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Healthcare license portability
Surgical Technologist license reciprocity by state
Surgical Technologist is unregulated in 43 of the 50 states and DC, meaning no state license is required at all — your professional certification still matters to employers but there's no reciprocity pathway to navigate. Each row below links to the state's official licensing board and lists the specific reciprocal states where we have them.
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5 states recognize
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3 via endorsement
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43 no license required
Reciprocity tier legend
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Recognized
Existing license or national cert accepted directly.
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Endorsement
Apply for a new license — paperwork, fees, no re-exam.
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Exam required
Must retake the state exam or complete state-specific training.
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Not recognized
No reciprocity pathway. Satisfy state requirements from scratch.
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No license required
State does not license this profession.
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Check with board
The state publishes no clear transfer rule. Contact the licensing board.
All 50 states + DC
Each row shows the destination state's reciprocity tier, the board's own language behind it, and a link to the official state licensing board.
| State | Reciprocity tier | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | remove_circle_outline No license | Not applicable, as Alabama does not have state licensure. National certifications are widely recognized. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Alaska | remove_circle_outline No license | Not applicable, as Alaska does not have state licensure. National certifications (CST or TS-C) are accepted by employers nationwide. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Arizona | remove_circle_outline No license | Not applicable, as Arizona does not have state licensure. National certifications are widely recognized. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Arkansas | remove_circle_outline No license | Not specified, but registration is based on national certification and education/military training, which may facilitate registration for those certified in other states. Official state board arrow_outward |
| California | remove_circle_outline No license | National certification (CST or TS-C) is accepted by employers nationwide, as California does not have state licensure. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Colorado | remove_circle_outline No license | Not applicable, as Colorado requires registration, not licensure or certification. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Connecticut | remove_circle_outline No license | Not applicable, as Connecticut does not issue a state license. National certification (CST) is recognized across states, but individual employer or state requirements may vary. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Delaware | remove_circle_outline No license | Not applicable, as there is no state license. Official state board arrow_outward |
| District of Columbia | remove_circle_outline No license | This state does not license the profession, so there is nothing to transfer. Employers may still expect a national certification. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Florida | remove_circle_outline No license | Florida does not require state licensure, so reciprocity is not applicable. National certifications (CST or TS-C) are accepted by employers nationwide. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Georgia | remove_circle_outline No license | Georgia does not require state licensure, so reciprocity is not applicable at the state level. National certifications (CST or TS-C) are accepted by employers nationwide. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Hawaii | remove_circle_outline No license | Not applicable, as Hawaii does not have state licensure. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Idaho | remove_circle_outline No license | This state does not license the profession, so there is nothing to transfer. Employers may still expect a national certification. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Illinois | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Illinois offers registration by endorsement for individuals actively licensed or registered as a surgical technologist in another state or jurisdiction of the United States. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Indiana | remove_circle_outline No license | Not applicable, as Indiana does not issue a state license. National certification is recognized. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Iowa | remove_circle_outline No license | Not applicable for state license; national certifications are recognized across states. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Kansas | remove_circle_outline No license | Not applicable, as Kansas does not require state licensure. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Kentucky | remove_circle_outline No license | Not applicable, as there is no state license. National certifications (CST or TS-C) are accepted by employers nationwide. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Louisiana | remove_circle_outline No license | Louisiana does not require state licensure, so reciprocity is not applicable in the traditional sense. However, national certifications like CST are widely recognized. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Maine | remove_circle_outline No license | Maine does not require state licensure, so reciprocity is not applicable at the state level. National certifications (CST or TS-C) are accepted by employers nationwide. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Maryland | remove_circle_outline No license | Maryland does not require state licensure or registration for surgical technologists, so reciprocity is not applicable. National certifications (CST or TS-C) are accepted by employers nationwide. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Massachusetts | remove_circle_outline No license | Not specified Official state board arrow_outward |
| Michigan | remove_circle_outline No license | Not applicable, as Michigan does not have state-level licensing. National certifications (CST or TS-C) are recognized nationwide. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Minnesota | remove_circle_outline No license | Certification is national, not state-specific. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Mississippi | remove_circle_outline No license | Mississippi does not have state-level licensing, so reciprocity is not applicable. National certification (CST) is widely recognized. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Missouri | remove_circle_outline No license | Not applicable, as Missouri does not have state-level licensing. National certification (CST) is widely recognized. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Montana | remove_circle_outline No license | National certification (CST or TS-C) is accepted by employers nationwide, as Montana does not have state licensure. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Nebraska | remove_circle_outline No license | Not applicable, as Nebraska does not license Surgical Technologists. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Nevada | check_circle Recognized | Nevada requires NBSTSA certification, which is a national certification. Specific state-to-state reciprocity is not detailed, but the national certification is widely recognized. Official state board arrow_outward |
| New Hampshire | remove_circle_outline No license | N/A (National certification) Official state board arrow_outward |
| New Jersey | check_circle Recognized | Alaska, Arizona, Delaware accept NJ Surgical Technologist license via reciprocity agreement. Official state board arrow_outward |
| New Mexico | remove_circle_outline No license | Not applicable as there is no state license. Official state board arrow_outward |
| New York | remove_circle_outline No license | New York does not require state licensure, so reciprocity as typically understood for state licenses does not apply. National certifications (CST or TS-C) are accepted by employers nationwide. Official state board arrow_outward |
| North Carolina | remove_circle_outline No license | North Carolina does not have state-level licensing, so reciprocity is not applicable. National certifications (CST or TS-C) are widely recognized. Official state board arrow_outward |
| North Dakota | remove_circle_outline No license | Not specified, but registration as UAP is required. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Ohio | remove_circle_outline No license | Ohio does not require state licensure, so reciprocity is not applicable at the state level. National certifications (CST or TS-C) are recognized by employers nationwide. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Oklahoma | remove_circle_outline No license | Reciprocity varies by state. Always verify with the destination state's licensing board before practicing. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Oregon | remove_circle_outline No license | Not specified, but individuals who practiced in another state prior to January 1, 2017, may be exempt from some requirements if they meet specific criteria. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Pennsylvania | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Pennsylvania offers reciprocity for applicants licensed in other states with substantially equivalent licensing requirements, considered on a case-by-case basis under Act 41 of 2019. Colorado accepts PA Surgical Technologist licenses via reciprocity agreement, while other states like Delaware and Arizona may require additional exams or paperwork. California and Florida do not recognize PA Surgical Technologist licenses. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Rhode Island | remove_circle_outline No license | Not applicable, as Rhode Island does not have state licensure. Official state board arrow_outward |
| South Carolina | remove_circle_outline No license | South Carolina does not require state licensure or registration for surgical technologists. National certification (CST or TS-C) is accepted by employers nationwide. There is no interstate compact for surgical technologists. Official state board arrow_outward |
| South Dakota | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | South Dakota participates in interstate licensing compacts, which may facilitate practice across state lines for qualified Surgical Technologist professionals. Military personnel and spouses may have options for full or temporary licensure. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Tennessee | check_circle Recognized | Tennessee does not have specific reciprocity agreements, but generally accepts national certification (CST or TS-C) from other states. Verification of current certification, graduation from an accredited program, and background check clearance are typical requirements. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Texas | check_circle Recognized | Not specified, but national certification is required, which is widely recognized. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Utah | remove_circle_outline No license | Not applicable as there is no state license; national certification is recognized in all 50 states. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Vermont | remove_circle_outline No license | Vermont does not require state licensure, so reciprocity is not applicable. However, states that regulate surgical technologists generally accept national certification (CST or TS-C) from other states. Requirements typically include verification of current certification, graduation from an accredited program, and a background check. Always verify specific requirements with the destination state's licensing authority. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Virginia | check_circle Recognized | Virginia does not have a specific reciprocity agreement with other states. Applicants are evaluated based on meeting one of the established pathways for certification, which includes national certification or military training. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Washington | remove_circle_outline No license | Washington does not have specific reciprocity agreements for surgical technologists, but states that regulate surgical technologists generally accept national certification (CST or TS-C) from other states. Requirements typically include verification of current certification, graduation from an accredited program, and background check clearance. Always verify specific requirements with the destination state's licensing authority. Official state board arrow_outward |
| West Virginia | remove_circle_outline No license | Not applicable, as West Virginia does not have state-level licensing. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Wisconsin | remove_circle_outline No license | Not applicable, as Wisconsin does not have state licensure. National certification (CST) is recognized nationwide. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Wyoming | remove_circle_outline No license | Not applicable, as Wyoming does not have state licensure. National certification (CST) is widely recognized. Official state board arrow_outward |
Surgical Technologist reciprocity: common questions
Does a surgical technologist certification transfer to another state?
Surgical Technologist is unregulated in 43 of the 50 states and DC, meaning no state license is required at all — your professional certification still matters to employers but there's no reciprocity pathway to navigate. It depends on the destination state — see the state-by-state table above.
Which states accept an out-of-state surgical technologist certification directly?
5 states recognize an existing certification or national credential without a new state exam: Nevada, New Jersey, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia. Confirm with the destination state's board before you move — rules change.
Which states license out-of-state surgical technologists by endorsement?
3 states issue a new certification by endorsement — an application, fees and verification of your current credential, typically without retaking the main exam: Illinois, Pennsylvania, South Dakota. Confirm with the destination state's board before you move — rules change.
Which states don't require a state license for surgical technologists?
42 states and DC do not license surgical technologists at the state level, so there is nothing to transfer — employers may still expect a national certification: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
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How this was compiled · Last updated 2026-10-15
Reciprocity tiers and summaries are compiled from each state's licensing board and department of professional regulation — linked per row above — and reviewed against public board guidance. Licensing rules change frequently and often depend on your license class (for example journeyman vs. master) and the specific states involved. Always confirm current requirements directly with the destination state's board before making a career or relocation decision. This page is informational and is not legal or licensing advice.
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