Michigan Surgical Technologist Requirements

Overview

Michigan does not license, register, or certify surgical technologists at the state level, and there is no Michigan practice act that creates a profession‑specific surgical technologist credential or protected title.^[1][2] Academic licensure‑disclosure tables and national professional overviews describe Michigan as a state where surgical technologists work under employer‑defined standards rather than a state surgical technologist license or registry.^[1][2][3]

Because the state does not regulate the occupation directly, hospitals and surgical facilities in Michigan set their own hiring criteria and commonly look for graduates of accredited surgical technology programs who are eligible for or hold national certification such as CST® or TS‑C.^[1][2][4] This employer‑driven model aligns Michigan practice with national education and certification standards even though the state itself does not issue a surgical technologist license.^[2][4]

State Classification

Michigan is classified as a non‑regulated state for surgical technologists because it does not issue a surgical technologist license, maintain a profession‑specific registry, or regulate the “surgical technologist” title through a dedicated practice statute.^[1][2] The Association of Surgical Technologists’ legislative overview lists states that have enacted surgical technologist laws and indicates that Michigan is not among the states with statutory education, certification, or registration requirements for this profession.^[2]

Statutory Requirements

Michigan’s public health and licensing statutes regulate many health professions but do not create a surgical technologist license category or title‑protection law specific to surgical technologists.^[2][3] A state‑contact summary compiled for CAAHEP‑accredited surgical technology programs notes that “Michigan does not have any legislative requirements for those looking to become surgical technologists” and points students instead to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) for general health‑care licensing information.^[1]

Because no Michigan statute or administrative rule sets minimum education or certification standards for surgical technologists, eligibility to perform surgical technology tasks is determined by facility policies, job descriptions, and supervision requirements rather than by a Michigan surgical technologist license.^[1][2][3]

Employer Standards in Michigan

In the absence of a state license, Michigan employers rely on accredited education, clinical experience, and national certification to set minimum standards for hiring and credentialing surgical technologists.^[1][4] State contact guidance for surgical technology explains that while Michigan does not have legislative requirements, surgical technologists are “highly encouraged” to earn national certification through NBSTSA, and employers commonly look for graduates of CAAHEP‑accredited programs when staffing operating rooms.^[1][4]

Michigan community college and technical‑college surgical technology programs describe curricula based on CAAHEP and ARC/STSA standards, combining classroom courses, skills labs, and supervised clinical experiences to prepare students for entry‑level practice and national certification exams.^[4] Hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers use those standardized competencies and credentials when defining position qualifications and privileging criteria for surgical technologists.^[2][4]

Certification Requirements

Michigan law does not require surgical technologists to hold CST®, TS‑C, or any other national credential, and there is no Michigan state exam or certification board for surgical technologists.^[1][2][3] Nevertheless, national professional guidance and academic advising materials strongly recommend that Michigan surgical technologists pursue CST® certification through NBSTSA or comparable national credentials, and many employers prefer or require certification in their job postings and credentialing policies.^[1][2][4]

NBSTSA’s CST® certification requires graduation from a CAAHEP‑ or ABHES‑accredited surgical technology program or an approved military pathway and successful completion of the CST® examination, followed by continuing education or periodic re‑examination to maintain certification.^[4] While not mandated by Michigan statute, CST® and similar credentials can enhance employment prospects within the state and support mobility to jurisdictions that do regulate surgical technologists.^[2][4]

Registration or Licensure Requirements

No Michigan agency issues a surgical technologist license or maintains a surgical technologist registry, and there is no state application process tied specifically to the title “surgical technologist.”^[1][3] State licensure resources and program licensure‑disclosure documents both indicate that Michigan does not require a license to work as a surgical technologist and that employers determine eligibility for hire based on education, experience, and national credentials rather than a state‑issued ST license.^[1][3][4]

Surgical technologists in Michigan who also hold other licenses—such as registered nurse or respiratory therapist licenses—are regulated under those profession‑specific statutes for activities within those scopes of practice, while their surgical technologist duties remain governed by facility policy and national standards rather than a Michigan surgical technologist license.^[2][3]

Renewal Requirements

Because Michigan does not issue a surgical technologist license or registration, there are no state‑specific renewal intervals, renewal fees, or continuing‑education requirements tied to a Michigan ST credential.^[1][2] Renewal obligations instead come from national certifying bodies—such as NBSTSA for CST® and NCCT for TS‑C—which set continuing‑education or re‑examination requirements, and from employer policies that may require technologists to maintain active certification and ongoing education as a condition of employment.^[2][4]

Background Checks

Michigan does not operate a background‑check or fingerprinting process specifically for surgical technologists because there is no state license to issue or renew for this occupation.^[1][3] Instead, Michigan health‑care employers, including hospitals and clinical training sites, typically require criminal background checks, drug screening, and immunization documentation for students and employees in patient‑care roles, and academic advising materials for Michigan surgical technology programs describe background‑check requirements as part of compliance with state Public Act 26 and clinical‑site agreements.^[3][4]

Scope of Practice

Michigan statutes do not define a detailed, profession‑specific scope of practice for surgical technologists or reserve particular tasks to this title; instead, duties are set by employer job descriptions and guided by national occupational standards.^[2][3] The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET describe surgical technologists nationally as assisting in operations under the supervision of surgeons or registered nurses by preparing operating rooms, arranging instruments and sterile supplies, assisting with gowning and gloving, maintaining the sterile field, passing instruments, handling specimens, and participating in counts, which reflects typical perioperative responsibilities in Michigan facilities as well.^[2][4][5]

Surgical technologists in Michigan do not independently diagnose conditions, prescribe medications, or determine treatment plans; those responsibilities remain within the scope of licensed physicians and advanced‑practice providers under Michigan law and facility bylaws.^[2][5]

Governing Agency

Academic state‑contact resources identify the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) as the agency responsible for health‑care professional licensing, but they also state that Michigan does not have legislative requirements for surgical technologists and that a license is not required to work in this role.^[1] In practice, this means no dedicated Michigan board oversees surgical technologists; instead, LARA regulates other licensed professions, while hospitals and surgery centers handle internal credentialing and competency verification for surgical technologists based on national standards and facility policy.^[1][2][3]

Statute Citations

• Current status: State‑contact guidance prepared for CAAHEP‑accredited programs states that “Michigan does not have any legislative requirements for those looking to become surgical technologists” and that a license is not required to work as a surgical technologist, directing inquiries to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) for general health‑care regulation information.^[1]
• Related laws (other roles): Michigan public health and professional‑licensing statutes regulate other health‑care professions, while clinical‑placement materials for Michigan surgical technology programs reference background‑check requirements under Michigan Public Act 26 and facility policies without creating a separate surgical technologist license category.^[3][4]

Michigan Surgical Technologist Salary & Job Outlook

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for Surgical Technologists (SOC 29‑2055) report a national annual mean wage of about $60,900 for full‑time surgical technologists as of May 2023, based on employee wage and salary data across all industries.^[4] BLS state‑level estimates show that wages for surgical technologists vary by state and metropolitan area, with earnings influenced by cost of living, hospital budgets, and experience; Michigan’s mix of large health systems and community hospitals suggests that full‑time surgical technologists may earn around or slightly below national averages in many regions, with higher wages in large metropolitan areas such as Detroit and Grand Rapids.^[4] The BLS projects continued demand for surgical technologists nationally as surgical procedure volumes and aging populations grow, and Michigan employers seeking graduates of accredited programs with national certification can expect ongoing need for qualified full‑time surgical technologists in hospital operating rooms and ambulatory surgery centers.^[2][4]

Summary

Michigan does not license or register surgical technologists, and there is no Michigan statute that mandates specific education or national certification for this role.^[1][2][3] However, academic licensure‑disclosure tables, national professional guidance, and accreditation standards show that Michigan employers rely on graduates of accredited surgical technology programs who are eligible for or hold national certification to meet perioperative staffing needs, aligning practice with national expectations even in a non‑regulated state environment.^[1][2][4][5]

References

• [1] A‑B Tech. “State Contact Agencies – Surgical Technology” – CAAHEP‑oriented state‑contact summary stating that Michigan does not have legislative requirements for those looking to become surgical technologists, that a license is not required to work as a surgical technologist, and listing the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) as the relevant agency. Available at: https://abtech.edu/sites/default/files/2022-03/surgical-technology-state-licensing-boards.pdf.^[web:635]
• [2] Association of Surgical Technologists (AST). “Legislative Overview – State Law Map” – professional overview describing AST’s advocacy for state surgical technologist laws and listing states that have enacted ST legislation; Michigan is not listed among the states with surgical technologist statutes, indicating a non‑regulated status in AST’s national summary. Available at: https://www.ast.org/Public_Policy/Legislative_Overview/.^[web:881]
• [3] Lansing Community College. “Surgical Technology Advising Guide” – academic advising guide referencing Michigan Public Act 26‑related criminal background‑check requirements and clinical‑site policies for health programs, illustrating how background checks are handled for students without creating a separate surgical technologist license category. Available at: https://www.lcc.edu/hhs/documents/advising-guides/surgical/surgical-tech-advising-guide.pdf.^[web:999]
• [4] National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA). “CST® Certification” – official certification information describing eligibility pathways (CAAHEP‑ or ABHES‑accredited programs or military training), CST® exam details, and continuing‑education or re‑examination requirements for maintaining certification, which Michigan programs and employers encourage even though the state does not mandate certification. Available at: https://www.nbstsa.org/cst-certification.^[web:983]
• [5] O*NET OnLine. “29‑2055.00 – Surgical Technologists” – national occupational profile describing typical surgical technologist duties, supervision, and work context, which aligns with perioperative responsibilities assigned to surgical technologists in Michigan facilities. Available at: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-2055.00.^[web:831]
• [6] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023 – 29‑2055 Surgical Technologists” – OEWS national occupational profile and wage data for surgical technologists (national annual mean wage about $60,900 for full‑time employees) and state‑level estimates, including Michigan, used to benchmark wages and job outlook. Available at: https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes292055.htm.^[web:408]