Surgical & sterile processing · timed practice test · free 25-question / 31-minute diagnostic · NBSTSA
Free NBSTSA CST Practice Test
Free 25-question diagnostic, then $5 for 5 full attempts · no signup
UniPrep2Go's free NBSTSA CST Practice Test is a 25-question, 31-minute timed diagnostic with a free topic report and answer review — no email, no account. The full mock is 60 questions / 75 minutes on the $5 UniPrep2Go Mock Pass (5 attempts on any mock).
The Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) exam from NBSTSA certifies surgical technologists who scrub, set up sterile fields, and assist in the OR. Many employers and some states recognize CST as the standard surgical tech credential.
Official-source aligned. Topic weights, timing, and pass rules follow published NBSTSA outlines. Questions are original UniPrep2Go study aids — not leaked official items. Verify on the official site ↗
Loading timed practice test…
- Questions
- 25 free · 60 full
- Time
- 31 min free · 75 min full
- UniPrep2Go readiness target
- 70%
- Domains
- 4
- Exam body
- NBSTSA
- Status
- Live · free 25-question / 31-minute diagnostic
Surgical & sterile processing · NBSTSA
NBSTSA CST Practice Test
Free 25-question diagnostic · 31 min · full 60Q on Mock Pass
Sample NBSTSA CST practice questions
These sample items mirror the domains in the timed NBSTSA CST mock. Correct answers and explanations unlock inside the practice session.
Sample 1
When using a pneumatic tourniquet, staff must:
- A. Inflate to the highest cuff pressure available and report time at closure
- B. Document tourniquet time and follow safe pressure/time limits
- C. Place the cuff over the bony joint nearest the incision site
- D. Deflate and reinflate the cuff every 10 minutes to restore flow
Sample 2
For the NBSTSA CST, which of the following best completes this item: Sterile technique principle: when in doubt,?
- A. Consider it contaminated
- B. Use it anyway if pressed for time
- C. Ask the patient to decide sterility
- D. Flame it with a lighter in OR
Sample 3
Trendelenburg position places the patient
- A. Head up, feet lowered
- B. Supine with legs in stirrups
- C. Seated upright at 45–90°
- D. Head down, feet elevated
Sample 4
During thyroid surgery, which nerve is at risk near the inferior thyroid artery territory?
- A. Spinal accessory nerve
- B. Recurrent laryngeal nerve
- C. Hypoglossal nerve
- D. External branch of the superior laryngeal nerve
Sample 5
If a CST's glove is punctured during surgery, they should
- A. Pull a new glove over the punctured one and continue the case
- B. Step away from the field and re-glove using sterile technique
- C. Finish the current step, then re-glove at the next count
- D. Rinse the glove with sterile saline and continue if no blood is seen
What is the NBSTSA CST exam?
The Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) exam from NBSTSA certifies surgical technologists who scrub, set up sterile fields, and assist in the OR. Many employers and some states recognize CST as the standard surgical tech credential.
Administered by: National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) (official site ↗)
Who this exam is for
Candidates preparing for NBSTSA CST who want a timed diagnostic with topic-level feedback.
How to prepare
Start with this free timed diagnostic to see which NBSTSA CST domains are weak, then review the published NBSTSA outline on the official site and drill missed topics with the linked Anki deck before exam day.
Confirm current fees, eligibility, and scheduling with NBSTSA before you book the real exam.
Topic outline
Core domains candidates usually study for NBSTSA CST: Perioperative care, Asepsis & sterile technique, Surgical anatomy & procedures, Equipment, counts & safety.
Perioperative care
Asepsis & sterile technique
Surgical anatomy & procedures
Equipment, counts & safety
About this free NBSTSA CST Practice Test
60-question CST surgical technologist readiness check (free 25-question version) with domain scoring. Use this timed practice test as a baseline before exam day or before drilling the linked Anki deck — start with the free 25-question / 31-minute diagnostic.
Built for: Candidates preparing for NBSTSA CST who want a timed diagnostic with topic-level feedback.
Topics on this practice test: Perioperative care, Asepsis & sterile technique, Surgical anatomy & procedures, Equipment, counts & safety.
- 60 timed multiple-choice questions
- 75-minute pacing target
- UniPrep2Go readiness target: 70% with topic breakdown
- Full answer review after you submit
Your first UniPrep2Go attempt is free: a 25-question timed diagnostic on any exam (Exam or Learn mode, no signup) with the full topic report. Full-length mocks and retakes run on a $5 UniPrep2Go Mock Pass (Gumroad license key): 5 attempts on any mock. After your score, join the linked Anki deck waitlist for the .apkg when it ships.
Join the NBSTSA CST Anki waitlistNBSTSA CST Practice Test — quick answers
What is the CST exam?
CST is NBSTSA’s certification exam for surgical technologists working in the operating room.
Is there a free NBSTSA CST Practice Test?
Yes — your first UniPrep2Go attempt is free, and it can be this one: a 25-question / 31-minute timed diagnostic drawn by the same topic weights, a 70% readiness target, topic scoring, and a full answer review report. No signup, Exam or Learn mode. The full 60-question / 75-minute mock runs on the $5 UniPrep2Go Mock Pass (5 attempts on any mock).
How many free attempts do I get on this NBSTSA CST Practice Test?
One. Your first UniPrep2Go attempt is free: a 25-question timed diagnostic on any exam (Exam or Learn mode, no signup) with the full topic report. Full-length mocks and retakes run on a $5 UniPrep2Go Mock Pass (Gumroad license key): 5 attempts on any mock. Every attempt ends with the full topic report and answer review — the report itself is never paywalled.
How many questions are on this free NBSTSA CST Practice Test?
This UniPrep2Go practice test has 60 multiple-choice questions timed against a 75-minute target. The free first attempt is a 25-question / 31-minute diagnostic with the same topic weights; the full session runs on Mock Pass. Readiness check mapped to NBSTSA CST knowledge themes. Not an NBSTSA exam.
Why is the free NBSTSA CST Practice Test 25 questions?
It is a diagnostic: 25 questions drawn by the same topic weights as the full 60-question mock — enough to rank your weakest topics, short enough to finish in 31 minutes in one sitting. With 1–6 questions per topic it is a quick read, not a verdict; for a full-length timed score, run the 60-question / 75-minute mock.
What do I get for $5?
The UniPrep2Go Mock Pass: 5 full timed attempts on any UniPrep2Go mock, including the 60-question NBSTSA CST session, in Exam or Learn mode. It is a one-time Gumroad license key that works on any device — no subscription. Every attempt ends with the full topic report and answer review.
More FAQAdditional format, scoring, and disclaimer questions
- What score do you need on this NBSTSA CST Practice Test?
- The pass target on this practice test is 70%. Your report also breaks down performance by topic so you can see weak areas before the real exam.
- Who should take this NBSTSA CST Practice Test?
- Candidates preparing for NBSTSA CST who want a timed diagnostic with topic-level feedback.
- Where can I take a NBSTSA CST Practice Test online?
- UniPrep2Go hosts the Free NBSTSA CST Practice Test at https://uniprep2go.study/mock-exams/nbstsa-cst-readiness-check with a timed runner and full readiness report.
- Is this official exam material?
- No. This is an independent readiness diagnostic from UniPrep2Go. It is not official exam-board material and does not award certification or guarantee a passing score.
- What does the report show after the mock?
- Your report shows a pass/no-pass verdict with explanation, topic diagnosis, pacing notes, full question review with explanations, and a repair plan that links to the Anki deck waitlist for spaced-repetition practice when the .apkg ships.
- Where do the questions come from?
- Original UniPrep2Go local bank for CST topics.