I ask that consideration be made to allow NCCT-Tech in Surgery Certification exam to be
an available option for Surgical Technology graduates. As a retired educator from Chester Career College, I have seen so many graduates become successful Surgical Technologists. 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 have been employed in many local Hospital ORs and Surgery Centers. There is no evidence in considering their employability to be different than any other technicians certified by NBSTSA. Our graduates are employed at several local and out of state
Hospitals and Surgery Centers 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, I all agree that I 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, I ask
that NCCT testing be an option for Certification for Surgical Tech graduates.