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Illinois Surgical Technologist Requirements

This page explains Illinois requirements for Surgical Technologists, including current title protection, evolving education and certification mandates, statutory authority, and salary and job‑outlook data.[1][2][3][4]

Overview

Illinois regulates the titles “Registered Surgical Technologist” and “Registered Surgical Assistant” under the Registered Surgical Assistant and Registered Surgical Technologist Title Protection Act, which sets standards for those who choose to register and restricts use of these titles to qualified individuals.[2][4] At the same time, legislation such as SB2653 (Operating Room Patient Safety Act) is designed to require defined education, certification, or experience for surgical technologists hired by Illinois health‑care facilities on or after designated effective dates, moving the state toward a certification‑required model tied to employment.[3][4][8]

State Classification

Illinois is best described as a title‑protection with emerging certification requirement state for surgical technologists because it already protects the “Registered Surgical Technologist” title and is in the process of layering in mandatory education and certification standards for new hires.[2][3][4] As these provisions take effect, most surgical technologists employed in hospitals and ambulatory surgical treatment centers will need to meet statutory training or certification pathways while continuing to work under physician supervision.[3][4]

Statutory Requirements

The Registered Surgical Assistant and Registered Surgical Technologist Title Protection Act, codified at 225 ILCS 130, establishes qualifications, education, and experience requirements for individuals who wish to be registered as surgical technologists or surgical assistants and restricts use of those registered titles to individuals who meet the Act’s standards.[2][4] SB2653, the proposed Operating Room Patient Safety Act, would further require each surgical technologist hired or contracted by a health‑care facility on or after January 1, 2026 to meet specific educational, certification, or experiential criteria set out in the bill text.[3][8]

Under SB2653, eligible pathways include completing a nationally accredited surgical technology program and holding certification from a national certifying body, completing an accredited program and obtaining certification within a set time frame after hire, registration under the existing title‑protection act, completion of an appropriate military surgical technology program, or documented prior surgical technologist experience before the law’s effective date.[3][8] Facilities in federally designated Health Professional Shortage Areas or Medically Underserved Areas may receive certain exemptions or flexibility, reflecting workforce‑shortage considerations in parts of Illinois.[3]

Employer Standards in Illinois

Illinois employers already rely on accredited surgical technology education and national certification when hiring or promoting surgical technologists, especially in larger health systems and academic medical centers.[4][6] State workforce and wage resources, such as Illinois workNet, profile “Certified Surgical Technologists” and show wage ranges by region, underscoring how employers differentiate pay and roles based on certification and experience.[6]

The Illinois State Assembly of the Association of Surgical Technologists actively supports legislative efforts that make certification a condition of employment, and hospitals increasingly treat CST® status or similar credentials as the preferred benchmark for operating‑room technologists.[4] Even before SB2653 is fully implemented, many Illinois facilities require proof of accredited education, national certification, or prior OR experience as part of their internal credentialing and competency frameworks.[4][6]

Certification Requirements

Illinois statutes and legislative proposals identify national certification as a central pathway for surgical technologists, typically calling for completion of a CAAHEP‑ or ABHES‑accredited surgical technology program and certification from a recognized national certifying body, such as NBSTSA for CST® status.[3][4] For individuals who have completed an accredited program but are not yet certified at the time of hire, SB2653 would allow a limited period after hiring to obtain certification, after which continued employment may depend on achieving and maintaining that credential.[3][8]

The Illinois State Assembly has advocated that certification become a condition of employment in Illinois facilities, emphasizing patient safety and alignment with national standards for surgical technologist practice.[4] As certification provisions are adopted and enforced, employers will increasingly require proof of national certification or other statutory pathways when hiring or credentialing surgical technologists in Illinois operating rooms.[3][4]

Registration or Licensure Requirements

Illinois operates a state registration system for “Registered Surgical Technologists” and “Registered Surgical Assistants” under 225 ILCS 130, but this system is built on title protection rather than on a universal practice‑act license required for all individuals performing surgical technology services.[2][4] Individuals who meet the Act’s education and experience criteria may apply to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to use the registered titles and must comply with renewal and disciplinary provisions to maintain that status.[2][4]

Employment‑based requirements under SB2653 focus on what qualifications surgical technologists must have to be hired or contracted by health‑care facilities, which may include registration, national certification, or specified experience, but they do not in themselves create a traditional surgical technologist license comparable to nursing or medicine.[2][3][8] Surgical technologists who hold additional Illinois licenses, such as nursing or other clinical credentials, remain subject to those boards and licensing statutes for their licensed scopes of practice.[2]

Renewal Requirements

Registered Surgical Technologists in Illinois must renew their registration on a schedule set by the Title Protection Act and implementing rules, which specify renewal dates, required fees, and any continuing‑education obligations.[2][4] The Illinois State Assembly notes that registered professionals must remain in good standing with both state requirements and, when applicable, national certifying bodies that oversee credentials such as CST®.[4]

For surgical technologists who hold national certifications, recertification requirements are set by the certifying organizations and generally involve continuing‑education credits or periodic examinations, and many Illinois employers incorporate active certification into their credentialing and performance‑review processes.[4]

Background Checks

Illinois statutes and regulations governing health‑care facilities and regulated professions require appropriate review of criminal history and disciplinary records for many licensed or registered health‑care workers, including those using the Registered Surgical Technologist title.[2][4] Hospitals and ambulatory surgical treatment centers also rely on system‑wide onboarding policies that include criminal background checks, drug screening, verification of prior registrations or licenses, and other screenings for surgical technologists before they may work in patient‑care settings.[2][6]

Scope of Practice

Illinois law treats surgical technologists as members of the perioperative team who work under the supervision of surgeons and other licensed professionals and does not authorize them to independently diagnose, prescribe, or perform procedures reserved for licensed physicians or nurses.[2][4][8] SB2653 defines “surgical technologist” and “surgical technology services” in terms of preparing the operating room and sterile field, ensuring equipment is functioning, anticipating needs, passing instruments, and performing tasks at the sterile field in response to surgeon and nurse direction, which aligns with national practice descriptions.[5][8]

Governing Agency

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) administers the Registered Surgical Assistant and Registered Surgical Technologist Title Protection Act, including registration, renewal, and discipline related to the regulated titles.[2][4] Legislative changes affecting surgical technologists, such as SB2653, are enacted through the Illinois General Assembly and then implemented in collaboration with IDFPR and agencies that regulate hospitals and ambulatory surgical treatment centers.[2][3]

Statute Citations

  • Statute: 225 ILCS 130 – Registered Surgical Assistant and Registered Surgical Technologist Title Protection Act (Illinois Compiled Statutes), which defines qualifications, registration procedures, and protections for the Registered Surgical Technologist and Registered Surgical Assistant titles.[2][4]
  • Proposed / Recent Act: SB2653 – Operating Room Patient Safety Act (103rd General Assembly), which would require surgical technologists hired or contracted by health‑care facilities on or after January 1, 2026 to meet specified education, certification, or experience criteria and which defines “surgical technologist” and “surgical technology services.”[3][8]
  • Implementing Rules: 68 Ill. Admin. Code Part 1485 – rules implementing the Registered Surgical Assistant and Registered Surgical Technologist Title Protection Act, adopted by IDFPR under its statutory authority.[4][7]

Illinois Surgical Technologist Salary & Job Outlook

National Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data for Surgical Technologists (SOC 29‑2055) report an annual mean wage of about $60,900 across the United States as of May 2023, with earnings varying by region, facility type, and experience level.[5] State and regional wage resources such as Illinois workNet show that certified surgical technologists in Illinois typically earn median annual wages in the mid‑$60,000s, with higher ranges in metropolitan areas like Chicago and lower but competitive wages in some downstate regions.[6] Private salary aggregators, including Indeed and ZipRecruiter, similarly report that Illinois surgical technologist pay tends to cluster around the low‑ to mid‑$60,000s and higher for experienced or specialized roles, reflecting both urban market demand and the growing emphasis on national certification.[5][6][9] Overall, job outlook for surgical technologists in Illinois appears steady to growing, supported by ongoing surgical volumes, large hospital systems in major cities, and policy trends that prioritize accredited education and certification for perioperative staff.[5][6]

Summary

Illinois protects the titles “Registered Surgical Technologist” and “Registered Surgical Assistant” and is moving toward requiring defined education and certification standards for surgical technologists employed by health‑care facilities.[2][3][4] As these laws and rules are implemented, most Illinois surgical technologists can expect to need accredited training, national certification, or other recognized credentials to work in hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers, while continuing to practice under physician direction and within clearly defined perioperative roles.[2][3][4][5]

References

  • [1] Illinois Governor’s Office of Management and Budget. “Regulatory Sunset Act Review of the Registered Surgical Assistant and Registered Surgical Technologist Title Protection Act” – report describing the Act, its sunset schedule, and recommendations about continuing or modifying the statute.[web:914]
  • [2] Illinois Compiled Statutes. “(225 ILCS 130/) Registered Surgical Assistant and Registered Surgical Technologist Title Protection Act” – statutory text governing registration, qualifications, and title protection. Available at: https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/ILCS/Articles?ActID=2470&ChapterID=24.[web:910]
  • [3] LegiScan. “IL SB2653 – Operating Room Patient Safety Act” – bill summary stating that each surgical technologist hired or contracted by a health‑care facility on or after January 1, 2026 must meet specified educational, certification, or experiential requirements. Available at: https://legiscan.com/IL/bill/SB2653/2023.[web:915]
  • [4] Illinois State Assembly of the Association of Surgical Technologists. “Legislation” – overview of the Registered Surgical Assistant and Registered Surgical Technologist Title Protection Act, registration requirements, and AST’s advocacy for certification as a condition of employment. Available at: https://www.illinoisstateassembly.com/legislation.html.[web:917]
  • [5] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023 – 29‑2055 Surgical Technologists” – OEWS national wage data including entries for Illinois, with a national annual mean wage of $60,900. Available at: https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes292055.htm.[web:40]
  • [6] Illinois workNet. “Certified Surgical Technologists – Wages & Trends” – wage table showing Illinois hourly and annual pay at the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles for certified surgical technologists statewide and by region. Available at: https://apps.illinoisworknet.com/cis/clusters/OccupationDetails/100203.[web:916]
  • [7] 68 Ill. Admin. Code Part 1485 – “Registered Surgical Assistant and Registered Surgical Technologist” – administrative rules implementing 225 ILCS 130 and establishing registration procedures under IDFPR authority.[web:913]
  • [8] Illinois General Assembly. “SB2653 – Operating Room Patient Safety Act – Full Text” – bill language defining “surgical technologist,” listing acceptable education/certification pathways, and describing surgical technology services. Available at: https://www.ilga.gov/ftp/legislation/103/SB/10300SB2653.htm.[web:918]
  • [9] Indeed. “Surgical technologist salary in Illinois” – salary estimates and job‑posting data indicating typical pay ranges for surgical technologists in Illinois, including higher ranges in major metropolitan areas. Available at: https://www.indeed.com/career/surgical-technologist/salaries/IL.[web:919]
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