NCCT SURGICAL TECH CERTIFICATION EXAM
COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE
2026/2027 EDITION
This is an independent practice exam for educational study; it is not an official Elsevier HESI exit examination or NCLEX.
Section Overview
This comprehensive critical thinking practice exam contains 150 questions across seven sections, aligned with the
SHRM Body of Competency and Knowledge (BoCK), current HR best practices, employment laws, and
evidence-based human resource management standards for 2026/2027.
Sec Topic Qs
1 Preoperative Preparation - Suite Setup, Equipment, Patient Prep 25
2 Intraoperative Procedures - Sterile Technique, Instrumentation, Assisting 30
3 Aseptic Technique & Infection Control - Scrub, Gown, Glove, Sterile Field 20
4 Surgical Pharmacology & Anesthesia - Medications, Safety, Monitoring 15
5 Surgical Equipment & Instrumentation - Identification, Handling, Maintenance 15
6 Postoperative Care - Wound Closure, Dressings, Transfer 10
7 Emergency Procedures & Complications - Hemorrhage, Shock, Crisis 10
8 Anatomy, Physiology, & Surgical Pathology 15
9 Integrated Case Studies - Complex Surgical Scenarios 10
TOTAL 150
Instructions
For each question, select the single best answer. Use the answer key at the end of the exam to check your work. Each
item includes a brief rationale explaining the correct response.
Answer Key Distribution: 38 A · 38 B · 37 C · 37 D
, Section 1: Preoperative Preparation - Surgical Suite Setup, Equipment, and Patient
Preparation
Q1: Which is the first step in preparing the operating room for a procedure?
A. Scrubbing in
B. Positioning the patient
C. Gathering and setting up the required equipment and supplies [CORRECT]
D. Administering anesthesia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The OR is prepared by gathering/setting up equipment before the patient enters. The other options come later.
Q2: The surgical suite's temperature is typically maintained at:
A. Very warm temperatures
B. Room temperature always
C. No set temperature
D. Cooler temperatures (about 68-73°F) to reduce infection risk [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: ORs are kept cool to reduce infection risk. The other options are incorrect.
Q3: Which is a responsibility of the surgical technologist during preoperative setup?
A. Administering anesthesia
B. Diagnosing the patient
C. Ensuring the correct instruments and supplies are available [CORRECT]
D. Performing the surgery
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The surgical technologist prepares instruments/supplies. The other options are not their role.
Q4: Patient positioning is important to:
A. Make the patient comfortable only
B. Only for imaging
C. Provide surgical access and prevent injury [CORRECT]
D. Reduce the surgeon's work
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Positioning provides surgical access and prevents injury (e.g., pressure, nerve damage). The other options are
incomplete.
Q5: Which is a common surgical position for abdominal surgery?
A. Prone
B. Lithotomy
C. Supine [CORRECT]
D. Lateral
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Supine is common for abdominal surgery. Prone is for back, lithotomy for pelvic, lateral for kidney/thorax.
Q6: The lithotomy position is used for:
A. Back surgery
B. Cranial surgery
C. Pelvic and perineal surgery [CORRECT]
D. Lung surgery
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Lithotomy is used for pelvic/perineal procedures. The other options use different positions.
Q7: Skin preparation before surgery is performed to:
A. Warm the skin
B. Reduce the risk of surgical site infection [CORRECT]
NCCT Surgical Tech Certification Exam - 2026/2027 Page 2
, C. Only for comfort
D. Remove hair always
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Skin prep reduces infection risk. The other options are incorrect.
Q8: Which is appropriate when preparing the surgical site?
A. Cleaning from the incision site outward [CORRECT]
B. Cleaning from the outside inward
C. Skipping the prep
D. Using unsterile supplies
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The skin is prepped from the incision outward to avoid contaminating the site. The other options are incorrect.
Q9: Surgical draping is used to:
A. Warm the patient
B. Only cover the patient
C. Establish and maintain a sterile field [CORRECT]
D. Reduce bleeding
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Draping establishes and maintains the sterile field. The other options are incorrect.
Q10: Which type of draping is applied first?
A. The outer drape
B. The ground drape
C. The primary (incision) drape [CORRECT]
D. Any drape
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The primary drape is applied around the incision area first. The other options are incorrect.
Q11: The surgical light is positioned to:
A. Blind the team
B. Warm the OR
C. Illuminate the surgical field without shadowing [CORRECT]
D. Only for aesthetics
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Surgical lights illuminate the field without shadowing. The other options are incorrect.
Q12: Which equipment is used to provide suction during surgery?
A. A pulse oximeter
B. An EKG monitor
C. A warm blanket
D. A suction unit (e.g., Yankauer tip) [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: A suction unit provides suction. The other options are monitoring/comfort equipment.
Q13: The electrosurgical unit (ESU/cautery) is used to:
A. Cut and coagulate tissue [CORRECT]
B. Measure blood pressure
C. Provide anesthesia
D. Suction fluid
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The ESU cuts and coagulates tissue. The other options are incorrect.
Q14: Before the patient enters the OR, the surgical team should:
A. Verify the correct patient, procedure, and site (time-out) [CORRECT]
B. Skip verification
NCCT Surgical Tech Certification Exam - 2026/2027 Page 3
COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE
2026/2027 EDITION
This is an independent practice exam for educational study; it is not an official Elsevier HESI exit examination or NCLEX.
Section Overview
This comprehensive critical thinking practice exam contains 150 questions across seven sections, aligned with the
SHRM Body of Competency and Knowledge (BoCK), current HR best practices, employment laws, and
evidence-based human resource management standards for 2026/2027.
Sec Topic Qs
1 Preoperative Preparation - Suite Setup, Equipment, Patient Prep 25
2 Intraoperative Procedures - Sterile Technique, Instrumentation, Assisting 30
3 Aseptic Technique & Infection Control - Scrub, Gown, Glove, Sterile Field 20
4 Surgical Pharmacology & Anesthesia - Medications, Safety, Monitoring 15
5 Surgical Equipment & Instrumentation - Identification, Handling, Maintenance 15
6 Postoperative Care - Wound Closure, Dressings, Transfer 10
7 Emergency Procedures & Complications - Hemorrhage, Shock, Crisis 10
8 Anatomy, Physiology, & Surgical Pathology 15
9 Integrated Case Studies - Complex Surgical Scenarios 10
TOTAL 150
Instructions
For each question, select the single best answer. Use the answer key at the end of the exam to check your work. Each
item includes a brief rationale explaining the correct response.
Answer Key Distribution: 38 A · 38 B · 37 C · 37 D
, Section 1: Preoperative Preparation - Surgical Suite Setup, Equipment, and Patient
Preparation
Q1: Which is the first step in preparing the operating room for a procedure?
A. Scrubbing in
B. Positioning the patient
C. Gathering and setting up the required equipment and supplies [CORRECT]
D. Administering anesthesia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The OR is prepared by gathering/setting up equipment before the patient enters. The other options come later.
Q2: The surgical suite's temperature is typically maintained at:
A. Very warm temperatures
B. Room temperature always
C. No set temperature
D. Cooler temperatures (about 68-73°F) to reduce infection risk [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: ORs are kept cool to reduce infection risk. The other options are incorrect.
Q3: Which is a responsibility of the surgical technologist during preoperative setup?
A. Administering anesthesia
B. Diagnosing the patient
C. Ensuring the correct instruments and supplies are available [CORRECT]
D. Performing the surgery
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The surgical technologist prepares instruments/supplies. The other options are not their role.
Q4: Patient positioning is important to:
A. Make the patient comfortable only
B. Only for imaging
C. Provide surgical access and prevent injury [CORRECT]
D. Reduce the surgeon's work
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Positioning provides surgical access and prevents injury (e.g., pressure, nerve damage). The other options are
incomplete.
Q5: Which is a common surgical position for abdominal surgery?
A. Prone
B. Lithotomy
C. Supine [CORRECT]
D. Lateral
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Supine is common for abdominal surgery. Prone is for back, lithotomy for pelvic, lateral for kidney/thorax.
Q6: The lithotomy position is used for:
A. Back surgery
B. Cranial surgery
C. Pelvic and perineal surgery [CORRECT]
D. Lung surgery
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Lithotomy is used for pelvic/perineal procedures. The other options use different positions.
Q7: Skin preparation before surgery is performed to:
A. Warm the skin
B. Reduce the risk of surgical site infection [CORRECT]
NCCT Surgical Tech Certification Exam - 2026/2027 Page 2
, C. Only for comfort
D. Remove hair always
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Skin prep reduces infection risk. The other options are incorrect.
Q8: Which is appropriate when preparing the surgical site?
A. Cleaning from the incision site outward [CORRECT]
B. Cleaning from the outside inward
C. Skipping the prep
D. Using unsterile supplies
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The skin is prepped from the incision outward to avoid contaminating the site. The other options are incorrect.
Q9: Surgical draping is used to:
A. Warm the patient
B. Only cover the patient
C. Establish and maintain a sterile field [CORRECT]
D. Reduce bleeding
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Draping establishes and maintains the sterile field. The other options are incorrect.
Q10: Which type of draping is applied first?
A. The outer drape
B. The ground drape
C. The primary (incision) drape [CORRECT]
D. Any drape
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The primary drape is applied around the incision area first. The other options are incorrect.
Q11: The surgical light is positioned to:
A. Blind the team
B. Warm the OR
C. Illuminate the surgical field without shadowing [CORRECT]
D. Only for aesthetics
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Surgical lights illuminate the field without shadowing. The other options are incorrect.
Q12: Which equipment is used to provide suction during surgery?
A. A pulse oximeter
B. An EKG monitor
C. A warm blanket
D. A suction unit (e.g., Yankauer tip) [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: A suction unit provides suction. The other options are monitoring/comfort equipment.
Q13: The electrosurgical unit (ESU/cautery) is used to:
A. Cut and coagulate tissue [CORRECT]
B. Measure blood pressure
C. Provide anesthesia
D. Suction fluid
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The ESU cuts and coagulates tissue. The other options are incorrect.
Q14: Before the patient enters the OR, the surgical team should:
A. Verify the correct patient, procedure, and site (time-out) [CORRECT]
B. Skip verification
NCCT Surgical Tech Certification Exam - 2026/2027 Page 3
