Tennessee § 68-57-101 - Qualifications for employment of surgical technologists.

§ 68-57-101. Qualifications for employment of surgical technologists.

Individuals employed as surgical technologists shall: Hold current national certification established by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA); Have completed a program for surgical technology accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP); Have completed an appropriate training program for surgical technologists in the armed forces or at a CAAHEP accredited hospital or CAAHEP accredited ambulatory surgical treatment center program. For the purposes of this chapter, “armed forces” means the army, navy, air force, marine corps, coast guard, or public health service of the United States; or Successfully complete the surgical technologists NBSTSA certifying exam. Any student who completes a surgical technology program that is in the process of becoming CAAHEP accredited on July 1, 2006, shall be considered a graduate of a CAAHEP accredited program. Persons qualified to be employed as a surgical technologist pursuant to subsection (a) shall complete fifteen (15) hours of continuing education or contact hours annually to remain qualified for employment and shall submit verification of having completed such continuing education or contact hours requirements to their employers. The submission of current certification by the NBSTSA shall satisfy the requirements of this subsection (c). This section and § 68-57-102 shall not constitute a requirement to be assessed during any inspection under chapter 11, part 2 of this title. Acts 2004, ch. 532, § 2; 2013, ch. 391, §§ 1-3, 5. Amendments. The 2013 amendment, in (a), substituted “the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA)” for “the Liaison Council on Certification for the Surgical Technologist (LCC-ST)” at the end of (1) and substituted “NBSTSA certifying exam” for “LCC-ST certifying exam” at the end of (4); and added (c) and (d). Effective Dates. Acts 2013, ch. 391, § 6. July 1, 2013. Attorney General Opinions. When T.C.A. §§ 68-57-101 et seq. takes effect, holding current national certification established by the Liaison Council on Certification for the Surgical Technologist is only one of several qualifications that an individual may satisfy under the law in order to be employed as a surgical technologist. OAG 05-142 (9/13/05).