Surgical Technologist in North Carolina
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for NC
How to Become a Surgical Technologist in North Carolina
In North Carolina, there are no state-level licensing or registration requirements for Surgical Technologists. However, most employers require national certification, typically the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) credential from the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) or the Tech in Surgery - Certified (TS-C) from the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT). To become certified, individuals generally need to complete an accredited surgical technologist program and pass the respective certification exam. Renewal for the CST is every two years, requiring continuing education credits and a fee, while the TS-C requires annual renewal with continuing education and a fee.
Surgical Technologist Requirements in North Carolina
| Detail | North Carolina |
|---|---|
| Licensing Body | North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (for facility regulation, not individual licensing) |
| State License Required | No |
| Education | Completion of a surgical technologist program accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES, or a military surgical-technician training program. Some employers may accept 3 years of verifiable full-time experience as a Tech in Surgery within the past five years for the TS-C exam. |
| Exam | Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) exam administered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) or Tech in Surgery - Certified (TS-C) administered by the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) ($290) |
| Application Fee | $40 |
| Renewal | Every 2.0 years |
| Continuing Education | 30.0 hours per cycle |
| Notes | North Carolina does not have state-level licensing or registration requirements for Surgical Technologists. However, most employers require national certification from the NBSTSA (CST) or NCCT (TS-C). Minimum age of 18 and a thorough background investigation may be required by employers. The CST exam costs $190 for AST members and $290 for non-members. The TS-C exam costs $199 for all applicants. Renewal for CST is every two years with a $40 fee and 30 CE hours. Renewal for TS-C is annually with a $77 fee and 14 CE hours. |
Surgical Technologist Salary in North Carolina
The median surgical technologist salary in North Carolina is $58,710 per year, which is 6.6% below the national median of $62,830.
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $45,740 |
| 25th | $50,850 |
| 50th (median) | $58,710 |
| 75th | $64,490 |
| 90th (experienced) | $74,060 |
North Carolina employs approximately 3,720 surgical technologists.
Surgical Technologist Job Outlook
AI Impact on Surgical Technologists
Low AI Exposure (Score: -0.48/1.00)
This career has low exposure to AI automation. Most tasks require physical presence, human judgment, or hands-on skills that AI cannot easily replicate.
Is Becoming a Surgical Technologist in North Carolina Worth It?
Factors to consider: North Carolina's cost of living, the lack of a state license requirement, moderate job growth, low AI disruption risk, and your personal career goals.