Certified First Assistant Education Requirements and Job Duties
A certified first assistant, also called a Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA), is a medical professional who assists surgeons during surgeries. Accredited education programs are available that satisfy the training and eligibility requirements to sit for the requisite certification exam.
CSFA Education Requirements
A common path to becoming a certified first assistant includes completing a training program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). These training programs commonly maintain prerequisite acceptance requirements that may include current certification as a Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) or Certified Nurse-Operating Room (CNOP), current CPR certification and completion of college-level coursework in such subjects as microbiology and physiology. Some applicants complete a bachelor's or advanced degree in nursing or a related subject before applying to a CSFA program.
Accredited programs are commonly 1-2 years in length and culminate in either a certificate or associates degree. Some schools offer a portion of their curriculum in online formats. Coursework may include surgical anatomy and perioperative bioscience. Programs also typically include completion of practical experience called a clinical preceptorship.
Certification Requirements
Becoming a CSFA requires passing the Certified Surgical First Assistant examination administered by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA). It's composed of 175 graded, multiple-choice questions, of which 112 must be answered correctly to pass. To be eligible to sit for this exam, the applicant must be a graduate from a CAAHEP-accredited training program. This requirement may be waived by satisfying specific work experience, continuing education and certification requirements.
Job Duties
Certified first assistants are trained to provide direct support to surgeons during surgical procedures. Their job duties include positioning and prepping patients prior to surgery, ensuring clear visibility for the surgeon by using instruments such as retractors and sponges, controlling bleeding, closing surgery sites using sutures or staples and properly dressing wounds. They also collaborate with doctors and other surgical team members to ensure proper post-operative care of patients.
Employment Outlook and Salary Information
The American Medical Association (AMA) reported in its 2010-2011 Health Care Careers Directory that positive employment growth is expected for surgical assistants due to projected increased demand for surgeries. The AMA reported that the average starting salary of surgical assistants was $55,000 and the overall average salary for this profession was $75,000 as of 2008.
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