Surgical Technologist in Florida
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for FL. Updated with 2024 BLS OEWS wage data.
BLS OEWS 2024, Florida.
Jobs (FL)
10-yr job growth
Licensing fees
Time to complete
route How to become a surgical technologist in Florida
To become a Surgical Technologist in Florida, individuals are not required to obtain a state license. However, most employers mandate national certification, typically the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) credential from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) or the Tech in Surgery-Certified (TS-C) credential from the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT). To be eligible for the CST exam, candidates must graduate from a CAAHEP or ABHES accredited surgical technology program or complete military surgical-technician training. The CST exam costs $190 for AST members and $290 for non-members, and certification must be renewed every two years with 30 continuing education credits. While Florida does not have state-specific reciprocity, national certifications are widely recognized across the country.
bar_chart Salary percentiles
Source: BLS OEWS 2024 for Florida. Metro-area wages may differ significantly from the state aggregate.
checklist Florida requirements
| Licensing body | National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) or National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) |
| State license | Not required |
| Education | Graduation from a CAAHEP or ABHES accredited surgical technology program, or completion of a military surgical-technician training program. |
| Exam | CST Exam (NBSTSA) or TS-C Exam (NCCT) ($190) |
| Renewal | Every 2.0 years |
| Continuing education | 30.0 hours per cycle |
| Notes | Florida does not have state-level licensing or registration requirements for Surgical Technologists. Most employers require national certification from the NBSTSA (CST) or NCCT (TS-C). Minimum age for CST exam eligibility is not specified, but general requirements for licensure in Florida often include being at least 18 years old. A clean background check is mandatory for licensure in FL, and good moral character must be demonstrated. |
work_outline Job outlook
AI & tech impact
This career has low exposure to AI automation. Most tasks require physical presence, human judgment, or hands-on skills that AI cannot easily replicate.
balance Is it worth it?
- infoNo state license required — lower barrier but weaker signal
- check_circleLow AI disruption risk