CERTIFICATION
Certification Criteria and Qualifications
The Certified Surgical Assistant (CSA) designation is available to qualified applicants. Individuals wishing to apply for Certification must qualify in one of the following categories:
Please note: Once certification is obtained, you may apply for membership member of NSAA.
A. Graduates from an NSAA approved Surgical Assistant Training Programs
Documentation required:
1) NSAA Certification Application
2) Copy of certificate from training program.
B. Medical Graduates and Allied Health Professionals
Category 1 – Medical Doctor/Doctor of Osteopathy/Foreign Medical Graduate:
Documentation required:
1) NSAA Certification Application
2) One letter of recommendation from a Surgeon
3) Copy of documents of training as a surgeon or documentation of at least 2250 hours of first assisting in a surgical rotation.
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.
Category 2 – RN/PA/CSFA/SA-C:
Documentation required:
1) NSAA Certification Application
2) NSAA Affidavits (skills and experience) – signed and notarized
3) Certificate/proof of formal surgical assistant training program/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 you hold (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)
C. US Military Trained
Category 1 – Discharged from military more than one (1) year:
Documents required:
1) NSAA Certification Application
2) Copy of DD214
3) Copy of Certificate of Training (showing an emphasis on surgical assisting)
4) Skills Affidavit (form found on this page)
5) Case Log Book (showing at least 125 cases)
6) 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)
Fee Structure:
Re-certification for Non-NSAA Member CSA’s:
60 days prior to re-certification date with CE Submission:
a. CE Processing Fee: $600.00
b. Re-certification Fee: $100.00$700.00 Total
60 days prior to re-certification – option to re-sit exam (no submission of CUE’s required):
a. Examination Fee $500.00
b. Examination Processing Fee $400.00$900.00 Total
Re-certification for NSAA Member CSA’s:
a. CEU Processing Fee: $100 (included as a member benefit with Membership Dues)
b. Re-certification Fee : $100.00 (included as a member benefit with Membership Dues)
Certification Application Fee:
1) MD/DO; PA-C; NP; RN; CSFA; OPA-C; SA-C; Departed Military $100.00 (non-refundable)
2) Graduate from NSAA-approved SA Educational Program $100.00 (non-refundable)
a. Note: New Graduate (graduated within last 12 months) $25.00 (non-refundable)
3) Active Military $25.00 (non-refundable)
Examination Fee:
1) MD/DO; PA-C; NP; RN; CSFA; OPA-C; SA-C; Departed Military $300.00 ($50 non-refundable processing fee applies, if you cancel)
2) Graduate from NSAA-approved SA Educational Program $300.00 ($50 non-refundable processing fee applies, if you cancel)
a. New Graduate (graduated within last 12 months) $150.00 ($50 non-refundable processing fee applies, if you cancel)
3) Active Military $150.00 ($50 non-refundable processing fee applies, if you cancel)
Please note that the application fee must accompany Certification Application. Applications will not be processed without proper payment. Examination fee must be paid 15 days prior to sitting for the examination.
You must sit for the examination within one year of the date your application is approved. If you do not sit for the examination within that time, you must reapply for Certification.
Re-Certification Information
A Certified Surgical Assistant (CSA™) must re-certify every two years to maintain their credential. Re-certification requires the following:
1) Submission of 50 continuing education units every two years
2) On time payment of all appropriate dues and fees.
Non-NSAA Member CSA’s – Fees and CEU’s must be submitted at least 60 days prior to re-certification date to ensure validation.
NSAA Member CSAs – Dues and fees must be paid on time and CEU’s may be submitted at any time, however all 50 CEU’s must be submitted at least 30 days prior to re-certification date.