WCJC Receives National Recognition

Wharton County Junior College has received the annual Merit Award from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) for achieving a 90% or higher graduate pass rate on the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) examination for cycle of August 1, 2011 through July 31, 2012. Graduates obtaining national certification as a CST demonstrate by examination understanding of the basic competencies for safe patient care on the operating room. The CST is widely recognized in the health care community as the foremost credential for surgical technologists in the nation. The CST is required for employment within many local, state and national health care organizations.

According to NBSTSA Chief Executive Officer Ron Kruzel, the NBSTSA has a 40 year history in CST examination development. The CST examination is the only fully accredited examination by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) for surgical technologists in the nation. NCCA accreditation assures that the CST examination meets stringent standards of examination development and administration. Certification as a surgical technologist exhibits professional pride, the desire to be recognized for mastery of surgical competencies, and most importantly an ongoing commitment to quality patient care.
There are criteria that a surgical technologist must meet in order to qualify to take the CST examination. For an application and information about the CST examination or about the NBSTSA, please go to the NBSTSA website at www.nbstsa.org, email cara@nbstsa.org or call 1-800-707-0057.