We ask that consideration be made to allow NCCT-Tech in Surg Certification exam to be an available option for Surgical Tech graduates.  Chester Career College graduates are equally trained and qualified to work as Surgical Technologist as evidenced by the many graduates who took the NCCT certification and are already employed in many local ORs.  There is no evidence in considering their employability to be different than any other techs certified by NBSTSA.  Our graduates are employed at several local and out of state hospitals working alongside other NBSTSA certified Surgical Technologists.  This law change had a major impact on graduates of the college in that they have been left to feel that their education was inferior to other colleges when in fact they have had the same level of training from qualified industry professionals who are also certified; some by NCCT and others by NBSTSA.  Both NCCT and NBSTSA are accredited by the same accrediting body (NCCA) and must meet the same requirements for their accreditation.  One organization should not have the monopoly of being the only available test if they are equally accredited.  Patients in receiving surgery do not ask nor are they made aware of an ST’s certification; however, we all agree that we want the best professionals in the ORs who are accountable, well trained, and qualified.  This law change could potentially have many negative affects upon our state and other states where graduates may choose to live in a time where we need these trained individuals the most.   We should not want to limit available employees to the hospitals at this time nor should we want to deny qualified trained graduates the opportunity to work in their chosen field.  Again, we ask that NCCT testing be an option for Certification for Surgical Tech graduates.