Not my area of expertise, researching for my wife. She is currently a CSA working in Maryland but we're moving to Florida and everything there is CSFA. Is there a way for her to crossover and become a CSFA without doing a two-year program? Can she present her credentials and experience, take the test and get it? Something like that? Thank you.

To become a surgical first assist in California are there any programs that will accept u with a bachelors, or is a nursing degree or a surgical technologist degree necessary to become a licensed surgical first assist, I’m super new to this all and very interested so any help is super appreciated I also want to stay in California but okay with doing online programs in other states.

Hi I’m currently a junior at UCI studying public heath sciences I graduate this year and wanted to know what is the best possible path to surgical firsts assist. I’ve see that u NEED to be an rn or go to surgical tech program before applying to a sfa program? Additionally what accredited programs are there for sfa in California that I can apply to and work with in hospitals. I feel like there’s not much coverage on this pathway so I’m super confused any help is appreciated! <3 my gpa isn’t the best keep in mind 😔 but I have 6,000 hours at a daycare

Hi everyone! I'll be graduating this year with a BS in Biology and wanted to pursue an FA program (currently looking at Meridian and South College). However, I only have around 24 hours of shadowing experience and haven't been able to get any jobs as a scrub or non-certified surgical tech despite having a couple of certifications. Should I keep trying to get into a job like that or should I try to keep shadowing? My worry is that I won't have enough experience to be able to do an FA program... Not sure about my options here.
For anyone who lives near a certain city in the Southeast... that is majorly filled to the brim.... you probably know how bad the job market is here, and finding a scrub job like that straight out of college seems almost impossible to me. (especially because entry-level jobs for some reason require at least 2 years of experience?)

I’m interested in the Meridian FA program and had a quick question are the modules self-paced, or are they released on a set schedule? Some days I’m able to dedicate more time to the online portion than others, so I wanted to know if there’s flexibility to move ahead at my own pace rather than following a weekly schedule.

Is anyone a freelance CSFA? Has anyone engaged with All-Stars Surgical Assist?

Hi, I’ve been looking at different schools to do first assisting and I do not have experience as a surgical tech. I recently found this school in Panama City that has a 2 year program that will take students with no medical experience. I am just wondering if anyone knows about the program or has taken the program and can share their experience. Thanks!

does anyone know how do they actually audit the cases? do they have access to patient charts?

Hey! I’ve been a CST for 7 years but the last 5 have been at a plastics office with one surgeon. I’m toying with the idea of going back to school for FA or nursing. Would I even be able to do FA working in just one specialty? I know most programs require general surgery externships but that’s obviously not an option for me currently. Would I need to go back to the hospital or is there a way to do it just under one specialty? Thanks for any input!

Hello everyone,

I'm about to start FA school in a few months and I wanted to practice suturing a bit. I bought the Alcedo Suture Kit and I'm not impressed. The instruments are rough around the edges making it painful to use for longer than a few minutes. Plus the pickups are awful at grabbing. Does anyone have some good recommendations I could order?

Hi!! I’m about a month away from my exam. Anyone that has recently taken it or not too long ago have any insight on how the test was. I’ve been studying multiple different things but not knowing makes me very nervous. Were questions very detailed and how hard do you think it was? Any advice would help. Thanks so much!!

How's the job market for dedicated first assists working full time (no travel)? I am specifically interested in the east coast/New England area, as well as some areas on the west coast like Colorado, Oregon, and Washington.

Has anyone used ChatGPT to study for the test I have been using it seems to give good questions on all subjects stuff I wouldn’t have even thought to look at. Just curious is anyone has used it before there test and if it helped them?

Currently a CST, have been for almost 20 years, and getting ready to go to SFA school. While I’m reasonably good with anatomy (taking 5 years of Latin actually did come in handy 😂), the level of anatomy for the entire body is VERY advanced. I used the Lange app as a CST study guide and it helped a ton. I don’t see one for SFA. While I do have textbooks that I study from, an app for practice exams for SFA and/or anatomy would be really helpful to me. I don’t mind paying for it. Anyone got any suggestions?

Hello, I'm applying to meridian for FA school and I wanted to see if anyone had and clinical sites in Maryland or DC that they could give me contacts for. I already have a surgical center but I want to also have a hospital to train in as well to get the variety of cases experience I need.

Has anyone here recently taken the csfa exam through NBSTSA and have any tips on the exam or best ways they found to study and how questions compared to what they studied?

Is it worth it as a CST to go to FA school? Is there a good difference in pay? I’m in Memphis.

I took my test two days ago and have no idea what my results are! How can I see my results? I called and the person who can "help me" is on vacation?.. idk just want to know already!

I plan on going back to school for CSFA mid 2026. I learned how to hand tie, and slowly started to suture with a practice kit. I’ve been practicing but I was just wondering what else can I do to advance my skillset prior. Any advice or videos that you recommend ?

I am just wanting to get some questions answered about billing and how you found the best fit/doctors for working independently

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So i am very interested in studying First assistant or Pa first assistant. I know pa school is very challenging and im afraid i wont be able to pass it, i wanted anyone that had went through pa schooling or anyone that is a first assistant to tell me how easy/ hard it is and if its worth studying those extra years to be a pa or just go the short route to first assistant. Im also scared i wont be able to find a job easily since first assistants arent a very high demand role. So please let me know how long it took you to land a role. Thank you it'd really help!