AST is proud to announce that on June 29, 2023, Governor Lamont signed Public Act No. 23-195. AST started this legislative initiative, and AST’s strategy, determination, and persistence caused the surgical technology language to become law. This healthcare bill contains new legislation regarding surgical technologists. As of October 1, 2023, healthcare facilities cannot hire or retain surgical technologists unless they meet one of the requirements in the law. The main requirements are below, with additional exceptions in the law:

1) Education and Certification- Completed a nationally accredited surgical technology program and holds and maintains certification as a surgical technologist from a national certifying body that certifies surgical technologists recognized by the Department of Public Health; (CAAHEP and ABHES are the national programmatic accreditors for surgical technology.)

2) 18-month grace period from an accredited program

(A) Successfully completed an accredited surgical technologist program,

(B) has not, as of the date of hire, obtained certification as a surgical technologist from a national certifying body that certifies surgical technologists recognized by the Department of Public Health, and

(C) obtains such certification not later than 18 months after completion of such a program

3) Grandfathering - Performed surgical technology services as a surgical technologist in a health care facility on or before October 1, 2023, provided the health care facility employing or retaining such person as a surgical technologist under this subsection obtains proof of such person’s prior experience as a surgical technologist from such person and makes it available to the Department of Public Health upon request of the department;

4) Military Training - Completed a training program for surgical technology in the United States Army, Navy, or Air Force; or

5) Has been designated by the health care facility as being competent to perform surgical technology services based on specialized training or specific experience, including, but not limited to, as a phlebotomist, nuclear medical technologist, ultrasound technologist or central service technician, provided the health care facility retains a list of such designations deemed by such facility to be competent to perform such services.

Essentially, to work as a surgical technologist in Connecticut, one needs to meet one of these requirements as of October 1, 2023. The surgical technologist will need to be able to prove that they are

appropriately educated and certified, were working as a surgical technologist before October 1, 2023, obtained a degree within the last 18 months but have not become certified yet, received military training as a surgical technologist or that they can perform some of these duties in another profession.

Please share with your colleagues and make sure you can prove one of these five things by October 1, 2023.

For more information, please visit https://www.ast.org/Public_Policy/Map_of_State_Laws/ and click on Connecticut. If you have reviewed the FAQs and the law and still have questions, contact [email protected].