Coming soon
The OR doesn't give partial credit. Your study guide shouldn't either.
The OR Veteran's Exam Prep for Surgical Technologists is coming soon to Amazon. It's 575 practice questions written by a surgical technologist with 20+ years in the operating room.
Paperback $24.99 · 8.5 x 11, 138 pages. Coming November 2026.
Get notified at launch: join The Back Table below.
What's inside
400 original practice questions, grouped by the eight content-outline domains of the CST exam
A full-length 175-question mock exam in the same format as the real test
A rationale for every answer choice, covering why the right answer is right and why each wrong one is wrong
OR Pearls: real lessons from 20+ years at the back table
A bubble answer sheet, a score sheet by domain, a pacing guide, and a study plan
Who it's for
Surgical technology students getting ready to sit for the CST exam
New grads who want to walk in confident
Anyone who has taken the exam before and wants a fresh, focused way to study
Instructors looking for extra practice questions for their students
Free: 25-question mini mock exam
Not sure where you stand? Get my free 25-question mini mock exam with an answer key and rationales. It's built in the same mix as the CST exam.
Meet the author
I'm Mario Velasco Jr. I've been a surgical technologist since 2004, which is more than 20 years of counts, back tables, and learning every surgeon's preferences. I wrote this book the way I'd teach a new tech standing next to me at the table: real cases, plain language, and the why behind every answer. My motto in the OR has always been: "Treat every patient like they are a family member you love and you'll never go wrong!"
Get notified at launch
Join The Back Table, my free weekly newsletter with a practice question, study tips, and real OR lessons. You'll be the first to know when the book goes live.
Independent study aid. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the NBSTSA. CST® is a registered trademark of the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA). No study guide can guarantee a passing score.