Re-Certification Information and Fee Structure

A Certified Surgical Assistant (CSA™) must re-certify every two years to maintain their credential.  Re-certification requires the following:   submission of 50 continuing education units every two years and payment of all appropriate fees. 

FOR NON-MEMBER CSAs – FEES and CEs must be submitted at least 60 days prior to re-certification date.          

For NSAA Member CSAs – Dues and fees must be paid on time and CEs can be submitted at any time, but all 50 CEs must be submitted at least 30 days prior to re-certification date. 

Fee Structure:

NON-MEMBER CSAs:

60 days prior to re-certification date with CE Submission:                            $700.00

                CE Processing Fee:          $600.00

                Re-certification Fee:      $100.00

60 days prior to re-certification – option to re-sit exam (no

                Submission of CE s)

                Examination Fee                              $500.00

                Examination Processing Fee       $400.00                                 $900.00

NSAA CSA Members:

See Membership Page for full benefits and fee structure.

CE Processing Fee:          $    0.00 (included as a member benefit with Membership Dues)

Re-certification Fee :     $100.00 (collected $50 annually with Membership Dues)

Certification Criteria and Qualifications

The Certified Surgical Assistant (CSA) designation is available to qualified applicants. Individuals wishing to apply Certification must qualify in one of the following categories:

Please note:  Once certification is obtained, you may apply for membership member of NSAA.

1.    Graduates from approved Surgical Assistant Training Programs (all NSAA approved SA Programs-see list below)

          Documentation required: 

1.    NSAA Certification Application

2.    Copy of certificate from training program.

2.    Medical Graduates and Allied Health Professionals

Medical Doctor/Doctor of Osteopathy/Foreign Medical Graduate:

Documentation required: 

1.    NSAA Certification Application

2.    One letter of recommendation from a Surgeon

3.    COPIES of documents of training as a surgeon or documentation of surgical rotation for at least 2250 hours of first assisting.

4.    For FMG ONLY– you must either provide a copy of your English Equivalency Exam, or request a waiver of that exam, with full knowledge that the Certification Examination is given in English.

RN/PA/CFA/SA-C:

Documentation required 

1.    NSAA Certification Application

2.    Both NSAA Affidavits (skills and experience) – signed and notarized

3.  Certificate/proof of formal surgical assistant training/education

4.    Three (3) letters of recommendation from surgeons you have assisted.

5.    One (1) year of case log showing the YOUR name as the assistant and the type of surgeries.

6.    Copy of Current Certification and/or License (must have held Certification or Licensure for the past 3 years and have a total of 2250 hours of first assistant experience within that timeframe)

3.    US Military Trained

Category 1 –

Discharged from military more than one (1) year:

            Documents required:

                        1.         NSAA Certification Application

                        2.         Copy of DD214 and/or Copy  of   

                                    Certificate of Training (showing an emphasis on  

                                    surgical assisting)

3.         Skills Affidavit (form found on this page)

4.         Case Log Book (showing at least 125 cases)

5.         One letter of recommendation from a surgeon you have assisted (letter must not be dated over one year from date of application submission)

      Category 2 –

Active to less than one (1) year discharged:

Documents required:

                        1.         NSAA Certification Application (form found on this 

                                    page)

2.         Documentation of Training with emphasis on surgical assisting (can be a certificate – which shows emphasis on surgical assisting; letter from a supervisor attesting to training with emphasis on surgical assisting)

3.         Skills Affidavit (form found on this page)

 Certification Fee Structure

NSAA Approved Surgical Assistant Programs