Professions / Healthcare

Occupational licensing · Healthcare · 51 state boards

Surgical Technologist Licensing Requirements by State

Surgical Technologist licensing rules differ by state. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) compilation and responsible state boards (current as of May 15, 2026), this registry compares education hours, initial and renewal fees, exams, background checks and reciprocity notes across 51 boards. Use the table to compare differences, then verify the current rule with the responsible board before applying.

Surgical Technologist across 51 state boards. Nearest coverage peers (51-state band): Athletic Trainer, Certified Nurse-Midwife, Dental Assistant.

By ·Compiled from official state licensing boards

States regulated
51
Require an exam
100%
View saved licenses

Board Pathway Strip

Surgical Technologist: 51 boards · exam on 100% · background check on 100%. Same-lane boards: Athletic Trainer, Certified Nurse-Midwife, Dental Assistant.

Assists in surgical operations under the supervision of surgeons.

Surgical Technologist: 51/51 boards require an exam (100%); unusually uniform for healthcare. Athletic Trainer is the usual same-lane contrast.

Board thresholds for Surgical Technologist drift board-to-board; the same pattern shows up on Athletic Trainer and Certified Nurse-Midwife in healthcare. Methodology notes live on our methods page.

Surgical Technologist states

51

Bottom 10% lowest

Board gates for Surgical Technologist: exam on 51/51 (100%), background check on 51/51 (100%) , most boards skip mandated CE hours . Stack that against Athletic Trainer / Certified Nurse-Midwife before calling this license soft or hard.

Other licenses near Surgical Technologist's board count

Coverage band

Surgical Technologist boards vs Athletic Trainer / Certified Nurse-Midwife - state table

51 states
State Edu. Hours Exam Init. Fee Renewal Cycle CE Hrs Same-board peer
Alabama 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Hair Braider · Land Surveyor
Alaska 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Glazier · Interior Designer
Arizona 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Massage Therapist · Occupational Therapist
Arkansas 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Interior Designer · Marriage and Family Therapist
California 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Optometrist · Phlebotomist
Colorado 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Professional Geologist · Respiratory Therapist
Connecticut 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist · Secondary School Teacher
Delaware 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Respiratory Therapist · Septic System Installer
District of Columbia 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist · Secondary School Teacher
Florida 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Electrologist · Food Handler / Food Safety Certification
Georgia 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Fire Sprinkler Installer · Home Health Aide
Hawaii 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Notary Public · Pesticide Applicator (Commercial)
Idaho 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Physician Assistant · Radiologic Technologist
Illinois 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Real Estate Agent / Salesperson · School Counselor
Indiana 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist · Secondary School Teacher
Iowa 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Pharmacy Technician · Professional Engineer (PE)
Kansas 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Dental Assistant · Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Kentucky 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Elevator Installer · General Contractor
Louisiana 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Debt Collector · Elevator Installer
Maine 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Insurance Agent · Locksmith
Maryland 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also HVAC Technician · Licensed Professional Counselor
Massachusetts 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Hearing Aid Specialist · Landscape Architect
Michigan 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) · Medical Lab Technician
Minnesota 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Massage Therapist · Occupational Therapist
Mississippi 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Nail Technician · Pest Control Applicator
Missouri 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Medical Assistant · Optician (Dispensing)
Montana 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Notary Public · Pesticide Applicator (Commercial)
Nebraska 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Optician (Dispensing) · Pharmacy Technician
Nevada 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Radiologic Technologist · School Bus Driver
New Hampshire 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Paramedic · Physician Assistant
New Jersey 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Pesticide Applicator (Commercial) · Private Investigator
New Mexico 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Phlebotomist · Professional Geologist
New York 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist · Secondary School Teacher
North Carolina 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Notary Public · Pesticide Applicator (Commercial)
North Dakota 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Occupational Therapist · Pharmacist
Ohio 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist · Secondary School Teacher
Oklahoma 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Roofer · Sign Language Interpreter
Oregon 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Sign Language Interpreter · Veterinarian
Pennsylvania 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Sign Language Interpreter · Veterinarian
Rhode Island 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also General Contractor · Insurance Agent
South Carolina 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) · Medical Lab Technician
South Dakota 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) · Mobile Home Installer
Tennessee 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Professional Geologist · Respiratory Therapist
Texas 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also School Counselor · Substitute Teacher
Utah 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Veterinary Technician · Athletic Trainer
Vermont 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Commercial Truck Driver (CDL) · Electrician
Virginia 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Tow Truck Operator · Armed Security Guard
Washington 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Chauffeur / Limousine Driver · Dental Hygienist
West Virginia 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Hair Braider · Land Surveyor
Wisconsin 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Dietetic Technician · Farrier / Horseshoer
Wyoming 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Home Inspector · Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

What to do with this

Surgical Technologist is regulated in 51 states -- here's how to use that before you act.

  • Compare Surgical Technologist's requirements against every other tracked profession. Browse all professions
  • #90 of 97 professions by number of states requiring a license -- see which states are strictest overall. State burden rankings
  • Check whether your license transfers under an interstate compact before assuming you need to start over. Reciprocity guide

Requirements are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research and verified against state board sites where possible; always confirm current rules with the licensing board before relying on any single row.

Data sources

Related

Athletic Trainer →Reciprocity guide →Strictest states →Compare states →

Data sourced from NCSL, Institute for Justice, and state licensing board websites. See our methodology for details.

Disclaimer: For informational purposes only; not professional licensing advice. Verify current requirements with your state board before making career decisions.

Every figure on PlainCredential is rendered directly from NCSL and state occupational- licensing board data, no number is typed in by an editor. Surgical Technologist requirements from NCSL and state board schedules: 51 rows, no hand-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.