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Office of Surgical Assistant & Surgical Technologist Registration


Maureen Hartlaub, Program Director

Consumer Protection is our Mission.

The Office of Surgical Assistants and Surgical Technologists Registration regulates individuals that perform the duties of a Surgical Assistant or Surgical Technologist. Program activities include registering individuals who will be performing these job duties in the state of Colorado, investigating complaints against Surgical Assistants and Surgical Technologists, including those practicing without a registration, and enforcing disciplinary actions against those that violate the statute and/or program rules. This is a director model program that has no Board. The Director of the Division of Professions and Occupations, or his/her designee, has authority to make the decisions for the program.
 

News Items
 

THE SURGICAL ASSISTANT - SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIST RENEWAL PERIOD IS NOW OPEN!

Your registration will expire March 31, 2013. Please click on the Professionals tab on the left side of this page to go to the renewal page.
 

2012 Legislation

Legislation passed during the Legislative Session impacts the Division of Professions and Occupations. The Division is developing an implementation process at this time. Please check back in the near future to learn about any changes to rules, requirements and important deadlines.

You must be registered in order to practice as a Surgical Assistant or Surgical Technologist on or after April 1, 2011. We encourage you to submit your application and fee as early as possible to ensure your registration is completed on time. Click here for more information.

As of March 31, 2011, the Division of Professions and Occupations approved over 1,400 Surgical Technologist/Surgical Assistant registrant applications. If you want to check the status of an applicant’s license, you can save time by accessing the Verify a Colorado Licensee button (left side) on this page before calling the Division.
 

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Who needs to Register?
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Anyone who regularly performs the majority of the duties of a Surgical Assistant or a Surgical Technologist who is employed, contracted, or credentialed by a healthcare facility needs to register.

What are the duties of a Surgical Assistant?

  1. Positioning the patient.
  2. Providing visualization of the operative site.
  3. Utilizing appropriate techniques to assist with hemostasis.
  4. Participating in volume replacement or autotransfusion techniques as appropriate.
  5. Utilizing appropriate techniques to assist with closure of body planes.
  6. Selecting and applying appropriate wound dressings.
  7. Providing assistance in securing drainage systems to tissue.
  8. The duties of a surgical technologist.


What are the duties of a Surgical Technologist?

  1. Preparation of the operating or procedure room and the sterile field for surgical procedures by sterilizing supplies, instruments, and equipment.
  2. Preparation of the operating or procedure room for surgical procedures by ensuring that surgical equipment is functioning properly and safely.
  3. Passing instruments, equipment, or supplies to a surgeon; sponging or suctioning an operative site; preparing and cutting suture material; holding retractors; transferring but not administering fluids or drugs; assisting in counting sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments; and performing other similar duties as directed during a surgical procedure.

 

 
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We Changed Our Name!

The Division is now called the Division of Professions and Occupations, effective August 8, 2012. To help our consumers and licensees more readily locate and utilize our services, the legislature passed House Bill 12-1055 during the 2012 legislative session. Please note, the Division of Professions and Occupations will still be housed within the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). Services the Division currently offers will remain the same.

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Contact

1560 Broadway, Suite 1350, Denver, CO 80202 Email
(303) 894-7800 - Phone (303) 894-7693 - Fax