NBSTSA-CST Exam Information and Outline
Certified Surgical Technologist
NBSTSA-CST Exam Syllabus & Study Guide
Before you start practicing with our exam simulator, it is essential to understand the official NBSTSA-CST exam objectives. This course outline serves as your roadmap, breaking down exactly which technical domains and skills will be tested. By reviewing the syllabus, you can identify your strengths and focus your study time on the areas where you need the most improvement.
The information below reflects the latest 2026 course contents as defined by NBSTSA. We provide this detailed breakdown to help you align your preparation with the actual exam format, ensuring there are no surprises on test day. Use this outline as a checklist to track your progress as you move through our practice question banks.
Below are complete topics detail with latest syllabus and course outline, that will help you good knowledge about exam objectives and topics that you have to prepare. These contents are covered in questions and answers pool of exam.
The CST examination consists of 175 questions- 150 of which are scored. The 25 pretest items (unscored) are randomly distributed throughout the examination for the purpose of analysis and statistical evaluation. The passing score is the
minimum number of questions that must be answered correctly. Candidates should refer to nbstsa.org for the number of questions which must be answered correctly in order to obtain a passing score. Score reports are provided to all candidates who take the examination
Cardiovascular
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- Acute inflammatory disease
- myocarditis
- endocarditis
- pericarditis
- Coronary artery disease
- Acute coronary syndrome
- Cardiac interventions
- Surgical
- revascularization
- valve replacement
- valve repair
- Non surgical/PCI
- Hybrid procedures
- ablation
- TAVR
- Electrophysiology
- Cardiac arrest
- ACLS protocols
- post care
- targeted temperature management [TTM]
- Cardiac tamponade
- Cardiac trauma
- Cardiomyopathies
- hypertrophic
- dilated
- restrictive
- idiopathic
- Dyslipidemia
- Dysrhythmias
- Heart failure
- Acute
- Chronic
- Hypertension
- Hypertensive urgencies or emergencies
- Congenital heart disease
- Structural heart disease
- Syncope
- Postural orthostatic tachycardic syndrome
- Vascular Conditions
- Arterial
- carotid stenosis
- peripheral artery disease
- acute occlusion
- Venous
- stasis
- venous insufficiency
- Aortic syndromes
- dissection
- aneurysm
- occlusion
- Venous thromboembolism (VTE)
- Vascular interventions
- stents
- bypass
- endarterectomy
- Trauma
- Transplant and mechanical circulatory support
- LVAD
- ECMO
Respiratory
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- Pulmonary embolus
- Pulmonary edema
- Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
- Respiratory failure
- Air-leak syndromes
- pneumothorax
- Airway obstruction
- angioedema
- mucus plug
- air space-occupying lesions
- Chronic lung disease
- Asthma
- COPD
- Interstitial lung disease
- Sleep apnea
- Pleural effusion
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Pulmonary infectious/inflammatory conditions
- Community-acquired pneumonia
- Empyema
- Hospital-acquired pneumonia
- Ventilator-associated events
- Aspiration
- Pulmonary trauma
- lung contusions
- fractured ribs
- hemothorax
- Pulmonary interventions
- surgical
- stent
- percutaneous
Endocrine
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- Adrenal disorders
- Diabetes mellitus
- Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)/hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state (HHS)
- Hyperglycemia
- stress-induced
- medication-induced
- Hypoglycemia
- Syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH)
- Diabetes insipidus
- Thyroid disorders
Hematology / Immunology / Oncology
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- Anemia
- microcytic
- macrocytic
- Autoimmune diseases
- Coagulopathies
- Hypercoagulable states
- cancers
- DIC
- VTE
- Hypocoagulable states
- thrombocytopenia
- iatrogenic/ medication induced
- Hematologic and solid tumors
- Immunosuppression
- post-transplant
- oncologic
- medication-induced
- Myelosuppression
- neutropenia
- pancytopenia
- thrombocytopenia
- Oncologic emergencies
- tumor lysis syndrome
- electrolyte imbalances
- SVC syndrome
- neutropenic fever
- Immunotherapy and chemotherapy side effects
- pneumonitis
- colitis
- myocarditis
Gastrointestinal
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- Abdominal trauma
- Bowel infarction/obstruction/perforation
- Gallbladder disease
- GI infectious disorders
- GI hemorrhage
- GI motility disorders
- constipation
- diarrhea
- ileus
- gastroparesis
- GI surgeries
- Hepatorenal syndrome
- Liver disease
- hepatitis
- hepatic failure
- Acute liver dysfunction
- Cirrhosis
- Pancreatitis
- Erosive/ulcerative conditions
- GERD
- peptic ulcer
- IBD/IBS
Renal / Genitourinary
---------------------
- Acute kidney failure
- Chronic kidney disease
- Contrast-associated nephropathy
- Fluid and electrolyte imbalances
- Infections
- UTI
- PID
- STIs
- Urogenital/renal trauma
Integumentary
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- Exfoliative skin disorders
- StevensJohnson
- toxic epidermal necrolysis [TEN]
- Infectious skin disorders
- necrotizing fasciitis
- cellulitis
- Intravenous infiltration and extravasation
- Pressure injuries
- Wounds (surgical- nonsurgical- traumatic)
Musculoskeletal
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- Gait disturbance
- spastic gait
- ataxic gait
- Infections
- osteomyelitis
- Rhabdomyolysis
- Fractures and dislocations
- traumatic
- pathologic
- osteoporosis
- Amputations
- Osteoporosis/osteopenia
Neurology
---------
- Encephalopathy
- Intracranial hypertension/herniation syndromes
- Hydrocephalus
- Neurologic infectious diseases
- Neuromuscular disorders
- Seizure disorders
- Space-occupying lesions
- Spinal cord injury
- Stroke
- ischemic
- hemorrhagic
- Traumatic brain injury
Musculoskeletal
---------------
- Gait disturbance
- spastic gait
- ataxic gait
- Infections
- osteomyelitis
- Rhabdomyolysis
- Fractures and dislocations
- traumatic
- pathologic
- osteoporosis
- Amputations
- Osteoporosis/osteopenia
Neurology
---------
- Encephalopathy
- Intracranial hypertension/herniation syndromes
- Hydrocephalus
- Neurologic infectious diseases
- Neuromuscular disorders
- Seizure disorders
- Space-occupying lesions
- Spinal cord injury
- Stroke
- ischemic
- hemorrhagic
- Traumatic brain injury
Psychosocial / Behavioral / Cognitive Health
--------------------------------------------
- Agitation
- Anxiety disorders
- PTSD
- OCD
- fears
- phobias
- Delirium
- Dementia
- Mood disorders
- depression
- Post-ICU syndrome
- Sleep disorders
- insomnia
- Suicidal ideation
Factors Influencing Health Status (risk assessment- prevention- wellness)
--------------------------
- Factors Influencing Health Status (risk assessment- prevention- wellness)
- Advance care planning
- advance directive
- power of attorney
- Prevention and screening
- Primary
- tobacco cessation
- vaccines
- genetic screening
- colon screening
- Secondary
- cardiac rehabilitation
- pulmonary rehabilitation
- Co-morbid risk assessment
- procedural risk assessment
- Caregiver burden
- Palliative care
- symptom management
- Nutrition
- malnutrition
enteral
parenteral nutrition
- Mobility
- immobility
- debility
- falls
- Medical nonadherence
- Maltreatment
- abuse
- neglect
- self-harm
- Social determinants of health
- access to care
- socioeconomic factors
- health literacy
- Failure to thrive
Multisystem
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- Acid-base disorders
- Compartment syndrome
- Shock
- Distributive shock
- anaphylaxis
- neurogenic
- septic
- Hypovolemic shock
- Cardiogenic shock
- Sepsis
- Fever of unknown origin
- Infectious and communicable diseases
- Morbid obesity
- Multisystem trauma
- Pain Management
- Acute pain
- Chronic pain
- Substance use disorder
- Substance withdrawal
- Burns
- MODS
- Solid organ transplant
- Bone marrow transplant
- Stem cell transplant
- Toxic ingestions/inhalations
- Obstetric/gynecologic conditions
- Critical illness polyneuropathy
- Infiltrative disease
- sarcoidosis
- amyloidosis
- End of life (e.g.- transition to comfort care)
- Organ and tissue donation
- Advocacy/Moral Agency
- Caring Practices
- Response to Diversity
- Facilitation of Learning
- Collaboration
- Systems Thinking
- Clinical Inquiry