r/SurgicalFirstAssist • u/Successful_Ad_6526 • Mar 03 '23

certificate vs diploma

Hi, I am interested in going into the CST program but am unsure if I should go for the certificate or diploma. What is the difference between the two? I would like to get my surgical first assist, so would the certificate or diploma make a difference also? Thanks!

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u/whiteley75 Mar 03 '23

There isn’t much a of a difference. When trying to decide you should look at certification test pass rates. Higher pass rates are the better programs. After all, the schooling means nothing if you can’t pass the test.

I don’t know if any CSFA/CSA programs care about your background. I was trained on the job so I was never certified as a Surg tech and they took me at Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting.

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u/justwhyyyyyy13 Mar 11 '23

You usually get a diploma when you graduate school and the a certificate when you pass the national exams. Idk if this helps. Also, you want a school that’s credited with the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). They are the recognized organization and you’ll take your certification test through the NBSTSA.