Certified Surgical First Assistant® Professional

Certified Surgical First Assistant® Professional

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The Surgical First Assistant, also known as a surgical assistant or first assist, plays a vital role in the operating room during surgeries.

During procedures, the CSFA® professional anticipates the needs of the surgical team and assists with various tasks, including selecting equipment, holding incisions open, controlling bleeding, closing incisions, and performing other technical duties.

The NBSTSA’s certification program is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), the accreditation division of the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA) and is in compliance with NCCA’s Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs.

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CSFA® Certification Process

1: Confirm Eligibility

2: Apply

3: Pay Fee

4: Schedule Exam

CSFA® Exam Overview

4

hours to complete the computer-based exam

175

multiple-choice questions, 150 of which are scored

99

on scored questions means you've passed!

Subject Areas

55% Perioperative Care (83 items)
  • Preoperative Preparation (8 items)
  • Intraoperative Procedures (67 items)
  • Postoperative Procedures (8 items)
14% Ancillary Duties (21 items)
  • Administrative and Personnel (6 items)
  • Equipment Sterilization and Maintenance (15 items)
31% Basic Science (46 items)
  • Anatomy and Physiology (36 items)
  • Microbiology (5 items)
  • Surgical Pharmacology (5 items)