A Letter from our President

As we all struggle in the midst of this worldwide pandemic we’re experiencing, the NBSTSA wants you to know we are here for you.

Effective April 15, 2020, the NBSTSA Board of Directors has approved several temporary policies in response to the COVID-19 crisis.

These policies are now on our website via a large banner link from the homepage – nbstsa.org/nbstsa-response-covid-19-coronavirus.

Those policies are as follows:

Waiving Renewal Fees – we will not charge the usual $25 renewal application processing fee for recertifications between March 15, 2020, and December 31, 2020. We are making this offer in partnership with and through the generosity of the Association of Surgical Technologists.
Extended Grace Period for Late Renewal – the grace period for recertifications in 2020 has been extended from the usual 90 days to 180 days to give you time to turn in your renewal application form, and we will waive the usual $75 late recertification application fee through December 31, 2020.
Extended Certification Cycles – We realize that normal schedules are all changed for now and that many of you are working extra hours in response to the COVID-19 crisis. For this reason, we are extending the certification cycles of all certified individuals who hold the CST or CSFA credential that were set to expire or be renewed from March 15, 2020 – June 15, 2020, for a period of three (3) months. (Please refer to our website for further explanation of this temporary policy).
Extended Time to Test – If you had applied to sit for the CST or CSFA examination, but had not yet scheduled it or taken it, we have extended the period in which you may sit for the examination to 12/31/2020. Our testing partners at PSI are allowing applicants to schedule for May through July test dates now.

We continue to monitor the ongoing situation in the United States, along with the nationwide and regional stay-at-home orders, and to assess any additional changes that may be necessary. Further announcements may be made, and you can follow them on our website along with any electronic communications.

While we are following all state and local directives, our staff remains available to you from 7:30 am – 4:30 pm (MDT) weekdays at 800-707-0057.

We will not be able to send paper CST or CSFA certificates or certification cards at this time. However, your certification can be verified at any time at nbstsa.org/verify-credentials.

Since we are unable to receive FedEx or UPS deliveries at this time, please send any correspondence that must be mailed via USPS. Online applications and renewal forms are highly recommended at this time.

For information on our Testing Services, please refer to our website.

We fully understand how important maintaining your certification is to you, your patients and the institutions you work for. We hope the steps we have taken will be helpful to you in that endeavor.

We wish for all of you safety and good health—we appreciate your support of the NBSTSA,

Kindest regards,
Grant Wilson, CST, FAST
Board President

THANK YOU to all of our healthcare workers and first responders!

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