Final answer:
The first national certifying exam for surgical technologists was offered in 1970 by the Association of Surgical Technologists.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first national certifying exam for surgical technologists was offered in 1970 by the Association of Surgical Technologists. This exam is known as the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) exam and it is designed to assess the knowledge and skills required to perform effectively as a surgical technologist.