Surgical Technologist / Pennsylvania
2026 data Pennsylvania board official source

Pennsylvania Surgical Technologist License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

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

PlainCredential home → About this data

Assists in surgical operations under the supervision of surgeons.

What the Pennsylvania data shows for Surgical Technologists

Becoming a licensed surgical technologist in Pennsylvania means clearing a defined set of hurdles: 1,000 training hours, a passing score on a state-approved exam, plus a background history check. Pennsylvania regulators place this credential inside their licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Certificate/Degree".

The initial price tag is $100 every 2 years. Continuing education is not a listed requirement for this profession in Pennsylvania, so the annualized maintenance burden is lower than in states that mandate ongoing hours.

Pennsylvania 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 · Pennsylvania

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 Pennsylvania

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Surgical Technologist in Pennsylvania? ▼
In Pennsylvania, the license path calls for 1000 education/training hours, a passing exam score, and a $100 initial fee. A criminal background check is required as well.
How do I get certified as a Surgical Technologist in Pennsylvania? ▼
Certification as a surgical technologist in Pennsylvania means clearing the state's checklist: 1000 hours of education, and a passing exam score. The Pennsylvania licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Surgical Technologist license to Pennsylvania from another state? ▼
Out-of-state surgical technologist credentials get a case-by-case review in Pennsylvania rather than automatic recognition. Interstate compacts exist for a number of professions and might still help. Confirm the details with the Pennsylvania licensing board.
Does Pennsylvania require a background check for Surgical Technologist licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the surgical technologist licensing process in Pennsylvania. 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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.