MA S1511

Creates a new Board of Registration of Surgical Assistants consisting of 5 governor-appointed members serving 4-year terms: 3 surgical assistants with at least 3 years Massachusetts experience, 1 physician/surgeon, and 1 citizen member

Requires surgical facilities (hospitals, clinics, private offices) to employ only licensed surgical assistants, who must work under direct supervision of a licensed physician (MD, DO, or podiatrist)

Establishes three pathways to licensure: national certification from recognized bodies (NBSTSA, NSAA, or NCCSA), completion of military surgical assistant training, or at least 1 year of Massachusetts experience with practice prior to July 1, 2023 (must register by July 1, 2025)

Mandates 38 hours of continuing education for license renewal, with documentation retained for 4 years and random compliance audits by the board

Exempts registered nurses and other licensed health care practitioners from the new requirements when performing surgical assistant tasks within their existing scope of practice