Earn CE Now

Avoid taking the $499 exam.  Renew your credential by CE credits.  Once your credential has expired, the window to earn qualifying CE credits is gone and the only option is to recertify by exam through the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) who administers the national certification exams and issues the certification for CSTs and CSFAs. 

AST encourages you to have your fulfillment of approved CE credits on file with AST at least six (6) months before your certification expiration date. 

A Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) must earn 60 CE credits and a Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA) require a total of 75 credits before the four-year cycle expires to renew the credential.

Don't allow your certification to expire! Check on it today.

The discounted CE credit packages listed below are available online for members.  Click on the EARN CE CREDIT ONLINE RESOURCE CENTER link below and use your member login to access the discounted CE credit packages.

AST Discount Booklet #2 - 18 Credits for $30 (2008)
A compilation of articles that offers 18 CE credits to members for $30..

To downloadcollection of 18-credit CE articles, please click here. (2 MB)
To download the exams and answer sheets, please click here.

AST Discount Booklet #1 - 21 Credits for$35 (2007)
IThe first compilation of articles offering 21 CE credits for $35.
To download collection of 21-credit CE articles, please click here. (857K)
To download the exams and answer sheets, please click here.

AST Credit Discount Package #3 (Neurosurgical) $15 (2009)
A compilation of 10-credit CE articles, please click here to download articles.(18 MB).
Click here to download the exams and answer sheet.

AST Credit Discount Package #4 (Orthopedic) $15 (2009)
A compilation of 10-credit CE articles, please click here to download articles. (6 MB).
Click here to download the exams and answer sheet.

AST Credit Discount Package #5 (General) $19 (2010)
A compilation of 12-credit CE articles, please click here to download articles. (2.2 MB).
Click here to download the exams and answer sheet.

AST Credit Discount Package #6 (General) $19 (2010)
A compilation of 12-credit CE articles, please click here to download articles. (3.7 MB)
Click here to download the exams and answer sheet.

AST Credit Discount Package #7 $29 (2011)

A compilation of 17-credits CE articles, please click here to download articles.

Click here to download the exams and answer sheet.

Visit the EARN CE CREDIT ONLINE RESOURCE CENTER to access journal articles, CE credit discount packages, videotaped lectures from conferences and forums, and PowerPoint presentations in the specialties listed below.

        PAY ONLINE AND YOUR CE CREDITS POST AUTOMATICALLY!

• Cardiothoracic
• ENT
• General
• Genitourinary
• Miscellaneous
• Neurology
• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Ophthalmology
• Oral and Maxillofacial
• Orthopedics
• Otorhinolaryngology
• Peripheral Vascular
• Plastic and Reconstructive

As an AST member you may access your CE credit status online with your login information at www.ast.org. View and print your CE credit history for employer confirmation.

RENEW YOUR CREDENTIAL BY CE CREDITS - TWO STEP PROCESS

STEP 1: SUBMIT CE CREDITS TO AST

CE credits may be earned as a nonmember or AST member. CE credits not earned while an AST member are subject to the $400 nonmember processing fee. The $400 nonmember processing fee includes one-year of AST membership. CE credits earned while an AST member, the processing of the credits is included in the membership. One important benefit of AST membership is the processing and approval of qualifying continuing education (CE) credits toward renewal of your credential. AST archives members's credits and transfers them automatically to the NBSTSA f or certification renewal.

How do I become a member of AST? See Membership Categories to join.

What qualifies for approved CE Credits? View the AST Continuing Education Policies for the CST and CSFA.

What form do I submit with my CE credits? Print the CE Credit Reporting Form.

STEP 2: SUBMIT RENEWAL APPLICATION TO NBSTSA

You may renew up to six months in advance of the expiration date of your certification cycle. This does not change your original expiration date. Submit your CST or CSFA renewal application along with the renewal fee to the National Board for Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA), prior to your recertification expiration date. Failure to do so will result in additional fees by the NBSTSA. The NBSTSA takes four to six weeks for processing and will issue your new certification certificate and card.  A renewal application is available at www.nbstsa.org.