Present law authorizes the board of medical examiners to register as a registered surgical assistant any applicant who presents, among other things, satisfactory evidence that the applicant holds and maintains a current credential as a surgical assistant or surgical first assistant issued by the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting, the National Surgical Assistant Association, or the National Commission for Certification of Surgical Assistants or their successors. This bill adds a current credential as a surgical assistant or surgical first assistant issued by the American Board of Surgical Assistants to the list. Present law also authorizes the board to register as a registered surgical assistant any applicant who presents, among other things, satisfactory evidence that the applicant has practiced as a surgical assistant at any time in the six months prior to July 1, 2017, provided the applicant registers with the board by December 31, 2019. This bill revises this provision to, instead, so authorize the board if the applicant has practiced as a surgical assistant at any time in the six months prior to July 1, 2017, provided the applicant registers with the board.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 63-6-219(b)(1), 63-6-219, 63-6-219(b)(3)