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Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) Certification Exam
The CRCST exam is the introductory sterile processing certification exam of the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association, measuring entry-level knowledge of decontamination, preparation and packaging, sterilization, sterile storage, and equipment handling across seven weighted knowledge domains.
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Questions150 multiple-choice questions: 125 scored (operational) plus 25 unscored (pretest) delivered randomly throughout the exam
Testing time3 hours; an optional 15-minute computer tutorial precedes the exam and the test clock does not start until it ends
ScoringOne point per correct scored answer; pass/fail determined by the total scored questions answered correctly against a criterion-referenced passing point set via the Angoff procedure supplemented by the Beuk Relative-Absolute Compromise method (no fixed published percentage)
Exam feeUSD 140 per exam attempt (initial exam and retake); certification renewal is USD 50 per year
Prep options
Study resources for CRCST
Independent prep
Courses and study resources
Exam overview
What to know before choosing your prep
- Who runs it
- HSPA
- Category
- Sterile Processing & Surgical Technology
- Current version
- Current exam built on the CRCST Exam Content Outline revised November 2023 (from the 2023 job task analysis); HSPA updates examination forms annually; Certification Handbook revised January 2026
- Where it applies
- United States — national
- Exam languages
- English
- Score scale
- Pass/fail with domain-level diagnostic indicators only ('At or Above', 'Below', 'Well Below'); no percentage or numeric score is reported
- Testing provider
- Prometric
- Format
- Computer-based multiple-choice exam delivered at Prometric test centers; no paper-and-pencil version is available
- Availability
- Offered year-round at Prometric test centers (typically at least 6 days a week); after HSPA approves the application, candidates schedule within their eligibility window (handbook FAQ: 120 days; the HSPA scheduling page states 90 days - see notes)
- Results
- On-screen pass/fail notification at the test center, emailed within 48 hours; certification package mailed within two weeks of passing; failing candidates receive a result report in the online portal
- Credential validity
- Certification is valid for one year; it must be maintained through annual renewal (12 CE credits per year)
- Remote testing
- Not available
Exam structure
Seven weighted knowledge domains: Departmental Considerations 15%; Cleaning, Decontamination and Disinfection 21%; Preparation and Packaging 21%; Sterilization Process 21%; Sterile Storage, Transport and Inventory Management 9%; Patient Care Equipment and Distribution 5%; Professional Development and Human Relation Skills 8%
Where rules vary
The CRCST is a private, non-governmental certification based on U.S. practice and standards; it is not a state license and carries no state-by-state variation. HSPA notes it is open to candidates in the U.S. and abroad (international Prometric sites available).
Eligibility
400 hours of hands-on sterile processing experience in an SPD (paid or volunteer), documented by a supervisor: before applying (full certification, within the previous 5 years) or within 6 months after passing (provisional certification); no preparatory course is required
Retake policy
Minimum 6-week wait after a failed attempt before retesting; retake application plus USD 140 retake fee; exam eligibility period otherwise forfeited on no-show