Free CRCST Practice Test (Sterile Processing Technician)
Sterile processing technician practice questions written to the HSPA CRCST content outline, with an explanation for every answer.
Ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA) can stain which of these gray if spilled?
454 original questions · 94 sterilization questions on cycles, Bowie-Dick tests and biological indicators · 25 surgical instrument questions in their own drill
CRCST practice questions by exam section
HSPA’s content outline fixes each section’s share of the exam. Each section has a guide with free sample questions and a free ten-question drill with an explanation after every answer.
Departmental Considerations (15%)
About 19 of 125 scored questions
Temperature, humidity and air flow by work area, area cleaning, chemical safety and SDS, dress code and hand hygiene, traffic control, ergonomics, regulations and standards, record keeping and quality assurance.
Decontamination (21%)
About 27 of 125 scored questions
Bloodborne pathogens, microbiology and prions, PPE, point-of-use care, manual and mechanical cleaning, washer and ultrasonic tests, water quality, TASS, Spaulding classification and high-level disinfection.
Preparation and Packaging (21%)
About 26 of 125 scored questions
Inspection and function testing, lubrication, count sheets, instrument identification, tray assembly and weight limits, chemical indicator classes, wraps, pouches and rigid containers, closure and labeling.
Sterilization (21%)
About 26 of 125 scored questions
Steam, dry heat, ethylene oxide and hydrogen peroxide methods, cycle phases and parameters, IUSS, sterilizer loading, Bowie-Dick, biological and chemical monitoring, implant release, process failures and load records.
Storage and Inventory (9%)
About 11 of 125 scored questions
Storage distances and conditions, event-related shelf life, FIFO, PAR, exchange cart and case cart systems, break-out areas, product labels and symbols, transport, consignment and loaner items, and recalls.
Patient Care Equipment (5%)
About 6 of 125 scored questions
Cleaning and inspecting returned equipment, electrical safety, preventive maintenance tags and biomedical engineering, tracking rental and loaned equipment, storage, charging and transport.
Professional Skills (8%)
About 10 of 125 scored questions
Professional communication and service recovery, HIPAA, prioritizing, medical and surgical terminology, teamwork, and certification and continuing education.
Surgical Instruments
25 questions · Preparation and Packaging
Hemostats, forceps, scissors, retractors, suction tips and bone instruments: names, features and uses, plus instrument parts and stainless steel types.
Ready for the full exam?
150 questions in 3 hours, drawn in the outline’s share for each section, scored on the 125 that count, with an explanation for every answer.
Or start with a free drillThe CRCST exam at a glance
Answer CRCST practice questions written to HSPA’s Exam Content Outline, read the explanation for every answer, then take a timed 150-question, 3-hour practice exam in the real format with a score for every section.
The CRCST is the entry-level certification for sterile processing technicians, the staff who decontaminate, inspect, assemble, package and sterilize reusable surgical instruments. HSPA, the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (formerly IAHCSMM), runs the exam at Prometric test centers. HSPA has not announced a new CRCST content outline (checked November 2026); the outline in force was revised in November 2023.
- Exam
- Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST), the entry-level certification of HSPA, the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (formerly IAHCSMM). Accredited by ANAB and NCCA
- Format
- 150 multiple-choice questions: 125 scored and 25 unscored pretest questions placed at random, which you cannot tell apart. Computer-based; you can mark questions for review and change answers
- Time
- 3 hours. An optional 15-minute tutorial comes first and does not count against your time
- Content
- Seven sections (outline revised November 2023): 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%
- Passing score
- Criterion-referenced: HSPA sets the passing point with the Angoff method and the Beuk compromise. You get a pass or fail result on screen. HSPA does not publish a passing percentage and does not give percentage scores
- Fee
- $140 for the initial exam and $140 for each retake
- Where
- Prometric test centers only, in English only. After your application is approved you have 120 days to schedule and take the exam
- Retakes
- Wait at least 6 weeks after a failed attempt, then submit a retake application with the $140 fee
- Experience
- 400 hours of hands-on sterile processing work: 120 in decontamination, 120 in preparation and packaging, 120 in sterilization and disinfection, 24 in storage and distribution and 16 in quality assurance. Complete them in the five years before applying, or within six months after passing (provisional certification)
- Renewal
- Every year, with 12 continuing education credits and a $50 renewal fee
Where the exam fits in becoming a CRCST
- Prepare your own way: HSPA does not require a course. You can take a course, study the SP Technical Manual (9th edition) and the standards HSPA lists, or test on your work experience.
- Apply to HSPA online and pay the $140 exam fee. Processing takes three to four weeks.
- Schedule with Prometric within your 120-day eligibility window and take the exam.
- Document your 400 hands-on hours, signed by a supervisor, manager or educator above you: before you apply, or within six months of passing if you test as a provisional CRCST.
- Renew every year with 12 continuing education credits.
Studying for another healthcare support exam too? Our CCMA practice test covers the NHA medical assistant exam.
How to use this CRCST exam prep
- Take the free mixed drill to see where you stand across all seven sections.
- Drill the three biggest sections first: Cleaning, Decontamination and Disinfection, Preparation and Packaging, and Sterilization Process are 21% each, 63% of the exam together.
- Take the surgical instruments drill until you can name each instrument from its features.
- Clear Departmental Considerations (15%), then the smaller sections on storage, equipment and professional skills.
- Take the full 150-question practice exam under the 3-hour clock, then drill your two lowest sections and take it again. Each new sitting draws questions you have not seen first.
Common questions
How many questions are on the CRCST exam?
150 multiple-choice questions. 125 are scored; the other 25 are unscored pretest questions that HSPA is trying out. They appear at random and look like the rest, so answer every question as if it counts.
How long is the CRCST exam?
Three hours. An optional 15-minute tutorial on how the computer-based test works comes first and does not count against the three hours. You can take breaks, but the clock keeps running.
What score do you need to pass the CRCST?
HSPA does not publish a passing percentage. The passing point is set with a criterion-referenced method (Angoff with the Beuk compromise), and your pass or fail status depends on how many of the 125 scored questions you answer correctly. You see pass or fail on screen; a failing result report rates each content section as at or above, below or well below the standard. Figures such as "70%" on other sites do not come from HSPA.
How much does the CRCST exam cost?
$140 for the initial exam and $140 for each retake. HSPA refunds a request made within 30 days of payment, before you book an appointment, minus a $25 nonrefundable fee.
How soon can I retake the CRCST?
You must wait at least 6 weeks after a failed attempt. You can send the retake application and $140 fee right away, but your new eligibility starts 6 weeks after your last exam date.
Do I need 400 hours before I take the CRCST?
No. You can complete the 400 hours of hands-on experience in the five years before you apply (full certification), or take the exam first and document the hours within six months of passing (provisional certification). HSPA recommends completing, or at least starting, the hours before you test.
Does HSPA have an official CRCST practice test?
No. HSPA says that, outside the quizzes and progress tests in its study workbooks, it does not offer practice tests for its exams. These questions are original practice written to HSPA’s content outline; they are not HSPA questions.
What is the difference between the CRCST and the CSPDT?
They are two separate sterile processing certifications from two organizations. HSPA awards the CRCST; the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD) awards the CSPDT (Certified Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician). This page prepares you for the HSPA CRCST exam.
Is this CRCST practice exam the same format as the real exam?
Yes. The mock exam is 150 four-option questions in three hours: 125 scored questions drawn in the outline’s share for each section plus 25 unscored pretest questions mixed in. You can skip, go back and mark questions for review. The result shows your score on the 125 scored questions, your score in each section and an explanation for every question. It shows no passing line, because HSPA does not publish one.
Ready for test day?
150 questions in 3 hours, drawn in the outline’s share for each section, scored on the 125 that count, with an explanation for every answer.
Or start with a free drillSources
- HSPA: Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST): exam structure, fees, hours and references
- HSPA: CRCST Exam Content Outline (revised November 2023)
- HSPA Certification Handbook (revised January 2026): scored and pretest questions, passing score, results, retakes
- HSPA: Become Certified (Prometric testing, 120-day window, FAQs)
- HSPA: CRCST renewal (12 CE credits a year, $50)
- CDC: Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities (2008)
- OSHA: Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030
Original practice questions for exam preparation, written to the HSPA CRCST Exam Content Outline (revised November 2023); they are not HSPA exam questions. Independent practice, not affiliated with or endorsed by HSPA (the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association), CBSPD or Prometric. CRCST is an HSPA certification. Follow your facility’s policies and manufacturers’ instructions in practice.