NASC- The National Assistant at Surgery Council™

The National Assistant at Surgery Council™ was created to promote an assisting title that is made up of First Assistant in Surgery graduates from formal college programs. In the interest of public safety, improved patient outcomes and a more consistent and defensible Standard of Care, NASC has adopted a "formal college only" model as a prerequisite for the Assistant at Surgery - Certified™ (AS-C™) National Exam. This is not a new concept. >More

New focus for NASC: The fact that the majority of OR nurses graduating from RNFA programs are Associate Degree and Diploma graduates NASC's exam is now focusing more on these RNFA graduates who cannot sit for the popular CRNFA exam and less on non-licensed surgical assistants. Thus, all RNFA graduates who have a bachelors are encouraged to sit for the CRNFA exam found at www.cc-institute.org. (Surgical assistants interested in national certification are encouraged to first apply for the CST/CFA exam found at www.nbstsa.org before seeking AS-C certification.)

The RNAS-C Title

The National Assistant at Surgery Council has created a new exam, along with an appropriate title to address the many AD, Diploma and NP RNFA graduates who desire to sit through NASC, but wanted an exam that addressed more pre-and-post operative subject matter. This new exam, with added content is for RNFA graduates only, and is called the Registered Nurse Assistant at Surgery - Certified title or RNAS-C™.

The National Assistant at Surgery Council™ is now a member of the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA).

Established in 1977, the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA) is the leader in setting quality standards for credentialing organizations. Through its annual conference, regional seminars, and publications, NOCA serves its membership as a clearinghouse for information on the latest trends and issues of concern to practitioners and organizations focused on certification, licensure, and human resource development.

Below: AORN Article, recommended original AS-C exam (later to become RNAS-C) as one of the four quality and credible exams available for first assistants:

“After completing my RNFA training my employer required that I sit for the RNAS-C. This certification validates the training and expertise I have acquired. With this certification I have gained additional respect from the surgeons I work with. I would recommend this certification for RNFA's who, like myself, may not yet be eligible to sit for the CRNFA.” Dan Hageman, RN, CNOR, RNFA, RNAS-C - May 2011

You can arrange to sit for the RNAS-C and AS-C at most college Testing Centers
	It is the applicant's responsibility to locate a certified Testing Center (usually a College, University or Test Center such as Sylvan or NCTA Locations) and to be pre-approved by NASC.

Approved Programs:
	Current NASC Approved Formal College Assistant at Surgery Programs:
	AS150 (no longer enrolling students) and SA250 Program.	RN First Assistant and STFA Program