Virginia Code 54.1-2956.13: Licensure of surgical assistant; practice of surgical assisting; use of title.
A. No person shall engage in the practice of surgical assisting or use or assume the title “surgical assistant” 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.
Terms Used In Virginia Code 54.1-2956.13
- Board: means the Board of Medicine. See Virginia Code 54.1-2900
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Practice of surgical assisting: means the performance of significant surgical tasks, including manipulation of organs, suturing of tissue, placement of hemostatic agents, injection of local anesthetic, harvesting of veins, implementation of devices, and other duties as directed by a licensed doctor of medicine, osteopathy, or podiatry under the direct supervision of a licensed doctor of medicine, osteopathy, or podiatry. See Virginia Code 54.1-2900
- Surgical assistant: means an individual who has met the requirements of the Board for licensure as a surgical assistant and who works under the direct supervision of a licensed doctor of medicine, osteopathy, or podiatry. See Virginia Code 54.1-2900
- United States: includes the 50 states, the District of Columbia the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and the United States Virgin Islands. See Virginia Code 1-255
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’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 “surgical assistant, license applicant” 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 “surgical assistant, license applicant” on any identification issued by an employer and in conjunction with any signature in the course of his practice.
2014, c. 531; 2016, c. 99; 2018, c. 374; 2020, c. 1222; 2023, c. 792.