AMERICAN BOARD OF SURGICAL ASSISTANTS (ABSA)
CERTIFICATION EXAM 100 PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS & DETAILED RATIONALES 2026/2027
UPDATE | SA-C EXAM PREP 100% PASS GUARANTEE
Core Domains
Preoperative Assessment and Patient Preparation
Intraoperative Surgical Assisting and Technique
Surgical Anatomy and Physiology
Aseptic Technique and Infection Control
Surgical Instrumentation and Equipment
Surgical Pharmacology and Anesthesia
Postoperative Care and Complications
Professional Practice, Ethics, and Legal Standards
Patient Safety, Risk Management, and Emergency Protocols
Specialty Surgical Procedures (General, Orthopedic,
Gynecologic, Cardiothoracic, Neurologic)
Introduction
This comprehensive practice examination is designed to
evaluate the knowledge and skills required for the American
Board of Surgical Assistants (ABSA) Surgical Assistant-
Certified (SA-C) certification. It assesses competencies in
,perioperative patient care, surgical technique, anatomy,
aseptic practice, and professional standards. The exam utilizes
multiple-choice and scenario-based questions to simulate
real-world surgical assisting challenges. Emphasis is placed on
critical thinking, patient safety, and evidence-based practice in
the operating room.
Section One: Questions 1-100
What is the primary purpose of the World Health
Organization (WHO) Surgical Safety Checklist?
A. To increase surgical costs
B. To reduce surgical errors and improve patient safety
C. To document surgeon performance
D. To replace the surgical consent form
🟢 Correct answer B. To reduce surgical errors and improve
patient safety
🔴 RATIONALE: The WHO Surgical Safety Checklist was
developed to reduce surgical errors and improve patient
safety by ensuring critical steps are followed before, during,
and after surgery. It has been shown to reduce surgical
morbidity and mortality.
During which phase of the perioperative period is the
surgical assistant responsible for verifying the patient's
,identity and surgical site?
A. Preoperative phase
B. Intraoperative phase
C. Postoperative phase
D. Discharge phase
🟢 Correct answer A. Preoperative phase
🔴 RATIONALE: Verification of patient identity and surgical
site occurs during the preoperative phase as part of the
"Time Out" and surgical safety checklist. The surgical
assistant participates in this verification process.
What is the primary purpose of the "Time Out" in the
operating room?
A. To take a break during surgery
B. To verify patient identity, procedure, and surgical site
before incision
C. To document surgical findings
D. To count instruments
🟢 Correct answer B. To verify patient identity, procedure,
and surgical site before incision
🔴 RATIONALE: The "Time Out" is a final verification step
before surgical incision where the entire surgical team
, confirms patient identity, correct procedure, correct site, and
any special requirements. It prevents wrong-site, wrong-
procedure, and wrong-patient surgery.
Which of the following is NOT a responsibility of the surgical
assistant during the preoperative phase?
A. Verifying informed consent
B. Positioning the patient
C. Performing the surgical incision
D. Preparing the surgical site
🟢 Correct answer C. Performing the surgical incision
🔴 RATIONALE: Performing the surgical incision is the
surgeon's responsibility, not the surgical assistant's. The
surgical assistant assists with positioning, preparing the
surgical site, and verifying consent, but does not perform
the incision.
What is the recommended duration for surgical hand
antisepsis using an alcohol-based hand rub?
A. 30 seconds
B. 1 minute
C. 2-3 minutes
D. 5 minutes
CERTIFICATION EXAM 100 PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS & DETAILED RATIONALES 2026/2027
UPDATE | SA-C EXAM PREP 100% PASS GUARANTEE
Core Domains
Preoperative Assessment and Patient Preparation
Intraoperative Surgical Assisting and Technique
Surgical Anatomy and Physiology
Aseptic Technique and Infection Control
Surgical Instrumentation and Equipment
Surgical Pharmacology and Anesthesia
Postoperative Care and Complications
Professional Practice, Ethics, and Legal Standards
Patient Safety, Risk Management, and Emergency Protocols
Specialty Surgical Procedures (General, Orthopedic,
Gynecologic, Cardiothoracic, Neurologic)
Introduction
This comprehensive practice examination is designed to
evaluate the knowledge and skills required for the American
Board of Surgical Assistants (ABSA) Surgical Assistant-
Certified (SA-C) certification. It assesses competencies in
,perioperative patient care, surgical technique, anatomy,
aseptic practice, and professional standards. The exam utilizes
multiple-choice and scenario-based questions to simulate
real-world surgical assisting challenges. Emphasis is placed on
critical thinking, patient safety, and evidence-based practice in
the operating room.
Section One: Questions 1-100
What is the primary purpose of the World Health
Organization (WHO) Surgical Safety Checklist?
A. To increase surgical costs
B. To reduce surgical errors and improve patient safety
C. To document surgeon performance
D. To replace the surgical consent form
🟢 Correct answer B. To reduce surgical errors and improve
patient safety
🔴 RATIONALE: The WHO Surgical Safety Checklist was
developed to reduce surgical errors and improve patient
safety by ensuring critical steps are followed before, during,
and after surgery. It has been shown to reduce surgical
morbidity and mortality.
During which phase of the perioperative period is the
surgical assistant responsible for verifying the patient's
,identity and surgical site?
A. Preoperative phase
B. Intraoperative phase
C. Postoperative phase
D. Discharge phase
🟢 Correct answer A. Preoperative phase
🔴 RATIONALE: Verification of patient identity and surgical
site occurs during the preoperative phase as part of the
"Time Out" and surgical safety checklist. The surgical
assistant participates in this verification process.
What is the primary purpose of the "Time Out" in the
operating room?
A. To take a break during surgery
B. To verify patient identity, procedure, and surgical site
before incision
C. To document surgical findings
D. To count instruments
🟢 Correct answer B. To verify patient identity, procedure,
and surgical site before incision
🔴 RATIONALE: The "Time Out" is a final verification step
before surgical incision where the entire surgical team
, confirms patient identity, correct procedure, correct site, and
any special requirements. It prevents wrong-site, wrong-
procedure, and wrong-patient surgery.
Which of the following is NOT a responsibility of the surgical
assistant during the preoperative phase?
A. Verifying informed consent
B. Positioning the patient
C. Performing the surgical incision
D. Preparing the surgical site
🟢 Correct answer C. Performing the surgical incision
🔴 RATIONALE: Performing the surgical incision is the
surgeon's responsibility, not the surgical assistant's. The
surgical assistant assists with positioning, preparing the
surgical site, and verifying consent, but does not perform
the incision.
What is the recommended duration for surgical hand
antisepsis using an alcohol-based hand rub?
A. 30 seconds
B. 1 minute
C. 2-3 minutes
D. 5 minutes
