                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

LICENSURE OF SURGICAL ASSISTANT; PRACTICE OF SURGICAL ASSISTING; USE OF TITLE
(§ 54.1-2956.13)

A. No person shall engage in the practice of surgical assisting or use or assume
the title &#8220;surgical assistant&#8221; unless such person holds a license as
a surgical assistant issued by the Board. Nothing in this section shall be
construed as prohibiting any professional licensed, certified, or registered by
a health regulatory board from acting within the scope of his practice.

B. The Board shall establish criteria for licensure as a surgical assistant,
which shall include evidence that the applicant:

   1. Holds a current credential as a surgical assistant or surgical first
   assistant issued by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical
   Assisting, or the National Commission for Certification of Surgical Assistants
   or their successors;

   2. Has successfully completed a surgical assistant training program during the
   person&#8217;s service as a member of any branch of the armed forces of the
   United States; or

   3. Has practiced as a surgical assistant in the Commonwealth at any time in
   the six months immediately prior to July 1, 2020.

C. For renewal of a license, a surgical assistant who was licensed based on a
credential as a surgical assistant or surgical first assistant issued by the
National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting, or the National
Commission for the Certification of Surgical Assistants or their successors
shall attest that the credential is current at the time of renewal.

D. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A, a person who has graduated
from a surgical assistant training program and is required to take a national
certification examination given by any entity listed in subdivision B 1 may
practice with the title &#8220;surgical assistant, license applicant&#8221;
until he has received a failing score on the national certification examination
or six months from the date of graduation, whichever occurs sooner. Any person
practicing pursuant to this subsection shall be identified with the title
&#8220;surgical assistant, license applicant&#8221; on any identification issued
by an employer and in conjunction with any signature in the course of his
practice.

HISTORY: 2014, c. 531; 2016, c. 99; 2018, c. 374; 2020, c. 1222; 2023, c. 792.