Ohio Surgical Technologist Requirements

Overview

Ohio does not license, certify, or register surgical technologists at the state level.^[2][3] The Ohio Legislative Service Commission’s analysis of House Bill 373 notes that under current law “the practice of surgical technologists is not regulated and surgical technologists are not required to be licensed.”^[2]

House Bill 373 would have created a surgical technologist license under the State Medical Board, defined scope of practice, prohibited unlicensed practice, and tied renewal largely to maintaining Certified Surgical Technologist (CST®) status, but the bill was not enacted.^[2] As a result, Ohio surgical technologists continue to work under employer policies, federal regulations, and accreditation standards rather than a surgical technologist practice act.^[1][3]

A 2026 occupational regulation report reiterates that Ohio law does not require registration, certification, or licensure of surgical assistants or technologists.^[3] Education and certification expectations therefore come from hospitals and other employers, which often follow national professional standards even without a state license requirement.^[1][4][5]

State Classification

Ohio is a non‑regulated state for surgical technologists.^[1][2][3] There is no surgical technologist license, no state ST registry, and no statute reserving the title or role for individuals with state‑defined qualifications.^[2][3]

National state‑contact summaries list Ohio under states with “no additional state requirements” for surgical technologists beyond general employer standards.^[1] Even so, many Ohio healthcare employers prefer or require graduation from accredited surgical technology programs and national certification, which makes facility‑level practice expectations resemble those in regulated states.^[1][4][5]

Statutory Requirements

As of early 2026, the Ohio Revised Code does not contain an enacted section that licenses surgical technologists or defines a surgical technologist‑specific scope of practice.^[2][3] The detailed framework described in House Bill 373 remains proposed language only and has not taken effect.^[2]

The Legislative Service Commission analysis of House Bill 373 explained that the bill would have required surgical technologists to be licensed by the State Medical Board, prohibited unlicensed practice and title use, and specified authorized tasks and disciplinary authority.^[2] It also would have tied license renewal eligibility for most technologists to maintaining CST® status, with alternative routes for those who did not hold certification.^[2]

Because the bill did not pass, surgical technologists in Ohio remain governed by general facility policies, supervision from physicians and registered nurses, and national perioperative standards rather than a state ST practice statute.^[1][3] Hospitals and other employers define local qualifications and competencies in their job descriptions and privileging procedures.^[1][4]

Employer Standards in Ohio

Ohio hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and specialty practices rely on internal policies to set minimum qualifications for surgical technologists.^[1][4][5] These policies commonly require graduation from an accredited surgical technology program, operating‑room experience, and, for many full‑time positions, national certification such as CST®.^[4][5]

AST recommends that facilities in non‑licensure states require accredited education and CST® certification for surgical technologists to support patient safety and standardize practice.^[1][4] Ohio employers often adopt similar expectations in job postings and credentialing criteria, even though the state does not mandate specific education or certification in law.^[4][5]

Certification Requirements

Ohio law does not require surgical technologists to hold CST®, TS‑C, or any other national certification credential.^[2][3] An Ohio program FAQ from Owens Community College states, “Must I be certified in the state of Ohio for employment as a surgical technologist? No, it is not a law, although it is a condition of employment in most facilities.”^[5]

Ohio surgical technology programs emphasize accredited education and national certification as the standard pathway into the field.^[4][5] Owens Community College, for example, notes that graduates must take and pass a national certification exam administered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) to become credentialed and practice as surgical technologists, and that maintaining this credential requires continuing education.^[5]

NBSTSA offers the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST®) credential based on completion of a CAAHEP‑ or ABHES‑accredited program (or a recognized military pathway) and passing the CST® exam.^[4][7] Other national credentials, such as TS‑C from NCCT, are also recognized by some employers when combined with appropriate education and experience, but CST® remains the most frequently referenced credential in Ohio program and career materials.^[4][5]

Certified technologists must follow recertification rules from their credentialing organizations, which typically require continuing‑education credits over a fixed period or retesting.^[4][7] Many Ohio employers track certification status and expect technologists to keep credentials current as a condition of ongoing employment in certain operating‑room roles.^[4][5]

Registration / Licensure

Ohio does not issue a surgical technologist license, certificate, or registration through a state board.^[2][3] The 2026 occupational regulation report explicitly states that Ohio law does not require registration, certification, or licensure of surgical assistants or technologists.^[3]

Because there is no state ST license, surgical technologists do not apply to the State Medical Board or Board of Nursing for ST‑specific credentials, license numbers, or renewals.^[2][3] Instead, they submit proof of education, national certification, and competencies directly to employers and credentialing committees, which authorize their surgical‑technology duties.^[1][4]

Individuals who also hold other Ohio licenses, such as registered nurse or physician assistant licenses, remain accountable to those boards for their licensed practice.^[3] Their responsibilities as surgical technologists are governed by job descriptions, supervision relationships, and facility policies, not by a separate surgical technologist practice act.^[1][4]

Renewal Requirements

Because Ohio does not license or register surgical technologists, there is no state‑specific surgical technologist renewal cycle.^[2][3] The state does not set renewal forms, fees, or continuing‑education requirements that apply only to this occupation.^[3]

Ongoing renewal obligations instead come from national certifying bodies and employer policies.^[4][5][7] CST® and other credentials require regular renewal, often through continuing‑education hours, and Ohio employers that require certification usually expect technologists to maintain their national credentials as a condition of continued employment.^[4][5]

Background Checks

Ohio does not operate a background‑check or fingerprinting system that is specific to surgical technologists, because the state does not license the profession separately.^[2][3] There is no ST‑only criminal‑history requirement tied to a state surgical technologist license card.^[3]

Hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and other employers rely on their own background‑screening processes when hiring surgical technologists.^[1][4] These typically include criminal‑background checks, drug screening, immunization verification, and reference checks for full‑time staff roles; travel, per‑diem, and temporary assignments may involve additional screening consistent with facility and agency policies.^[1][4]

Scope of Practice

Ohio statutes do not define a surgical technologist‑specific scope of practice or task list.^[2][3] Instead, scope is set by employer job descriptions, delegation practices of surgeons and registered nurses, and national surgical technology standards and competencies taught in accredited programs.^[1][4][5]

In everyday work, Ohio surgical technologists prepare operating rooms, arrange instruments and sterile supplies, assist with patient positioning and draping, maintain the sterile field, pass instruments and supplies, handle specimens, and participate in counts under the supervision of surgeons and circulating nurses.^[4][5] They do not diagnose conditions, prescribe treatments, or independently determine treatment plans and must work within delegated responsibilities defined by licensed professionals and facility policies.^[1][4]

Governing Agency

Because Ohio does not license surgical technologists, there is no dedicated surgical technologist licensing board.^[2][3] The State Medical Board of Ohio and Ohio Board of Nursing regulate other licensed professionals and affect surgical technologists indirectly through supervision and team‑care rules.^[2][3]

Hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers are regulated by state and federal agencies and accreditation organizations, which require robust staff‑credentialing and competency systems for perioperative roles.^[1][4] National bodies such as NBSTSA and AST provide CST® certification, recertification rules, and professional guidelines that Ohio employers often use when establishing standards for surgical technologists.^[1][4][7]

Statute Citations

• House Bill 373 – Surgical Technologist Licensure Proposal (not enacted): Ohio Legislative Service Commission Bill Analysis describing proposed licensure requirements, scope of practice, renewal tied to CST® status, and disciplinary authority for surgical technologists under the State Medical Board; confirms that current law does not regulate surgical technologists or require licensure.^[2] https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/download?key=3844&format=pdf
• Occupational Regulation Report (2026): Ohio report on occupational regulation stating that Ohio law does not require registration, certification, or licensure of surgical assistants or technologists and discussing potential regulatory options.^[3]

Ohio Surgical Technologist Salary & Job Outlook

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data for Surgical Technologists (SOC 29‑2055) show an Ohio employment level of about 4,320 surgical technologists, with employment of approximately 0.79 per 1,000 jobs.^[6] As of May 2023, Ohio’s median hourly wage for surgical technologists is about $26.17, and the mean hourly wage is about $28.33, corresponding to an annual mean wage near $58,910 for full‑time wage and salary workers.^[6]

Nationally, surgical technologists have a May 2023 median hourly wage of about $28.62 and an annual mean wage of roughly $60,600, placing Ohio slightly below the national mean while remaining in a similar overall range.^[7] When adjusted for Ohio’s cost‑of‑living index, which sits modestly below the national average, these wages can be competitive for full‑time staff roles in many regions of the state.^[6][7]

Within Ohio, wages vary by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area and by employer type.^[6] BLS state and area tables show higher mean wages in some large metropolitan health systems, while nonmetropolitan regions may offer lower base pay but different lifestyle and cost‑of‑living trade‑offs for full‑time staff positions.^[6]

The Occupational Outlook Handbook projects about 5 percent national employment growth for surgical technologists and related roles from 2024 to 2034, which is faster than the average for all occupations.^[4] Ohio program and workforce materials indicate steady demand for full‑time surgical technologists in hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers, particularly for graduates of accredited programs who obtain national certification and maintain current competencies.^[4][5][6]

Summary

Ohio does not license or register surgical technologists, and proposed licensure legislation such as House Bill 373 has not been enacted.^[2][3] To remain competitive in Ohio’s operating‑room job market, surgical technologists should complete an accredited surgical technology program, pursue national certification such as CST®, and follow employer policies for continuing education and competency, because these factors drive hiring and advancement in the absence of a state ST license.^{[1][4][5][6][7]}

References

• [1] A‑B Tech. “Surgical Technology State Licensing Boards / State Contact Agencies – Surgical Technology” – national state‑contact list indicating that Ohio has no additional state licensing or registration requirements for surgical technologists and that standards are determined by employers. https://abtech.edu/…/surgical-technology-state-licensing-boards^[web:1019]
• [2] Ohio Legislative Service Commission. “H.B. 373 – Bill Analysis” – analysis of a bill to license surgical technologists under the State Medical Board, outlining proposed scope, renewal tied to CST®, and confirming that current law does not regulate surgical technologists or require licensure. https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/download?key=3844&format=pdf^[web:1105]
• [3] Ohio General Assembly. “Occupational Regulation Report” (2026) – report on occupational regulation in Ohio stating that Ohio law does not require registration, certification, or licensure of surgical assistants or technologists and reviewing possible future regulation options.^[web:1103]
• [4] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Surgical Assistants and Technologists” – Occupational Outlook Handbook profile summarizing national median pay and projected employment growth for surgical technologists and related occupations, used to describe national job‑outlook trends that affect Ohio demand. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/surgical-assistants-and-technologists.htm^[web:419]
• [5] Owens Community College. “Surgical Technology – FAQs” – program FAQ stating that certification is not required by Ohio law but is a condition of employment in most facilities and explaining that graduates take a national certification exam administered by NBSTSA and must complete continuing education to maintain the credential. https://www.owens.edu/surgical/faqs/; https://faq.owens.edu/faq/do-i-have-to-take-an-exam-after-i-graduate-to-pr-1^{[web:1109][web:1112]}
• [6] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Ohio – May 2023 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates” – OEWS state table listing Surgical Technologists (29‑2055) with about 4,320 jobs, employment of 0.79 per 1,000 jobs, a median hourly wage around $26.17, a mean hourly wage of $28.33, and an annual mean wage near $58,910. https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes_oh.htm^[web:1108]
• [7] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Surgical Technologists, SOC 29‑2055, May 2023” – national OEWS table with median hourly wage about $28.62 and annual mean wage near $60,600 for surgical technologists, used as the national wage baseline. https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes292055.htm^[web:1111]