Pass the CRCST exam on your first try
207 practice questions on decontamination and disinfection, instrument inspection and packaging, steam and low-temperature sterilization, sterile storage, patient care equipment and the rest of HSPA's content outline, each with a plain-English explanation.
Practice by section
The CRCST exam covers the seven domains of HSPA's content outline. Cleaning, packaging and sterilization carry 21% each. Practice one domain at a time, or take a full 125-question practice exam that keeps HSPA's weights.
Departmental Considerations 32 questions
Temperature, humidity and air pressure by work area, one-way workflow and attire, chemical safety, SDS and eyewash stations, the FDA, OSHA, EPA, CMS and accreditors, AAMI standards and IFUs, record keeping, and quality programs such as tray audits, PDCA, Lean and Six Sigma.
Cleaning, Decontamination and Disinfection 47 questions
Point-of-use care and transport, PPE, microbiology and the chain of infection, the Spaulding classification, manual and mechanical cleaning, detergents and dilution math, water quality, flexible endoscopes, high-level disinfectants, TASS, prions and loaned instruments.
Preparation and Packaging 39 questions
Inspection and function testing, instrument identification, lubrication and marking, set assembly and weight limits, chemical indicator types, peel pouches, wraps and rigid containers, low-temperature packaging, and labeling.
Sterilization Process 43 questions
Steam cycles and exposure times, IUSS, sterilizer parts and phases, Bowie-Dick tests, biological indicators and implants, qualification testing, loading and cooling, wet packs and recalls, and ethylene oxide, hydrogen peroxide, ozone, dry heat and liquid chemical methods.
Sterile Storage, Transport and Inventory Management 19 questions
Storage clearances and conditions, event-related sterility, FIFO rotation, break-out areas, PAR levels, exchange carts and case carts, consignment items, recalls, UDI, and safe transport and handling.
Patient Care Equipment and Distribution 10 questions
Cleaning and disinfecting patient care equipment, electrical safety, preventive maintenance labels and biomedical engineering, tracking with RFID, rental equipment, and storage and testing before distribution.
Professional Development and Human Relation Skills 17 questions
Medical and surgical terminology, communication and telephone etiquette, service recovery, HIPAA, prioritizing, teamwork, diversity and continuing education.
What full access includes
- All 207 questions on decontamination, disinfection, instruments, packaging, sterilization, storage, patient care equipment and professional skills
- An explanation for every answer, with the AAMI standard, CDC guideline or OSHA rule behind it
- Unlimited full 125-question practice exams, with each domain in its real share
- Practice exams for each domain
- A review of every question you missed at the end of each exam
- Works on your phone, tablet or computer, with no app or account
About the CRCST exam
Who can take the CRCST exam, and do I need 400 hours first?
The CRCST credential from the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) is for sterile processing technicians. Certification requires passing the exam and completing 400 hours of hands-on experience in a sterile processing department, paid or volunteer: 120 hours each in decontamination, preparing and packaging, and sterilization and disinfection, 24 in storage and distribution and 16 in quality assurance. For full certification, you finish the hours before testing, within the past five years, and a supervisor documents them on your application. You can also test first: if you pass without the hours, you get provisional certification and have six months to complete and submit all 400 hours, or it is forfeited.
How is the exam structured?
The CRCST exam has 150 multiple-choice questions, 125 scored and 25 unscored pretest questions mixed in at random, with a 3-hour limit. You take it on a computer at a Prometric test center. The scored questions follow HSPA's content outline: 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%) and Professional Development and Human Relation Skills (8%).
What score do I need to pass?
HSPA reports only pass or fail. The passing point is set by a panel of experts rating each question, and HSPA does not publish it as a number or percentage. Our practice exams use 70% correct (88 of 125) as a benchmark. Aim higher than that before your test day.
How much does it cost, and what if I fail?
The exam fee is $140, which includes a $25 nonrefundable application fee. Once your application is approved, you have 120 days to schedule and take the exam. If you don't pass, you can retest after 6 weeks with a retake application and another $140 fee. Check the HSPA Certification Handbook for current fees and rules.
How do I keep my certification?
CRCST certification is renewed every year. You submit 12 continuing education credits on technical sterile processing topics and the annual renewal fee.
Which standards do your questions follow?
Our questions follow HSPA's current content outline and the standards the field works by: ANSI/AAMI ST79 for steam sterilization, ST91 for flexible endoscopes, ST58 for chemical sterilization and high-level disinfection, ST41 for ethylene oxide and ST108 for water quality, plus CDC, OSHA and FDA rules. Your department's policies and each device's instructions for use come first at work.
Is this the official exam?
No. This is practice material to help you prepare. The CRCST exam is given by the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA). This site is not affiliated with HSPA, and our questions are not taken from the real exam.