04/30/2026
NBSTSA® Certifications Mean Something
CST® and CSFA® aren’t generic titles—they never have been.
CST® and CSFA® have always been registered trademarks, earned only by those certified through NBSTSA® (that’s right, our organization is trademarked too!). Not all certifications are equal—and not every surgical technologist is a CST®. But we’re seeing it used loosely. Applied to anyone. Used interchangeably. Diluted.
That stops here.
NBSTSA® is doubling down on protecting the CST® and CSFA® credentials—reinforcing what they stand for and making sure employers, educators, and healthcare leaders understand the difference.
So, yes, you’re going to see this little ® mark everywhere. Because your accredited education, verified clinical training, and passing a rigorous national exam matters—for your profession and for patient safety.
And we’re making sure it stays that way.
See it misused? Report it to communications@nbstsa.org
