Tennessee Surgical Technologist Requirements

Overview

Tennessee regulates surgical technologists in hospitals and certain other licensed facilities through Title 68, Chapter 57 of the Tennessee Code Annotated.^[1][2] Section 68‑57‑101 sets qualification standards for employment as a surgical technologist, while related provisions and hospital rules address alternative pathways, continuing education, and scope of practice.^[1][2][4]

Individuals employed as surgical technologists in Tennessee must meet one or more statutory pathways that combine accredited education, national certification, appropriate military training, or documented prior experience in surgical technology.^[1][2][4] Hospital regulations then require ongoing continuing education or certification renewal, with facilities responsible for maintaining proof of compliance for each technologist.^[4]

Tennessee does not issue a separate surgical technologist license card or maintain an ST registry.^[2] Instead, surgical technologist practice is regulated through employment‑qualification statutes and facility‑licensing rules that tie operating‑room staffing to education, certification, and continuing‑education verification.^[2][4]

State Classification

Tennessee is a certification‑required state for surgical technologists in regulated hospitals and health‑care facilities.^[1][2] Facilities may not employ a person as a surgical technologist unless that person satisfies at least one qualification option specified in § 68‑57‑101 and applicable regulations.^[1][4]

AST’s Tennessee law summary identifies the state as having an explicit surgical technologist law that requires national certification and accredited education or very specific alternatives, rather than leaving standards solely to employer policies.^[2] Tennessee is grouped with states such as South Carolina and Pennsylvania that have codified ST requirements in statute and rule.^[2]

Statutory Requirements

Tennessee Code § 68‑57‑101, “Qualifications for employment of surgical technologists,” states that individuals employed as surgical technologists must meet at least one listed qualification.^[1][2] AST’s text of the law shows that these pathways include current national certification, graduation from a CAAHEP‑accredited surgical technology program, appropriate military training, or documented prior experience meeting specified time thresholds before May 21, 2007.^[1]

The statute provides that a surgical technologist may qualify by holding current national certification established by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA), by completing a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), or by completing an appropriate training program in the armed forces or at a CAAHEP‑accredited hospital or ambulatory surgical treatment center.^[1][2] A grandfathering provision also allows individuals who worked as surgical technologists for at least eighteen months in the three years preceding May 21, 2007, or who began appropriate training before that date, to qualify when their experience is documented.^[1]

Section 68‑57‑105 defines the scope of practice of surgical technologists, describing them as working under the supervision of surgeons and registered nurses and performing technical tasks related to perioperative care.^[1][2] Other sections in Chapter 57 address exemptions and enforcement, including provisions for federal facilities and penalties for noncompliance.^[2]

Employer Standards in Tennessee

Within the statutory framework, Tennessee hospitals and surgical facilities are responsible for implementing surgical technologist standards through their hiring policies and credentialing systems.^[2][4] Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0720‑20‑.06 on hospital basic services requires facilities to employ surgical technologists who meet one or more of the statutory qualification pathways and to maintain documentation of their continued competence.^[4]

The regulation states that surgical technologists shall demonstrate continued competence through activities such as continuing education, in‑service training, or certification renewal and that the employer must keep evidence of this competence on file.^[4] Tennessee programs and hospital policies therefore rely on accredited surgical technology education, CST® certification, and ongoing education as the practical standard for staffing operating rooms.^[1][4][6]

Certification Requirements

Under § 68‑57‑101 and implementing rules, one primary qualification pathway requires completion of a nationally accredited surgical technology program and current national certification as a surgical technologist.^[1][2][4] AST’s Tennessee law document identifies NBSTSA’s Certified Surgical Technologist (CST®) credential as the national certification referenced in the statute and regulations.^[1][2]

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0720‑20‑.06 specifies that surgical technologists must meet one or more conditions such as having successfully completed a nationally accredited surgical technology program and holding certification from a national certifying body recognized by the Health Facilities Commission, or qualifying through an accredited program without yet being certified but obtaining that certification within a defined time period, or completing an appropriate military training program.^[4] Individuals who qualified based on documented prior experience before May 21, 2007, remain eligible if the facility retains proof of their training and competence.^[4]

NBSTSA sets eligibility and recertification standards for CST®, requiring graduation from a CAAHEP‑ or ABHES‑accredited program or an approved military program and completion of continuing‑education credits or a recertification examination each cycle.^[6] Tennessee technologists whose employers require CST® must therefore comply with both NBSTSA recertification requirements and the state’s annual continuing‑education expectations embedded in hospital rules.^[4][6]

Program information from Tennessee community colleges and technical colleges highlights Tennessee Code 68‑57‑101 and explains that graduates of their CAAHEP‑accredited surgical technology programs are prepared to sit for the CST® examination and to meet state qualification standards for employment as surgical technologists.^[6] This alignment reinforces CST® and accredited education as the default route into Tennessee operating‑room roles.^[1][2][6]

Registration / Licensure

Tennessee does not maintain a separate surgical technologist license or state registry, even though it regulates the occupation through Chapter 57 and related rules.^[2][4] Surgical technologists do not apply to the Board of Nursing or another board for an ST‑specific license number; instead, their authority to work comes from meeting statutory qualification pathways and facility credentialing standards.^[2][4]

Hospitals and surgery centers verify education, certification, military training, or grandfathered experience directly and retain the records required by Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0720‑20‑.06.^[4] Licensed professionals such as registered nurses, physicians, and advanced practice nurses remain regulated by their own boards and practice acts, and the surgical technologist law does not change their licensure requirements or authority.^[2][4]

Because there is no ST license renewal process at the state level, Tennessee surgical technologists focus on maintaining national certification and meeting employer continuing‑education policies rather than submitting renewal applications to a state ST board.^[2][4][6]

Renewal Requirements

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0720‑20‑.06 requires surgical technologists to demonstrate continued competence and complete fifteen hours of continuing education or contact hours annually.^[4] The rule states that current certification by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting satisfies this annual continuing‑education requirement.^[4]

Employers must maintain evidence of continued competence for each surgical technologist, which may include continuing‑education certificates, in‑service documentation, or proof of CST® renewal.^[4] These records are subject to review by the Health Facilities Commission and other regulators as part of hospital licensing and survey processes.^[4]

NBSTSA’s CST® recertification process, which typically operates on a multi‑year cycle, requires technologists to accumulate continuing‑education credits or successfully pass a recertification exam.^[6] Tennessee technologists who maintain CST® therefore meet both NBSTSA recertification expectations and the state’s fifteen‑hour annual CE requirement recognized in the hospital basic‑services rule.^[4][6]

Background Checks

Tennessee’s surgical technologist statutes and hospital basic‑services regulation do not create a profession‑specific background‑check or fingerprinting system solely for surgical technologists.^[2][4] Background screening for surgical technologists is instead governed by general hospital licensing requirements, federal Conditions of Participation, and accreditation standards applicable to all clinical staff.^[4]

In practice, Tennessee hospitals and surgery centers typically require criminal‑history checks, drug testing, immunization verification, and reference checks for full‑time, per‑diem, and temporary perioperative personnel before granting operating‑room access.^[4][6] These employer‑driven screening processes support patient safety and regulatory compliance, even though they are not spelled out as surgical‑technologist‑specific requirements in Chapter 57.^[4]

Scope of Practice

Section 68‑57‑105 defines “surgical technologist” for Tennessee purposes as a person who works under the supervision of a surgeon and registered nurse to facilitate the safe and effective conduct of invasive surgical procedures.^[1][2] AST’s text of the law and national occupational descriptions from BLS indicate that surgical technologists assist in operations by setting up the operating room, preparing and transporting patients, adjusting lights and equipment, passing instruments and supplies, holding retractors, cutting sutures, and helping count sponges, needles, and instruments.^[1][6]

Hospital basic‑services rules clarify that registered nurses serve as circulating nurses in the operating room and that surgical technologists function primarily in scrub roles under appropriate supervision.^[4] The regulation allows facilities some flexibility in assigning tasks consistent with licensure laws, but it maintains the distinction between technical duties performed by surgical technologists and professional nursing or medical responsibilities.^[4]

Surgical technologists in Tennessee do not diagnose conditions, prescribe medications, or independently determine treatment plans.^[2][6] Those responsibilities remain with surgeons, advanced practice nurses, and other licensed practitioners whose scopes of practice are defined by separate Tennessee statutes and board rules.^[2][4][6]

Governing Agency

The Tennessee Department of Health and the Health Facilities Commission oversee licensing and regulation of hospitals and similar facilities where surgical technologists work.^[2][4] Through facility inspections and policy reviews, these agencies enforce compliance with Tenn. Code Ann. § 68‑57‑101 and Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0720‑20‑.06 regarding surgical technologist qualifications and continuing‑education requirements.^[2][4]

The Tennessee General Assembly retains authority to amend the underlying statutes in Title 68, Chapter 57, including qualification pathways and scope language for surgical technologists.^[2] NBSTSA, as the national certifying body referenced in Tennessee law and rules, manages CST® exam content and recertification standards that Tennessee employers use to operationalize state requirements.^[1][4][6]

Statute Citations

• Tennessee Code Annotated § 68‑57‑101 – Qualifications for employment of surgical technologists: Sets qualification pathways for surgical technologists, including national certification, CAAHEP‑accredited education, appropriate military training, and specified prior experience, and establishes the basic requirement that individuals employed as surgical technologists meet at least one of these options.^[1][2] AST PDF text of Tennessee law
• Tennessee Code Annotated Title 68, Chapter 57 – Surgical Technologists: Contains §§ 68‑57‑101 through 68‑57‑105, including provisions on qualifications, alternative qualifications, exemptions, scope of practice, and enforcement for surgical technologists in Tennessee.^[2] Chapter 57 overview
• Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0720‑20‑.06 – Basic Services (Hospital Regulations): Hospital rule that incorporates surgical technologist qualification standards, requires facilities to maintain proof of competence, mandates fifteen hours of annual continuing education, and recognizes current NBSTSA certification as satisfying the CE requirement.^[4] https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/tennessee/Tenn-Comp-R-Regs-0720-20-.06

Tennessee Surgical Technologist Salary & Job Outlook

National BLS data for Surgical Technologists (SOC 29‑2055) show a May 2023 national annual mean wage of $62,250 and a mean hourly wage of $29.93 for full‑time wage and salary workers.^[6] Within Tennessee, BLS state tables report an annual mean wage in the mid‑$50,000 range for surgical technologists, with mean hourly pay in the mid‑$20s.^[6]

Compared with the national mean, Tennessee wages for surgical technologists fall somewhat below the national average but are broadly consistent with regional wage patterns and cost of living in the Southeast.^[6] Wage distributions show median earnings slightly below the mean and higher earnings for experienced technologists working in large hospital systems, trauma centers, and specialty surgical services.^[6]

BLS estimates several thousand surgical technologists employed across Tennessee, with jobs concentrated in metropolitan areas such as Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga as well as in regional hospitals serving smaller communities.^[6] National occupational profiles from BLS and O*NET highlight steady demand for full‑time surgical technologists in hospitals and outpatient surgical centers, with additional opportunities in specialty centers and physician‑office surgical suites.^[6][7]

The Occupational Outlook Handbook projects approximately 5 percent national employment growth for surgical technologists from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.^[6] Tennessee’s statutory emphasis on accredited education, national certification, and annual continuing education positions CST®‑credentialed technologists for stable employment and career growth in the state’s surgical services workforce.^[2][4][6][7]

Summary

Tennessee requires individuals employed as surgical technologists in hospitals and covered facilities to meet qualification pathways built around CAAHEP‑accredited education, NBSTSA CST® certification or specified alternatives, and fifteen hours of annual continuing education documented by employers.^[1][2][4] Prospective Tennessee surgical technologists should complete an accredited surgical technology program, obtain CST®, and maintain both national certification and yearly continuing education to comply with statutory and regulatory requirements and to compete for operating‑room positions statewide.^[1][4][6][7]

References

• [1] Association of Surgical Technologists (AST). “Tennessee Surgical Technology Education and Certification Law” – PDF of Tennessee Code Annotated § 68‑57‑101 and related sections, including qualification pathways, CAAHEP program references, national certification, military training options, and grandfathering provisions. https://www.ast.org/uploadedFiles/Main_Site/Content/Public_Policy/TENNESSEE%20SURGICAL%20TECHNOLOGIST%20LAW.pdf^[web:1160]
• [2] Chapter 57 – Surgical Technologists, Tennessee Code Annotated – chapter overview summarizing §§ 68‑57‑101 through 68‑57‑105, including qualifications for employment, alternative qualifications, exemptions, and scope of practice for surgical technologists. https://us.vlex.com/source/14844/chapter/chapter-57-surgical-technologists-399782206^[web:1162]
• [3] Tennessee legislative and program materials – include cross‑references to Tennessee Code 68‑57‑101 in surgical technology program disclosures, explaining that persons employed as surgical technologists must complete accredited programs and meet statutory qualifications. https://ws.edu/academics/programs/aas/surgical-technology.aspx^[web:1166]
• [4] Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0720‑20‑.06 – “Basic Services” – hospital regulation specifying that surgical technologists must meet qualification pathways, requiring employers to maintain evidence of continued competence, mandating fifteen hours of annual continuing education, and recognizing current NBSTSA certification as satisfying the CE requirement. https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/tennessee/Tenn-Comp-R-Regs-0720-20-.06^[web:1165]
• [5] Tennessee policy and board documents – discuss implementation of surgical technologist standards and how facilities apply statutory requirements through hiring policies and continuing‑education tracking. https://www.tn.gov^[web:1161]
• [6] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Surgical Technologists, SOC 29‑2055, May 2023” and Tennessee state tables – national OEWS tables providing national wages (annual mean $62,250; mean hourly $29.93) and Tennessee‑specific wage and employment data for surgical technologists. https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes292055.htm^[web:1118]
• [7] O*NET Online. “29‑2055.00 – Surgical Technologists” – national occupational profile describing duties such as assisting in operations under surgeon and RN supervision, setting up the operating room, passing instruments, and helping count sponges and instruments. https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-2055.00^[web:1131]