-time surgical technologist employment or equivalent 6240 hours within the past five years, under direct supervision of a licensed physician, surgeon or RN/circulating OR nurse; employer-completed Qualification by Experience documentation required before testing.","High school: current student or graduate within the past five years of an NCCT-authorized high school surgical technology program; provide program graduation diploma/certificate or signed transcript if career courses appear on the high school transcript, and TS-C Critical Skills Competency documentation. These documents are not required to sit the exam, but full certification is withheld until received.","Military training: completion of surgical technology training or its equivalent during U.S. military service within the past five years; high school graduation or equivalent; current SMART transcript or DD214 showing the relevant successful training, and TS-C Critical Skills Competency form. The live NCCT TS-C eligibility page additionally lists active-duty, retired or veteran service members or their spouses with three years of verifiable full-time surgical technology practice within the past five years; that alternative satisfies the same experience qualification and does not add an examination.","Instructor: U.S. high school graduation or equivalent, three years of current verifiable surgical technology teaching at an NCCT-authorized organization in the last five years and three years of verifiable surgical technologist experience; submit Instructor Verification and Instructor TS-C Qualification by Experience forms."]
Evidence Claim Ids
["ncct-tsc-route-conditions-20261024","ncct-tsc-registration-20261024","ncct-tsc-outline-20261024"]
General Eligibility
Required work experience must be in the United States or its territories. Full time means at least 40 hours per week; self-employment does not qualify and teaching does not substitute for practitioner experience. Certification requires passing the exam, all required documentation and fees. Board of Testing members, subject-matter experts, verification staff and certification vendors cannot test within two years of leaving their relevant role.
Language
English only.
Scheduling
On-demand computer-based appointments, not an annual sitting window. Apply at least 14 days before the requested test date; staff review normally takes 3–5 business days and approved applicants receive test-date/location authorization. Applications inside the 14-day deadline prompt contact about alternative arrangements. Except current students, supporting documents are normally due 14 days before the test; TS-C-specific case-documentation allowances remain as stated above. Applications/fees last one year from submission. Rescheduling requires contacting NCCT at least 14 days before the appointment, is subject to capacity and carries a $25 fee. Applicants outside a school test site contact NCCT for date/location. Remote appointments require the prescribed system check and identification, and additional remote fees; the same certification exam is used.

TS-C (NCCT) certification exam

Provider
National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT)
Format
Computer-based examination in English; standard four-option multiple-choice and alternative items.
Exam questions
Total questions: 175; Scored questions: 150; Unscored questions: 25; The total includes the scored and unscored questions.
Time limit
4 hours
Exam fee
$199 examination fee
Examination outline
  • Perioperative Care and Preparation (27.33%)
    • Basic Science
    • Integrity and Sterility of Items
    • Environmental Safety
    • Communication and Reporting
  • Preoperative Care and Preparation (32%)
    • Surgical Procedure Set-Up
    • Patient Safety
    • Sterile Technique
  • Intraoperative Care and Preparation (24.67%)
    • Preparation of Supplies
    • Surgeon Support
  • End of Procedure Tasks and Postoperative Care (16%)
    • End of Procedure Tasks
    • Postoperative Tasks
Examination sources