If you are planning where to work as a surgical tech, one of the first questions is whether your state requires certification, registration, licensure, or has no statewide requirement at all.
Across the United States, surgical technologist regulations vary widely. Some states have laws tied to education or certification, some require registration, and many states leave requirements to individual hospitals and employers.
This guide gives you a clear state by state overview so you can quickly understand the rules where you plan to work.
State requirements generally fall into three categories:
Education or Certification Laws
These states have laws related to training programs, national certification, or competency requirements.
Registration Laws
These states require surgical technologists to register with a state agency before practicing.
No Statewide Requirement
Most states do not regulate surgical technologists directly. Employers often set their own hiring standards.
Even in states without regulations, many hospitals still prefer or require the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) credential.
| State | Requirement Type | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No statewide requirement | Employers may require certification or accredited training |
| Alaska | No statewide requirement | Employers may require certification or accredited training |
| Arizona | No statewide requirement | Employers may require certification or accredited training |
| Arkansas | Registration required | Surgical techs must register with the state |
| California | No statewide requirement | Employers may require certification or accredited training |
| Colorado | Registration required | State registration required before working |
| Connecticut | Education or certification law | State law references training or certification standards |
| Delaware | No statewide requirement | Requirements determined by employers |
| Florida | No statewide requirement | Requirements determined by employers |
| Georgia | No statewide requirement | Requirements determined by employers |
| Hawaii | No statewide requirement | Requirements determined by employers |
| Idaho | Education or certification law | State law tied to education or certification |
| Illinois | Registration required | State registration law for surgical techs |
| Indiana | Education or certification law | Education or certification standards in statute |
| Iowa | No statewide requirement | Employers determine requirements |
| Kansas | No statewide requirement | Employers determine requirements |
| Kentucky | No statewide requirement | Employers determine requirements |
| Louisiana | No statewide requirement | Employers determine requirements |
| Maine | No statewide requirement | Employers determine requirements |
| Maryland | No statewide requirement | Employers determine requirements |
| Massachusetts | Education or certification law | State law tied to training or certification |
| Michigan | No statewide requirement | Employers determine requirements |
| Minnesota | No statewide requirement | Employers determine requirements |
| Mississippi | No statewide requirement | Employers determine requirements |
| Missouri | No statewide requirement | Employers determine requirements |
| Montana | No statewide requirement | Employers determine requirements |
| Nebraska | No statewide requirement | Employers determine requirements |
| Nevada | Education or certification law | State law tied to education or certification |
| New Hampshire | No statewide requirement | Employers determine requirements |
| New Jersey | Education or certification law | State law tied to training or certification |
| New Mexico | No statewide requirement | Employers determine requirements |
| New York | Education or certification law | Surgical technologist training or certification standards |
| North Carolina | No statewide requirement | Employers determine requirements |
| North Dakota | Registration required | State registration law |
| Ohio | No statewide requirement | Employers determine requirements |
| Oklahoma | No statewide requirement | Employers determine requirements |
| Oregon | Education or certification law | Education or certification referenced in statute |
| Pennsylvania | Education or certification law | State law tied to training or certification |
| Rhode Island | No statewide requirement | Employers determine requirements |
| South Carolina | Education or certification law | Education or certification referenced in statute |
| South Dakota | No statewide requirement | Employers determine requirements |
| Tennessee | Education or certification law | Education or certification referenced in statute |
| Texas | Education or certification law | Education or certification standards required |
| Utah | No statewide requirement | Employers determine requirements |
| Vermont | No statewide requirement | Employers determine requirements |
| Virginia | Education or certification law | State law tied to certification or education |
| Washington | Registration required | Surgical technologist registration required |
| West Virginia | No statewide requirement | Employers determine requirements |
| Wisconsin | No statewide requirement | Employers determine requirements |
| Wyoming | No statewide requirement | Employers determine requirements |
The following states have statutes related to surgical technologist education or certification:
In these states, surgical techs typically must complete an accredited training program or hold a recognized national credential such as the CST.
These states require surgical technologists to register with a state regulatory body before working:
Registration typically involves submitting documentation of training or certification and maintaining updated contact information with the state.
The majority of states do not regulate surgical technologists at the state level.
However, that does not mean anyone can work as a surgical tech. Most hospitals still require:
Large hospital systems and surgery centers often maintain their own credentialing policies.
Even in states without legal requirements, certification significantly improves job opportunities.
Employers frequently prefer candidates with the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) credential because it demonstrates standardized training, surgical safety knowledge, and competency in the operating room.
Certification can also:
State laws for surgical technologists continue to evolve. While some states regulate the profession through education, certification, or registration laws, most leave hiring standards to hospitals and healthcare employers.
For the widest range of job opportunities across the United States, completing an accredited surgical technology program and earning the CST certification remains the most common and widely accepted path.
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Written by Matthew Sorensen Healthcare recruiting executive, surgical tech hiring specialist, and founder of ScrubTechJobs.com. Matthew has 15+ years placing candidates in OR and perioperative roles, authored four books on hiring, and hosted the Hired podcast, ranked in the top 0.5% of career podcasts worldwide. Learn more about Matthew →