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2023 SESSION
23107068DBe it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§ 54.1-2956.12 and 54.1-2956.13 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 54.1-2956.12. Certified surgical technologist; use of title; certification.
A. No person shall hold himself out to be a surgical
technologist or use or assume the title of "surgical technologist" or
"certified surgical technologist," or use the designation
"S.T." or any variation thereof, unless such person is certified by
the Board. No person shall use the designation "C.S.T." or any
variation thereof unless such person (i) is certified by the Board and (ii) has
successfully completed an accredited surgical technologist training program and
holds a current credential as a certified surgical technologist from the
National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting or its successor
an entity approved by the Board.
B. The Board shall certify as a surgical technologist any
applicant who presents satisfactory evidence that he (i) has successfully
completed an accredited surgical technologist training program and holds a
current credential as a certified surgical technologist from the National
Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting or its successor an
entity approved by the Board, (ii) has successfully completed a training
program for surgical technology during the person's service as a member of any
branch of the armed forces of the United States, or (iii) has practiced as a
surgical technologist or attended a surgical technologist training program at
any time prior to October 1, 2022, provided that he registers with the
Board by December 31, 2022 December 31, 2023.
C. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A, a person who has successfully completed an accredited surgical technologist training program may practice with the title "surgical technologist, certificate applicant" until he has received a failing score on any examination for national certification by an entity approved by the Board or six months from the date of program completion, whichever occurs sooner. Any person practicing pursuant to this subsection shall be identified with the title "surgical technologist, certificate applicant" on any identification issued by an employer and in conjunction with any signature in the course of his practice.
§ 54.1-2956.13. Licensure of surgical assistant; practice of surgical assisting; use of title.
A. No person shall engage in the practice of surgical assisting or use or assume the title "surgical assistant" unless such person holds a license as a surgical assistant issued by the Board. Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting any professional licensed, certified, or registered by a health regulatory board from acting within the scope of his practice.
B. The Board shall establish criteria for licensure as a surgical assistant, which shall include evidence that the applicant:
1. Holds a current credential as a surgical assistant or
surgical first assistant issued by the National Board of Surgical Technology
and Surgical Assisting, or the National Commission for Certification of
Surgical Assistants, or their successors;
2. Has successfully completed a surgical assistant training program during the person's service as a member of any branch of the armed forces of the United States; or
3. Has practiced as a surgical assistant in the Commonwealth at any time in the six months immediately prior to July 1, 2020.
C. For renewal of a license, a surgical assistant who was licensed based on a credential as a surgical assistant or surgical first assistant issued by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting, or the National Commission for the Certification of Surgical Assistants or their successors shall attest that the credential is current at the time of renewal.
D. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A, a person who has graduated from a surgical assistant training program as required to take a national certification examination given by the any entity listed in subdivision B 1 may practice with the title "surgical assistant, license applicant" until he has received a failing score on the national certification examination or six months from the date of graduation, whichever occurs sooner. Any person practicing pursuant to this subsection shall be identified with the title "surgical assistant, license applicant" on any identification issued by an employer and in conjunction with any signature in the course of his practice.
2. That the Board of Medicine shall communicate to stakeholders, including hospitals and related practitioner organizations, the availability of the certification grandfathering process for surgical technologists that have practiced as a surgical technologist or attended a surgical technologist training program at any time prior to October 1, 2022.
3. That an emergency exists and this act is in force from its passage.