Surgical Technologist / North Carolina
2026 data North Carolina board official source

North Carolina Surgical Technologist License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

State-board requirements, fees, and renewal cycle drawn from official regulator records.

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Assists in surgical operations under the supervision of surgeons.

What the North Carolina data shows for Surgical Technologists

To practice as a surgical technologist in North Carolina, the state licensing board requires 1,000 documented education or training hours, a passing score on a state-approved exam. A criminal history background check is also part of the application. The regulation sits under North Carolina's professional licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Certificate/Degree".

Budget $100 to get started on a 2-year cycle. There's no continuing-education mandate tied to this profession in North Carolina, which keeps the long-run cost of staying licensed lighter than in CE-heavy states.

North Carolina 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 · North Carolina

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 North Carolina

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 North Carolina licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with North Carolina licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Surgical Technologist in North Carolina? ▼
North Carolina requires 1000 education/training hours, passing an exam, and an initial fee of $100. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as a Surgical Technologist in North Carolina? ▼
Certification as a surgical technologist in North Carolina means clearing the state's checklist: 1000 hours of education, and a passing exam score. The North Carolina licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Surgical Technologist license to North Carolina from another state? ▼
North Carolina doesn't publish a standing reciprocity policy for surgical technologists; each out-of-state application is reviewed on its own merits. Some professions fall under interstate compacts that ease portability regardless. The North Carolina licensing board can confirm what applies to your case.
Does North Carolina require a background check for Surgical Technologist licensing? ▼
A criminal background check is mandatory for surgical technologist licensing in North Carolina. The state licensing board sets the disqualifying-offense criteria and review process.

Related Guides

What to do with this surgical technologist license

Surgical Technologist in North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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.