CST Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the CST exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📋 CST Exam Format at a Glance
📚 CST Topics to Study (69)
✍️ Sample CST Questions & Answers
1. Which statement best describes the surgical technologist's ethical obligation regarding a patient who is under general anesthesia?
Because an anesthetized patient cannot self-advocate, every team member—including the scrub tech—has an increased ethical responsibility to act in the patient's best interest.
2. When assembling a tray for a procedure requiring magnification, the scrub technician should include which type of instruments?
Microsurgery requires delicate micro-instruments with fine tips capable of handling tiny structures without crushing or tearing.
3. A keloid scar differs from a hypertrophic scar in that a keloid:
Keloids are abnormal scar formations that extend beyond the original wound margins into adjacent normal tissue, unlike hypertrophic scars which stay within wound boundaries.
4. Proper instrument passing technique during surgery is important for efficiency because:
Confident, anticipatory instrument passing keeps the operative tempo high and minimizes the surgeon's distraction between maneuvers.
5. When a surgical technologist is asked to perform a task outside their training, the correct response is to:
A CST must refuse tasks outside their scope of practice to protect patient safety and maintain professional standards.
6. The term 'block scheduling' in OR management refers to:
Block scheduling allocates reserved OR time to specific surgeons or specialties, improving case volume predictability and resource planning.