ABSA Surgical Assistant - Certified (SA-C)

Surgical Assistant - Certified (SA-C) is offered by the American Board of Surgical Assistants (ABSA). Surgical assistants are trained professionals capable of assisting surgeons in surgical procedures. They essentially function as a second physician. Ideally, these roles are filled by another licensed physician but can also be filled by non-physicians with additional training, including allied health and nursing professionals.

Eligibility

There are three pathways to eligibility to sit for the SA-C certification exam, including:

1. Physician (Doctor, Dentist) Pathway requires:

   1. Completion of a medical program

   2. Completion of a residency or advanced practiced training and at least 2 years of primary or advanced surgical experience

2. Licensed & Non-Licensed Allied Health Professionals (Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Surgical Assistants and Surgical Technologists) Pathway requires:

   1. Completion of a formal surgical assistant training program meeting ABSA criteria

   2. At least 2 years of clinical surgical scrub experience

   3. Evaluation of the applicant’s ability to competently perform tying and suturing by a licensed surgeon

3. Certified Surgical Assistant Pathway requires:

   1. Active certification in surgical assisting from another entity

   2. At least 2 years of clinical surgical scrub experience

   3. Evaluation of the applicant’s ability to competently perform tying and suturing by a licensed surgeon

All applicants must attest to comply with the ABSA Code of Ethics and pass the SA-C examination. Certification staff will verify each eligibility component. Applicants must submit the online application, fee and required documentation electronically before staff review the application and determine eligibility. ABSA accepts certification applications on a rolling basis.

Completion Time: 3 hours

Cost: $455 / Discounted to $400 active military and veterans (includes $100 non-refundable administrative fee)

Exam Format

The SA-C exam is computer-based, with 150 questions, including 140 scored and 10 unscored pretest questions. All questions are single-select, multiple-choice with four options. 

The breakdown of topics covered on the exam is as follows:

• Perioperative: 50%

  • Preoperative: 4%

  • Operative (11% general and 8% each in orthopedic, plastic/reconstructive, gynecological and varied other specialties): 43%

  • Postoperative: 3%

• General Surgical and Medical Knowledge: 39%

  • Asepsis: 3%

  • Surgical Anatomy: 13%

  • Terminology: 6%

  • Basic Life Support: 3%

  • Surgical Instrumentation & Equipment: 4%

  • General Medical Knowledge: 10%

•  Professional Practice Knowledge: 11%

  • Patient Safety/Risk Management/Emergency Protocols: 4%

  •  Code of Ethics/Scope of Practice: 4%

  • OSHA/HIPAA: 3%

Candidates have 3 hours to complete the exam and must score 70% or better to pass. They receive exam results via email within one of taking the exam. Candidates receive a pass/fail designation, total score and percent correct in each content category. Passing candidates receive official notification of certification and recertification requirements, while failing candidates receive re-examination information. Results won’t be provided by phone or fax.

Test takers who don’t pass may retake the exam up to four times within one year, with at least 30 days between each attempt. A new application and testing fee are required for each attempt.

Test Dates

Once an applicant is approved for certification exam testing, they have access to test on-demand (excluding Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Eve and Day)

Application Process

Applicants must complete an online application and submit fees and required documents electronically. Certification staff reviews applications and determines eligibility. ABSA only accepts complete applications and reserves the right to verify any information provided on applications and/or as part of the application process. Applications must submit all required documentation and fees at least 7 business days prior to their desired testing date to allow for application processing. Applicants approved to sit for the SA-C certification exam have access to test on-demand.

After receiving official notification of SA-C certification, candidates may use the certification mark only after receiving written notification that they’ve successfully completed all requirements, including passing the exam and documenting the specified experience. They can continue using the credential as long as the certification remains valid and in good standing through recertification.

Recertification must occur every 2 years, with expiration occurring on June 30 of the expiration year. Recertification requirements include attaining recertification points by completing professional development activities such as continuing medical education, ACLS/PALS/CPR certification and relevant work experience. 

Alternatively, applicants can recertify by passing the current certification exam. 

All recertification applicants must complete the Code of Ethics and Application Accuracy Attestation and Application Acknowledgements.

Renewal Fees

• Recertification by Professional Development and Experience: $275

• Recertification by Exam: $135 

• Recertification – Active Military and Veterans: No charge 

• Late Recertification: $325 

• Reinstatement from Inactive Status $350

• Reinstatement from Lapsed Status $455

Candidates recertifying through professional development and experience must earn:

• 80 recertification points, with 40 points obtained in each year of the 2-year certification period, including 11 continuing medical education (CME) points annually, and 4 points per year for active ACLS, PALS or CPR certification

• 25 recertificate points annually for surgical assisting activity, including 400 clinical surgical procedures or 1,500 clinical surgical hours in an SA-C (first assistant) role

All CME activities are subject to review and approval by ABSA.

• ABSA Surgical Assistant – Certified Handbook

• 10-Question Practice Exam - Free

• 40-Question Practice Exam - $45 (discounted to $30 for applicants)

• Certified Surgical Technologist (CST)

• Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA)

• Certified Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician (CSPDT)

• Certified Surgical Instrument Specialist (CSIS)

• Basic Life Support (BLS)