Section 676.875 - Requirements for practice of surgical technology in health care facilities; rules(1) A health care facility may not allow a person to practice surgical technology at the health care facility unless the person provides the health care facility with documentation showing that the person:(a)(A) Has completed an educational program for surgical technologists accredited by a national accreditation organization approved by the Oregon Health Authority by rule; and(B) Holds and maintains a: (i) Surgical technologist certification issued by a nationally accredited certifying organization for surgical technologists approved by the authority by rule; or(ii) Subspeciality surgical assistant or surgical technologist certification, including but not limited to a certified ophthalmic surgical assisting credential issued by the International Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology or its successor organization, that is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies or its successor organization and approved by the authority by rule;(b) Has completed and is certified by a registered apprenticeship program in surgical technology that:(A) Is approved under ORS 660.002 to 660.210;(B) Meets the requirements for, and requires participants to receive, certification by the National Center for Competency Testing or its successor organization;(C) Includes an educational component as determined sufficient by the authority;(D) Upon completion awards certification accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies or its successor organization; and(E) Is approved by the authority by rule;(c)(A) Has completed a training program for surgical technologists in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard of the United States or in the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps; and(B) Every two years has completed 16 hours of continuing education approved by the authority; or(d)(A) Practiced surgical technology during at least two of the three years immediately preceding January 1, 2017:(i) In a health care facility in Oregon or in another state; or(ii) As an employee of an agency or institution of the federal government; and(B) Every two years has completed 16 hours of continuing education approved by the authority.(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1)(a)(B) of this section, a health care facility may allow a person who does not hold a certification described in subsection (1)(a)(B) of this section to perform surgical technology at the health care facility for 12 months after the person completes an educational program for surgical technologists accredited by a national accreditation organization approved by the authority by rule.(3) Notwithstanding subsection (1)(b) of this section, a health care facility may allow a person who does not hold a certification described in subsection (1)(b) of this section to perform surgical technology at the health care facility if the person:(a) Is an apprentice, as defined in ORS 660.010, actively enrolled in a registered apprenticeship program in surgical technology described in subsection (1)(b) of this section that requires the person to obtain on-the-job supervised training; and(b) Is at all times while performing surgical technology provided adequate direct supervision as required by the standards for the registered apprenticeship program in which the person is enrolled.Amended by 2023 Ch. 447, § 1, eff. 7/27/2023.Amended by 2022 Ch. 65, § 1, eff. 3/23/2022, op. 1/1/2023.