Why Sterile Processing Certifications are a Currency
As of December 31, 2024, there were 48,297 active CRCST certificants – and the cumulative pass rate for that exam sits at approximately 64.5%. That means more than a third of people who attempt the most widely recognized sterile processing certification don't make it through on the first try. It's not an easy credential. It means something.
That's partly why employers take it seriously. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 1 in 31 hospital patients acquires a healthcare-associated infection on any given day. Improperly processed instruments are a direct contributing factor. When a hospital hires a certified technician, they're reducing liability and protecting patients in a measurable way.
"Sterile processing technicians are on the frontlines of infection prevention, and appropriate training helps them do their part in preventing surgical site infections."
– Natalie Lind, CRCST, CHL, FCS, Education Director for IAHCSMM
The combination of constant turnaround demands and physical hazards makes competency top of the list. Four states currently mandate certification:
- New York
- New Jersey
- Connecticut
- Tennessee.
Several more, including Massachusetts, Florida, and Minnesota, are actively pushing legislation. If you're in one of those states without credentials, the clock is ticking.
The Certifications Employers Prefer
CRCST: Certified Registered Central Service Technician
Issued by the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA), the CRCST is the most widely recognized entry-level certification in the field – and the one most hospital job postings specifically name as a requirement or preference.
Health Tech Academy prepares students directly for the CRCST exam. Our 16-week Sterile Processing Program is built around the same content domains covered on the exam:
- Decontamination
- Preparation and packaging
- Sterilization
- Storage
- Distribution
- Equipment maintenance
- Quality assurance.
If you want to get certified and get hired, this is the credential to start with.
Hear from One of Our Students
CSPDT: Certified Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician
The CSPDT is the competing entry-level credential, issued by the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD). Since 1991, CBSPD has certified over 33,000 members, and this credential is accepted by a wide range of healthcare employers.
The CSPDT covers comparable content to the CRCST – decontamination, sterilization cycles, infection control, and equipment handling – and is equally recognized in most hiring contexts. The primary structural difference is that CBSPD certifications run on a five-year cycle rather than annual renewal.
Eligibility (one of the following):
- 12 months of full-time SPD work experience, verified by a manager.
- 6 months of allied health experience plus 6 months of SPD work.
- Completion of a sterile processing training course with a grade of 70% or higher.
- 12 months of healthcare product sales/service related to SPD.
Exam specifics:
- Exam format: Multiple-choice, administered in person.
- Cost: $128.
- Renewal: Every five years, with 100 contact hours of continuing education required per cycle.
- Worth knowing: In 2024, 3,896 candidates attempted the CSPDT exam. That's a smaller testing population than the CRCST, which reflects the CRCST's broader employer adoption.
CIS: Certified Instrument Specialist
Once you have your CRCST, the CIS is the natural next step for anyone who wants to specialize in surgical instruments. This is not a beginner credential. It requires an active CRCST plus 200 additional hours of hands-on experience beyond the initial 400.
The CIS exam digs into advanced instrument knowledge: composition of materials, complex assembly, tray management, and the critical thinking involved in identifying defects that could compromise sterility or surgical safety. It's the credential that tends to separate technicians who can advance into lead or quality assurance roles from those who stay in general processing.
- Cost: $140 (same fee structure as the CRCST through HSPA).
- A lesser-known detail: The CIS exam content was updated in late 2024, and a revised version launched in December 2025. If you're planning to sit for this exam, make sure you're studying from the updated 2024 content outline and the correct reference materials.
CHL: Certified Healthcare Leader
The CHL targets people moving into supervisory and management roles in sterile processing. It requires a current, full CRCST certification as a prerequisite.
The exam covers leadership competencies, regulatory knowledge, staff management, budget considerations, and department operations. Facilities with strong SPD departments often require their managers to hold the CHL, and it's increasingly showing up as a listed preference in SPD manager and director job postings.
- Cost: $140.
- Renewal: Annual CE requirements apply, consistent with other HSPA credentials.
CER: Certified Endoscope Reprocessor
Flexible endoscope reprocessing is its own discipline within sterile processing – one that's grown considerably in complexity and regulatory scrutiny. The CER is specific to technicians who process flexible GI scopes and bronchoscopes.
This credential matters because endoscope-related healthcare-associated infections have drawn significant regulatory attention in recent years. Settings that handle high volumes of endoscopic procedures are prioritizing staff who hold dedicated reprocessing credentials.
The CBSPD also offers a parallel credential, the CFER (Certified Flexible Endoscope Reprocessor), also accredited by NCCA.
CASSPT: Certified Ambulatory Surgery Sterile Processing Technician
The CASSPT, offered by CBSPD, is designed specifically for technicians working in ambulatory surgery centers, physician offices, and dental facilities. The instrument volumes and workflow are different, and this credential reflects that.
If you work in an ASC and have been pursuing the standard CSPDT out of habit, this may be the more targeted option. It's worth checking which credential your specific employer category values more.
Wondering how you’d do on the certification exam? Take our free CRCST practice exam and get a read on your current knowledge – before you schedule anything or spend a dollar.
What the Sterile Processing Testing Process Looks Like
All major sterile processing certification exams are administered in person. There is no remote testing option for the CRCST, CIS, CHL, or CSPDT.
HSPA exams are administered through a network of in-person testing centers. CBSPD exams are similarly offered at set exam windows throughout the year, requiring advance scheduling. Factor in travel time and testing site availability into your planning – particularly if you're in a rural area.
The in-person requirement exists for credibility reasons. These are professional credentials that carry weight in clinical settings, and the testing bodies maintain strict proctoring standards accordingly.
Certification Costs and Renewal at a Glance
HSPA fees apply across all their credentials. CBSPD's five-year cycle means lower administrative burden for renewal but also longer gaps between formal continuing education benchmarks.
A Final Word on State Requirements
As mentioned, New York mandates certification for all SPD technicians. New Jersey requires either CRCST or CSPDT. Connecticut and Tennessee have set timeframes after employment begins during which technicians must obtain credentials.
The Joint Commission and CMS standards effectively pressure facilities into requiring certification anyway – particularly following accreditation reviews. Many hospitals that claim certification is 'preferred' will move toward requiring it during their next policy update.
The Joint Commission also introduced a facility-level Centralized Sterilization Services (CSS) Certification in January 2024 – not for individual technicians, but for healthcare organizations using offsite sterilization. This is a newer layer of oversight that further signals where the industry is heading.
If your state hasn't mandated it yet, your hospital probably will before the legislation catches up.
Rather be on the safe side, the certified side.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Can I Take the CRCST Exam without Completing 400 Hours First?
Yes. HSPA allows candidates to test first and receive provisional status. You then have six months to submit documented proof of 400 hours of hands-on SPD experience verified by a supervisor. A one-time two-month extension is available under specific circumstances. Fail to submit within the window, and you'll need to retake the exam.
Which Certification is Better – CRCST or CSPDT?
Both are nationally recognized and NCCA-accredited. The CRCST has broader employer adoption in hospital settings and is specifically named in state mandates. The CSPDT offers a five-year renewal cycle that some technicians prefer. Check job postings in your area to see which credential hiring managers list.
Do Certifications Transfer between States?
Yes. Both HSPA and CBSPD credentials are valid across all 50 states and internationally. Some states have additional requirements (like New York's mandatory certification), but holding a CRCST or CSPDT satisfies those requirements.
How Long Does It Take to Get Certified?
The training phase varies by program – typically three to six months for most structured courses. The 400 hours of hands-on experience can run concurrently with or after testing, depending on which path you take.
What Happens if My Certification Lapses?
HSPA certifications that lapse require re-examination – there's no grace period for paying a late fee. CBSPD certifications that expire also require retesting. Staying current on CE credits is far less time-consuming than starting over.
Is the CRCST Exam Hard?
Roughly 35% of people who attempt it don't pass on the first try – so yes, preparation adds up. The exam draws from multiple reference texts and covers seven knowledge domains in 150 questions over three hours. Practice tests and structured study programs significantly improve pass rates.
What's the Job Outlook for Certified Sterile Processing Technicians?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 6% job growth for this occupation from 2023 to 2033 – roughly double the average across all occupations — translating to approximately 4,000 additional openings. As surgical volume climbs (U.S. procedures are projected to exceed 122 million annually by 2027), demand for qualified, credentialed SPD technicians will keep pace.
