Surgical Technologist / California
2026 data California board official source

California Surgical Technologist License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Requirements, fees, and renewal timing for this license, sourced from state board records.

PlainCredential home → About this data

Assists in surgical operations under the supervision of surgeons.

What the California data shows for Surgical Technologists

California's path to surgical technologist licensure runs through 1,000 hours of approved instruction and a passing score on a state-approved exam, plus a criminal history screening. California folds the credential into its broader occupational licensing statute, which classifies the training track as "Certificate/Degree".

Upfront cost is $100 on a 2-year cycle. Continuing education is not a listed requirement for this profession in California, so the annualized maintenance burden is lower than in states that mandate ongoing hours.

California evaluates out-of-state credentials case-by-case rather than through a published reciprocity list.

Licensing Ease Score

D
Licensing Ease Score
47/100
Surgical Technologist · California

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training D
1,000 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee C-
$100
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden N/A
N/A
Renewal fee annualized over the renewal cycle
Continuing Education N/A
N/A
Continuing-education hours annualized over the renewal cycle
Experience Required N/A
N/A
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in California

Education / Training Hours
Certificate/Degree
1,000 hours
Exam Requirement
Required
Initial License Fee
$100
Renewal Fee
N/A
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
Not required
Criminal History Check
Required

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Surgical Technologist All California licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with California licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Surgical Technologist in California? ▼
California's requirements cover 1000 hours of education or training, a state exam, and an initial fee of $100. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a Surgical Technologist in California? ▼
California licenses surgical technologists who complete its requirements (1000 education hours) and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the California licensing board.
Can I transfer my Surgical Technologist license to California from another state? ▼
Out-of-state surgical technologist credentials get a case-by-case review in California rather than automatic recognition. Interstate compacts exist for a number of professions and might still help. Confirm the details with the California licensing board.
Does California require a background check for Surgical Technologist licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the surgical technologist licensing process in California. The state licensing board determines which offenses disqualify an applicant and how appeals are handled.

Related Guides

What to do with this surgical technologist license

Surgical Technologist in California is one requirement row in a surgical technologist-wide, 50-state comparison.

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the California licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.