NCCT Tech in Surgery Practice Exam
Section 1: Surgical Technology Foundations
(1–10)
1. What is the primary responsibility of a surgical technologist during an operation?
A. Diagnose the patient's condition B. Maintain the sterile field and assist the surgical
team C. Prescribe postoperative medications D. Independently perform the surgeon's
procedure
Answer: B. Rationale: Surgical technologists help maintain asepsis, prepare
instruments, pass supplies, and support safe surgical workflow under the appropriate
supervision.
2. Which organization awards the Tech in Surgery–Certified (TS-C) credential?
A. American Red Cross B. National Center for Competency Testing C. Occupational
Safety and Health Administration D. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Answer: B. Rationale: NCCT administers the TS-C credential. Candidates should
consult NCCT's current eligibility requirements and examination outline.
3. What does aseptic technique aim to prevent?
A. Hypothermia B. Surgical site contamination and infection C. Medication
documentation D. Equipment wear
Answer: B. Rationale: Aseptic technique reduces the introduction and transfer of
microorganisms into sterile areas.
4. Which area of a sterile surgical gown is generally considered sterile?
A. The entire gown, including the back B. The front from chest level to the sterile
field and the sleeves within the accepted boundaries C. The neckline and shoulders
only D. The back and cuffs only
Answer: B. Rationale: The front of the gown and sleeves are treated as sterile within
defined boundaries. The back, neckline, and areas below the sterile-field level are
considered contaminated.
5. When should a surgical technologist perform a surgical hand antisepsis procedure?
A. Only after the operation B. Before donning sterile gown and gloves for surgery C.
Only when hands appear dirty D. After putting on sterile gloves
Answer: B. Rationale: Surgical hand antisepsis reduces transient microorganisms and
suppresses resident flora before sterile gowning and gloving.
,6. Which practice helps preserve the sterile field?
A. Reaching across a sterile field with an unsterile arm B. Turning away from the
sterile field while it is unattended C. Keeping sterile items in view and above waist
level D. Placing sterile instruments near the floor
Answer: C. Rationale: Sterile items must remain within the designated sterile area and
be monitored. Items below waist level or out of view may be considered contaminated.
7. What should happen if a sterile package is wet or has a compromised wrapper?
A. Use it if the contents look clean B. Dry the wrapper and proceed C. Treat it as
contaminated and replace it D. Open it without inspecting the contents
Answer: C. Rationale: Moisture or a damaged barrier can compromise package
integrity and allow microbial contamination.
8. Which professional behavior best supports patient safety in the operating room?
A. Avoiding questions to save time B. Reporting hazards and communicating
concerns promptly C. Ignoring a break in sterile technique D. Assuming another team
member will correct errors
Answer: B. Rationale: Timely communication and reporting help the team identify
and correct risks before patient harm occurs.
9. What is the primary purpose of the surgical time-out?
A. To count the staff present B. To confirm the correct patient, procedure, and
surgical site C. To estimate the operation's duration D. To determine the postoperative
diet
Answer: B. Rationale: The team pauses immediately before the procedure to verify
essential safety information and resolve discrepancies.
10. Which action is appropriate if the surgical technologist is unsure whether an
instrument is sterile?
A. Use it if the surgeon needs it urgently B. Wipe it with a sterile towel C. Remove it
from use and obtain a sterile replacement D. Ask the patient whether it was sterilized
Answer: C. Rationale: Doubt about sterility must be resolved by removing the
questionable item and replacing it with one of verified sterility.
Section 2: Infection Prevention and
Sterilization (11–20)
, 11. Which microorganism form is particularly resistant to many routine disinfection
methods?
A. Bacterial spores B. Ordinary dust particles C. Skin oils D. Water droplets
Answer: A. Rationale: Certain bacterial spores are highly resistant. Appropriate
sterilization processes are required to eliminate viable microorganisms, including
resistant spores.
12. What is the purpose of cleaning surgical instruments before sterilization?
A. To replace sterilization B. To remove soil and organic material that can interfere
with processing C. To make instruments disposable D. To change the metal
composition
Answer: B. Rationale: Residual blood and tissue can interfere with disinfectants and
sterilization. Cleaning is a necessary step before further processing.
13. Which method commonly uses pressurized saturated steam to sterilize compatible
instruments?
A. Autoclaving B. Dry dusting C. Handwashing D. Ultraviolet room lighting alone
Answer: A. Rationale: Steam sterilization uses validated combinations of time,
temperature, and pressure for compatible devices and loads.
14. What does a chemical indicator on a sterilization package show?
A. Absolute proof that every microorganism was destroyed B. Exposure to one or
more specified processing conditions C. That the package will remain sterile
indefinitely D. That the instrument is free of all organic material
Answer: B. Rationale: Chemical indicators demonstrate exposure to specified
conditions; they do not independently prove sterility.
15. Which monitoring method uses resistant biological test organisms to assess a
sterilization process?
A. Biological indicator B. Room thermometer alone C. Visual inspection alone D.
Surgical count sheet
Answer: A. Rationale: Biological indicators use resistant microorganisms or their
spores to provide evidence about the effectiveness of the sterilization process.
16. What should be done with a sharps item immediately after use?
A. Leave it under a towel B. Pass it hand-to-hand without warning C. Place it in the
designated sharps container or approved neutral zone according to policy D. Put it in a
regular wastebasket
Section 1: Surgical Technology Foundations
(1–10)
1. What is the primary responsibility of a surgical technologist during an operation?
A. Diagnose the patient's condition B. Maintain the sterile field and assist the surgical
team C. Prescribe postoperative medications D. Independently perform the surgeon's
procedure
Answer: B. Rationale: Surgical technologists help maintain asepsis, prepare
instruments, pass supplies, and support safe surgical workflow under the appropriate
supervision.
2. Which organization awards the Tech in Surgery–Certified (TS-C) credential?
A. American Red Cross B. National Center for Competency Testing C. Occupational
Safety and Health Administration D. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Answer: B. Rationale: NCCT administers the TS-C credential. Candidates should
consult NCCT's current eligibility requirements and examination outline.
3. What does aseptic technique aim to prevent?
A. Hypothermia B. Surgical site contamination and infection C. Medication
documentation D. Equipment wear
Answer: B. Rationale: Aseptic technique reduces the introduction and transfer of
microorganisms into sterile areas.
4. Which area of a sterile surgical gown is generally considered sterile?
A. The entire gown, including the back B. The front from chest level to the sterile
field and the sleeves within the accepted boundaries C. The neckline and shoulders
only D. The back and cuffs only
Answer: B. Rationale: The front of the gown and sleeves are treated as sterile within
defined boundaries. The back, neckline, and areas below the sterile-field level are
considered contaminated.
5. When should a surgical technologist perform a surgical hand antisepsis procedure?
A. Only after the operation B. Before donning sterile gown and gloves for surgery C.
Only when hands appear dirty D. After putting on sterile gloves
Answer: B. Rationale: Surgical hand antisepsis reduces transient microorganisms and
suppresses resident flora before sterile gowning and gloving.
,6. Which practice helps preserve the sterile field?
A. Reaching across a sterile field with an unsterile arm B. Turning away from the
sterile field while it is unattended C. Keeping sterile items in view and above waist
level D. Placing sterile instruments near the floor
Answer: C. Rationale: Sterile items must remain within the designated sterile area and
be monitored. Items below waist level or out of view may be considered contaminated.
7. What should happen if a sterile package is wet or has a compromised wrapper?
A. Use it if the contents look clean B. Dry the wrapper and proceed C. Treat it as
contaminated and replace it D. Open it without inspecting the contents
Answer: C. Rationale: Moisture or a damaged barrier can compromise package
integrity and allow microbial contamination.
8. Which professional behavior best supports patient safety in the operating room?
A. Avoiding questions to save time B. Reporting hazards and communicating
concerns promptly C. Ignoring a break in sterile technique D. Assuming another team
member will correct errors
Answer: B. Rationale: Timely communication and reporting help the team identify
and correct risks before patient harm occurs.
9. What is the primary purpose of the surgical time-out?
A. To count the staff present B. To confirm the correct patient, procedure, and
surgical site C. To estimate the operation's duration D. To determine the postoperative
diet
Answer: B. Rationale: The team pauses immediately before the procedure to verify
essential safety information and resolve discrepancies.
10. Which action is appropriate if the surgical technologist is unsure whether an
instrument is sterile?
A. Use it if the surgeon needs it urgently B. Wipe it with a sterile towel C. Remove it
from use and obtain a sterile replacement D. Ask the patient whether it was sterilized
Answer: C. Rationale: Doubt about sterility must be resolved by removing the
questionable item and replacing it with one of verified sterility.
Section 2: Infection Prevention and
Sterilization (11–20)
, 11. Which microorganism form is particularly resistant to many routine disinfection
methods?
A. Bacterial spores B. Ordinary dust particles C. Skin oils D. Water droplets
Answer: A. Rationale: Certain bacterial spores are highly resistant. Appropriate
sterilization processes are required to eliminate viable microorganisms, including
resistant spores.
12. What is the purpose of cleaning surgical instruments before sterilization?
A. To replace sterilization B. To remove soil and organic material that can interfere
with processing C. To make instruments disposable D. To change the metal
composition
Answer: B. Rationale: Residual blood and tissue can interfere with disinfectants and
sterilization. Cleaning is a necessary step before further processing.
13. Which method commonly uses pressurized saturated steam to sterilize compatible
instruments?
A. Autoclaving B. Dry dusting C. Handwashing D. Ultraviolet room lighting alone
Answer: A. Rationale: Steam sterilization uses validated combinations of time,
temperature, and pressure for compatible devices and loads.
14. What does a chemical indicator on a sterilization package show?
A. Absolute proof that every microorganism was destroyed B. Exposure to one or
more specified processing conditions C. That the package will remain sterile
indefinitely D. That the instrument is free of all organic material
Answer: B. Rationale: Chemical indicators demonstrate exposure to specified
conditions; they do not independently prove sterility.
15. Which monitoring method uses resistant biological test organisms to assess a
sterilization process?
A. Biological indicator B. Room thermometer alone C. Visual inspection alone D.
Surgical count sheet
Answer: A. Rationale: Biological indicators use resistant microorganisms or their
spores to provide evidence about the effectiveness of the sterilization process.
16. What should be done with a sharps item immediately after use?
A. Leave it under a towel B. Pass it hand-to-hand without warning C. Place it in the
designated sharps container or approved neutral zone according to policy D. Put it in a
regular wastebasket
