Free CST Practice Test 2026
200 questions weighted to the NBSTSA content outline. Tuned for mobile. No account needed.
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The CST exam at a glance
The NBSTSA CST exam has 175 multiple-choice questions, 150 scored, in 4 hours. You need 102 of the 150 scored items correct to pass, about 68%. Perioperative care is 105 of the 150 scored items, with intraoperative care the largest part.
Tigertest has 200 CST practice questions with explanations, all free with no account required.
- Questions
- 175 (150 scored)
- Time
- 4 hours
- Passing score
- 102 of 150 scored (about 68%)
- Given by
- NBSTSA
Updated by the Tigertest team. Practice questions follow the NBSTSA CST content outline. Exam rules change, so confirm current details with NBSTSA.
How It Works
Train, Then Test
Four training sets, one per practice test: Set 1 holds exactly the 50 questions of Test 1, and so on. Master Set 1, take Test 1, then move on. Questions you miss come back until you have mastered them.
Practice Tests
Four 50-question tests that mirror the real exam's weighting. Intraoperative procedures are almost half of every test, just like the real CST.
Built on the Official NBSTSA Content Outline
The NBSTSA publishes how many of the 150 scored items come from each domain (2023 job analysis). Every practice test here follows that weighting.
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Have an idea, a topic you'd like covered, or a question that could be clearer? We read every message and use it to improve every test.
Share FeedbackHow to Pass the CST Exam
1. Know the exam format
175 multiple-choice questions in 4 hours: 150 scored plus 25 unscored pretest items. You need 102 of the 150 scored items correct, roughly 68 percent.
2. Weight your study like the exam
Intraoperative procedures are 68 of the 150 scored items, so every practice test gives them the most questions. Preoperative preparation and anatomy and physiology are next at 19 and 18.
3. Study from the NBSTSA reference list
The core texts are the AST Surgical Technology for the Surgical Technologist and Frey's Surgical Technology: Principles and Practice. Pair them with the NBSTSA CST Study Guide.
4. Drill your weak areas
Tigertest tracks your accuracy by content area. After each practice test, drill the questions you missed, retrain that test's set, and retake until you clear 70 percent.
CST Exam Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are on the CST exam?
The NBSTSA CST exam has 175 multiple-choice questions in 4 hours. 150 are scored and 25 are unscored pretest items. You need 102 of the 150 scored items correct to pass, about 68 percent.
What topics does the CST exam cover?
Per the NBSTSA content outline: Perioperative Care (105 scored items: preoperative 19, intraoperative 68, postoperative 10), Ancillary Duties (23: administrative and personnel 7, equipment sterilization and maintenance 16), and Basic Science (30: anatomy and physiology 18, microbiology 6, surgical pharmacology 6).
Does this work for the TS-C exam too?
Largely, yes. The NCCT Tech in Surgery - Certified (TS-C) exam covers the same perioperative, sterilization, and basic science material, so this bank is useful preparation, though its exact weighting differs.
Is the Tigertest CST practice test free?
Yes. All four practice tests and all four training sets are free, with no account required. Create a free account if you want your progress saved across devices.
I teach a surgical technology program. Can my students use Tigertest?
Yes, for free. Make a class at tigertest.io/teach, post one link, and students join with just their name. You see who practiced, their test scores and the topics your class misses most.
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