Kansas Surgical Technologist Requirements

Overview

Kansas does not require state licensure, registration, or state‑mandated certification for surgical technologists, and there is no Kansas practice act that creates a personal state credential for this role.^[1][2][3] Hospitals and surgical facilities instead rely on internal credentialing policies, and licensing summaries report that most employers require or strongly prefer graduation from an accredited surgical technology program plus national certification such as CST® from NBSTSA or TS‑C from NCCT.^[1][2][3][4]

National organizations and state‑contact tables list Kansas among the states without a surgical technologist law, while Kansas Board of Regents program‑alignment materials and college programs emphasize CAAHEP‑accredited education and CST® exam eligibility as the de facto entry standard.^[2][3][4][5] As a result, Kansas functions as a non‑regulated state in statute but operates much like a certification‑preferred state in everyday hiring and workforce planning.^[2][4][5]

State Classification

Kansas is classified as a non‑regulated state for surgical technologists because the state does not issue a license, maintain a registry, or protect the title by statute.^[1][2][3] National law maps and state‑by‑state summaries list Kansas among the jurisdictions where surgical technologist qualifications are determined by employers and national certification bodies rather than by a state licensing board or practice act.^[2][3]

Statutory Requirements

As of early 2026, Kansas statutes and regulations do not establish specific licensure or practice requirements for surgical technologists, and there is no Kansas law that restricts the use of “surgical technologist” or “certified surgical technologist” as a protected professional title.^[1][2][3] A‑B Tech’s state‑contact summary confirms that certification is not required to work as a surgical technologist in Kansas and notes that the Kansas State Assembly of AST has advocated for legislation to require NBSTSA certification for future technologists, but such a law has not yet been enacted.^[2]

Because there is no surgical technologist‑specific statute, Kansas facility‑licensing and quality‑assurance rules focus on maintaining adequate staffing and safe operating‑room practices while leaving specific education and credential standards for surgical technologists to each hospital or health system.^[1][3]

Employer Standards in Kansas

Kansas employers rely heavily on accredited surgical technology programs and national certification when determining who may work as a surgical technologist, even though the state does not issue its own license.^[2][4][5] The Kansas Board of Regents “Surgical Technology Program Alignment” requires college programs to be CAAHEP‑accredited and indicates that students take the CST® credentialing exam as part of program completion, with individual employers deciding whether passing the exam is required for employment.^[4][5]

Kansas programs such as WSU Tech’s Surgical Technology degree describe national CST® eligibility as a core outcome, and workforce profiles note that many Kansas hospitals prefer or require current CST® status when hiring, especially in larger systems and teaching facilities.^[4][5][6] In practice, employers use accredited education, national certification, and perioperative experience to set standards for OR staffing and to differentiate pay and advancement opportunities for surgical technologists.^[1][4][5][6]

Certification Requirements

Kansas law does not require surgical technologists to hold CST®, TS‑C, or any other national credential; certification is voluntary at the state level.^[1][2] Licensing guides and Kansas program‑alignment documents indicate that CST® certification through NBSTSA is the industry standard, and most employers either require applicants to be certified or to become certified after completing a CAAHEP‑ or ABHES‑accredited program.^[1][2][4][5]

The Kansas Board of Regents alignment document states that college surgical technologist programs are to be accredited by CAAHEP and that students take the CST® exam as part of program completion, with successful passage recommended but not required and final hiring decisions left to employers.^[4][5] Maintaining credentials such as CST® or TS‑C requires continuing education or periodic examination through national certifying bodies, and Kansas employers often incorporate active certification into their credentialing and performance‑review processes.^[1][4][5]

Registration or Licensure Requirements

No Kansas agency issues a surgical technologist license or keeps a formal registry specific to this occupation, so there is no Kansas surgical technologist license application, fee schedule, or renewal process.^[1][2][3] References to “license” or “licensure” on national career sites for Kansas are describing employer‑level requirements and national certification processes rather than a Kansas state license for surgical technologists.^[1][3]

Surgical technologists in Kansas who also hold other professional licenses—such as nursing or other allied‑health licenses—are regulated by the licensing boards for those disciplines, while their work as surgical technologists is governed by employer policies and national practice standards rather than by a separate Kansas ST license.^[2][3]

Renewal Requirements

Because Kansas does not license or register surgical technologists, there are no state‑mandated renewal intervals, state fees, or Kansas‑specific continuing‑education requirements for this role.^[1][2][3] Renewal obligations instead come from national certifying organizations—such as NBSTSA for CST® and NCCT for TS‑C—which require ongoing continuing education or re‑examination, and from employer policies that may require proof of current certification and education for continued employment.^[1][4][5]

Background Checks

Kansas does not have a background‑check process that applies exclusively to surgical technologists because the profession is not licensed by the state.^[2][3] Hospitals and surgery centers in Kansas generally apply system‑wide human‑resources and credentialing policies to surgical technologists, which can include criminal background checks, drug screening, immunization verification, and reference checks before allowing them to work in perioperative settings.^[1][3][5]

Scope of Practice

Without a dedicated practice act, Kansas does not define a statutory scope of practice or protected title for surgical technologists; instead, the role is described through employer job descriptions, Kansas Board of Regents alignment materials, and national professional standards.^[1][2][4] In day‑to‑day practice, Kansas surgical technologists perform standard perioperative functions such as preparing the operating room, arranging instruments and sterile supplies, assisting with gowning and gloving, maintaining the sterile field, passing instruments, handling specimens, and participating in counts under the supervision of surgeons and circulating nurses.^[1][4][5]

They do not independently diagnose conditions, prescribe medications, or determine treatment plans; those responsibilities remain with licensed physicians and advanced‑practice nurses and other licensed providers.^[2][4]

Governing Agency

There is no Kansas licensing board dedicated to surgical technologists, and no single state agency is designated to oversee this occupation.^[1][2][3] Oversight that affects surgical technologists occurs indirectly through agencies that license and inspect Kansas health‑care facilities and through hospital and health‑system credentialing offices, which set internal standards for education, national certification, and competency for operating‑room personnel.^[3][4]

Statute Citations

• Current Status: As of early 2026, Kansas statutes and administrative regulations do not create a surgical technologist license, registry, or practice act; national law summaries list Kansas as a non‑licensure state where surgical technologists practice under employer requirements rather than a state credential.^[1][2][3]
• Advocacy: A‑B Tech’s state‑contact summary for Kansas notes that certification is not required to work as a surgical technologist but that the Kansas State Assembly of AST is working to get legislation passed that would require all future technologists to be certified through NBSTSA, describing advocacy efforts rather than current statutory mandates.^[2]

Kansas Surgical Technologist Salary & Job Outlook

National Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) data for Surgical Technologists (SOC 29‑2055) report a national annual mean wage of about $60,900 as of May 2023 and provide Kansas state and nonmetropolitan wage estimates that show how local earnings compare to national levels.^[4] Market‑based salary aggregators such as ZipRecruiter estimate that surgical technologists in Kansas average around $87,294 per year, with most salaries falling between roughly $65,100 (25th percentile) and $107,000 (75th percentile), and higher wages for top earners and advanced roles, though these figures can reflect travel, overtime, and specialized positions.^[7] Other sources, including Vivian Health, report average hourly pay for Kansas surgical technologists in the low‑$20 per‑hour range based on BLS data, while some hospital and travel roles pay substantially more, demonstrating wide variation by employer, region, and experience level.^[4][6][7] Overall, job outlook for surgical technologists in Kansas appears steady, supported by ongoing surgical volumes, CAAHEP‑aligned training programs, and strong employer emphasis on accredited education and national certification.^[4][5][6]

Summary

Kansas does not license or register surgical technologists, and there is no statutory requirement for CST® or TS‑C; instead, employers set the standards for who may work in the operating room.^[1][2][3] In practice, most Kansas facilities prefer graduates of CAAHEP‑accredited surgical technology programs who are eligible for or hold national certification, aligning workforce expectations with national standards even in the absence of a formal state license.^[1][2][4][5]

References

• [1] LicenseMap. “Kansas Surgical Technologist License (2026)” – confirms that Kansas does not require state licensure, registration, or state‑mandated certification for surgical technologists and that CST®/TS‑C credentials are driven by employer expectations. Available at: https://getlicensemap.com/states/surgical-technologist/kansas.^[web:952]
• [2] A‑B Tech. “State Contact Agencies – Surgical Technology” – Kansas section states that certification is not required to work as a surgical technologist in Kansas and notes that the Kansas State Assembly of AST is attempting to secure legislation to require future technologists to be certified through NBSTSA. Available at: https://abtech.edu/sites/default/files/2022-03/surgical-technology-state-licensing-boards.pdf.^[web:635]
• [3] Association of Surgical Technologists (AST). “Surgical Technologist and Surgical Assistant State Law Map / Legislative Overview” – national overview indicating which states have passed surgical technologist laws and listing Kansas as a state without an ST practice act as of the latest update. Available at: https://www.ast.org/public_policy/map_of_state_laws/ and https://www.ast.org/Public_Policy/Legislative_Overview/.^{[web:17][web:4]}
• [4] Kansas Board of Regents. “Surgical Technology – Program Alignment” – alignment document and web summary requiring Kansas college surgical technology programs to be accredited by CAAHEP, stating that students take the CST® exam as part of program completion and that employers determine if passing the exam is required for employment. Available at: https://www.kansasregents.gov/workforce_development/program-alignment/surgical_technology.^[web:951]
• [5] Kansas Board of Regents. “Surgical Technologist Program Alignment Map” – PDF outlining required courses, clinical hours, and CAAHEP accreditation expectations for Kansas surgical technology programs, including a “ST Certification Review” course and CST® eligibility for graduates. Available at: https://www.kansasregents.gov/resources/PDF/2626-REVISEDSurgicalTechnologistAlignmentMap-0513.pdf.^[web:954]
• [6] WSU Tech. “Surgical Technology | Degree & Certification | Wichita KS” – program page describing CAAHEP‑accredited training, required coursework, and graduate eligibility to sit for the national CST® exam to become a certified surgical technologist. Available at: https://wsutech.edu/surgical-technology/.^[web:953]
• [7] ZipRecruiter. “Salary: Surgical Technologist in Kansas (April, 2026)” – wage estimates showing an average Kansas surgical technologist salary around $87,294 per year, with most salaries between roughly $65,100 (25th percentile) and $107,000 (75th percentile), and higher pay for top earners and certain roles. Available at: https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Surgical-Technologist-Salary–in-Kansas.^[web:957]
• [8] Vivian Health. “Average Surgical Technologist Salary – Kansas” – salary overview reporting an average hourly wage around $21.45 for Kansas surgical technologists based on BLS data, with local variation by city and employer. Available at: https://www.vivian.com/allied-health/surgical-tech/kansas/salary/.^[web:955]
• [9] Jackson HealthPros. “Surgical Tech State Licensure” – national licensure summary indicating that Kansas has “No additional requirements” for surgical technologists beyond employer standards and national certification expectations. Available at: https://jacksonhealthpros.com/knowledge-center/surgical-technologist.^[web:643]