Please visit: sc.ast.org

South Carolina - Surgical Technologist Law 
Quick Facts

What the new law does:

• Officially recognizes our profession for the first time in state law
• Creates pathway to entry to the profession for NEW surgical technologists
• Protects the jobs of all surgical technologists that exist now
• Protects patients by requiring hospitals to hire surgical technologists that are graduates of accredited programs and hold and maintain the CST credential
• Allows surgical technologists to assist at circulating duties

The new law does not:

• Change eligibility for the CST examination - if you are eligible to sit for the exam now, you will be eligible for the foreseeable future
• Force any surgical technologist that's working or in school now to get certified in order to work in the state
• Force any individual grandfathered in (working now)   to stay at the same hospital forever
• Force anyone to go back to school for any reason

What you need to know, what you need to do:

• The law went into effect January 1, 2008
• If you are working now, or have worked at any time as a surgical technologist prior to January 1, 2008, you are grandfathered and can work for the rest of your life
• If you are currently a student, you will have three months after graduation during which you can work without being certified
• If you take a break from your career, you can always come back, so long as you keep your continuing education current
• Everyone will need to begin to earn 15 hours of continuing education per year. Keeping your CST current (if you are a CST) will cover this.
• There is no paperwork, nothing to file with the state, no board to apply to. No action is required on your part

Who supported (or stayed neutral) on this legislation:

• The South Carolina State Assembly of Surgical Technologists
• The Association of Surgical Technologists
• South Carolina Nurses Association
• Association of Operating Room Nurses
• South Carolina Hospital Association
• South Carolina Medical Association
• South Carolina DHEC
• South Carolina LLR
• South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners
• South Carolina Board of Nursing
• South Carolina Comprehensive Technical Board