I recommend this regulation be amended to include both national certifications for Surgical Technologist and not just certification through NBSTSA.  I agree that national certification should be a requirement to register and practice as a Surgical Technologist; however, I do not support limiting certification recognition to only one of the two national certifying bodies.  

I have been in healthcare for over twenty five years and spent twenty three of those as a Certified Surgical Technologist.  I have practiced in multiple states and disciplines of healthcare.  I have been witness to a lot of changes throughout the years, but today's healthcare staffing shortage is at an all time low.  During this national clinical staffing crisis regulations should support our healthcare systems and not contributing to the shortage by unnecessarily limiting skilled and credentialed resources from employment opportunities.    

Without amending this regulation to support both national certifying exams for Surgical Technologist, the state of Virginia is limiting job opportunities and recruitment ability therefore negatively affecting the healthcare system in the Commonwealth of Virginia.