ABSA Surgical Assistant Certification
Exam Questions With Answers| Latest|
Guaranteed Pass
1. What is the primary role of a surgical assistant?
A. Independently diagnose surgical patients
B. Assist the surgeon safely and efficiently during surgery
C. Independently perform surgical procedures
D. Prescribe postoperative medications
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The surgical assistant supports the surgeon during operative procedures. ABSA
specifically states that SA-C certification does not authorize independent performance of
medical or surgical procedures. ABSA
2. Which organization administers the SA-C examination?
A. OSHA
B. ABSA
C. HIPAA
D. ACS
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The American Board of Surgical Assistants (ABSA) develops and administers the
Surgical Assistant–Certified examination. ABSA
3. How many questions are on the current SA-C examination?
A. 100
B. 125
C. 150
D. 200
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: The current examination consists of 150 questions. ABSA states that 140 are scored
and 10 are pretest items. ABSA
4. How much time is provided for the examination?
A. 90 minutes
B. 2 hours
C. 3 hours
D. 4 hours
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Candidates have three hours to complete the computer-based examination. ABSA
5. What type of questions are used?
A. Essay only
B. True/false only
C. Single-select multiple choice with four options
D. Oral questions only
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: ABSA describes the examination as single-select multiple choice with four answer
options. ABSA
6. What is the minimum passing score stated by ABSA?
A. 60%
B. 65%
C. 70%
D. 80%
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: ABSA states that candidates must achieve a minimum score of 70% to pass. ABSA
7. Which domain carries the greatest weight in the current content outline?
,A. Professional Practice Knowledge
B. General Surgical and Medical Knowledge
C. Perioperative Knowledge
D. CPR
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Perioperative Knowledge accounts for 50% of the current examination content. ABSA
8. What percentage of the current examination is devoted to General Surgical and Medical
Knowledge?
A. 11%
B. 25%
C. 39%
D. 50%
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: General Surgical and Medical Knowledge accounts for 39% of the current content
outline. ABSA
9. Which area is included under Professional Practice Knowledge?
A. Patient safety and risk management
B. Dental anatomy only
C. Pharmacology research only
D. Radiology billing
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The Professional Practice domain includes patient safety, risk management,
emergency protocols, ethics, scope of practice, OSHA and HIPAA. ABSA
10. What is aseptic technique intended to accomplish?
A. Increase bacterial contamination
B. Reduce the introduction and spread of microorganisms
C. Increase blood loss
D. Replace sterilization
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Aseptic practice is designed to minimize contamination and reduce the risk of
surgical-site infection.
11. Which action contaminates a sterile field?
A. Maintaining sterile technique
B. Reaching over the sterile field improperly
C. Using sterile instruments
D. Performing surgical hand preparation correctly
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Improper movement over or contact with a sterile field can compromise sterility.
12. A sterile item falls below the level of the sterile field. It should be considered:
A. Sterile
B. Contaminated
C. Disinfected automatically
D. Ready for immediate use
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The area below the sterile field is considered outside the sterile working area. The
item should not be treated as sterile.
13. Which is the most appropriate response to contamination of a sterile instrument?
A. Ignore it
B. Treat it as contaminated and replace or appropriately address it
C. Wipe it with a towel
D. Return it to the sterile field
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Once sterility is compromised, the item must be managed according to facility
infection-control policy.
Exam Questions With Answers| Latest|
Guaranteed Pass
1. What is the primary role of a surgical assistant?
A. Independently diagnose surgical patients
B. Assist the surgeon safely and efficiently during surgery
C. Independently perform surgical procedures
D. Prescribe postoperative medications
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The surgical assistant supports the surgeon during operative procedures. ABSA
specifically states that SA-C certification does not authorize independent performance of
medical or surgical procedures. ABSA
2. Which organization administers the SA-C examination?
A. OSHA
B. ABSA
C. HIPAA
D. ACS
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The American Board of Surgical Assistants (ABSA) develops and administers the
Surgical Assistant–Certified examination. ABSA
3. How many questions are on the current SA-C examination?
A. 100
B. 125
C. 150
D. 200
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: The current examination consists of 150 questions. ABSA states that 140 are scored
and 10 are pretest items. ABSA
4. How much time is provided for the examination?
A. 90 minutes
B. 2 hours
C. 3 hours
D. 4 hours
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Candidates have three hours to complete the computer-based examination. ABSA
5. What type of questions are used?
A. Essay only
B. True/false only
C. Single-select multiple choice with four options
D. Oral questions only
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: ABSA describes the examination as single-select multiple choice with four answer
options. ABSA
6. What is the minimum passing score stated by ABSA?
A. 60%
B. 65%
C. 70%
D. 80%
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: ABSA states that candidates must achieve a minimum score of 70% to pass. ABSA
7. Which domain carries the greatest weight in the current content outline?
,A. Professional Practice Knowledge
B. General Surgical and Medical Knowledge
C. Perioperative Knowledge
D. CPR
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Perioperative Knowledge accounts for 50% of the current examination content. ABSA
8. What percentage of the current examination is devoted to General Surgical and Medical
Knowledge?
A. 11%
B. 25%
C. 39%
D. 50%
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: General Surgical and Medical Knowledge accounts for 39% of the current content
outline. ABSA
9. Which area is included under Professional Practice Knowledge?
A. Patient safety and risk management
B. Dental anatomy only
C. Pharmacology research only
D. Radiology billing
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The Professional Practice domain includes patient safety, risk management,
emergency protocols, ethics, scope of practice, OSHA and HIPAA. ABSA
10. What is aseptic technique intended to accomplish?
A. Increase bacterial contamination
B. Reduce the introduction and spread of microorganisms
C. Increase blood loss
D. Replace sterilization
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Aseptic practice is designed to minimize contamination and reduce the risk of
surgical-site infection.
11. Which action contaminates a sterile field?
A. Maintaining sterile technique
B. Reaching over the sterile field improperly
C. Using sterile instruments
D. Performing surgical hand preparation correctly
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Improper movement over or contact with a sterile field can compromise sterility.
12. A sterile item falls below the level of the sterile field. It should be considered:
A. Sterile
B. Contaminated
C. Disinfected automatically
D. Ready for immediate use
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The area below the sterile field is considered outside the sterile working area. The
item should not be treated as sterile.
13. Which is the most appropriate response to contamination of a sterile instrument?
A. Ignore it
B. Treat it as contaminated and replace or appropriately address it
C. Wipe it with a towel
D. Return it to the sterile field
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Once sterility is compromised, the item must be managed according to facility
infection-control policy.
