CRCST Exam: Questions, Cost, Passing Score and the 400 Hours
By Editorial Team ·
The CRCST exam has 150 multiple-choice questions (125 of them scored) and you get 3 hours, at a Prometric testing center. It costs $140. HSPA, the association that runs it, does not publish a passing percentage, so the "70%" you'll see on many sites isn't an official number. You also need 400 hours of hands-on experience, but you can sit the exam first and finish the hours within 6 months of passing.
Everything below comes from HSPA's own 2026 documents, linked in each section. When you want to see how you'd do, try our free CRCST practice quizzes.
The CRCST exam at a glance
| Questions | 150 multiple choice: 125 scored, 25 unscored pretest questions mixed in |
| Time | 3 hours, plus an optional 15-minute tutorial before the clock starts |
| Where | A Prometric testing center of your choice, on a computer (no paper version) |
| Cost | $140, including a $25 non-refundable application fee |
| When | Any time of year, within 120 days of your application being approved |
| Results | Preliminary pass/fail on screen; official result in your HSPA portal within 24 hours |
| Retakes | After a 6-week wait, with a new fee |
| Renewal | Every year: 12 continuing education credits and a $50 fee |
Sources: HSPA Certification Handbook, revised January 2026, the 2026 CRCST application and HSPA's CRCST renewal page, as of October 2026.
The 25 pretest questions look exactly like the scored ones, so answer everything. You can mark questions for review and change answers before you submit.
What's on the exam
The handbook lists seven areas:
- Departmental considerations
- Cleaning, decontamination and disinfection
- Preparation and packaging
- Sterilization process
- Sterile storage, transport and inventory management
- Patient care equipment and distribution
- Professional development and human relation skills
HSPA built the exam from three references: the SP Technical Manual (9th edition, 2023), ANSI/AAMI ST79 (2017) and AORN's Guidelines for Perioperative Practice (2025). No course is required. You can apply on the strength of your work experience alone.
What score do you need to pass?
There is no published percentage. HSPA scores the exam pass/fail on how many of the 125 scored questions you get right, and the pass mark is set by a panel of subject experts using a standard method (the Angoff procedure). HSPA states that it does not provide percentage scores.
So treat "you need 70%" or "you can miss X questions" as guesses. What you do get, if you fail, is a breakdown of each area as "At or Above", "Below" or "Well Below" the standard. That tells you exactly where to focus before a retake.
The 400 hands-on hours
HSPA requires 400 hours of hands-on sterile processing work, earned within the past 5 years and signed off by your manager. The application splits them like this:
| Area | Hours |
|---|---|
| Decontamination processes | 120 |
| Preparing and packaging instruments | 120 |
| Sterilization and disinfection | 120 |
| Storage and distribution | 24 |
| Quality assurance processes | 16 |
| Total | 400 |
You can apply two ways:
- Full certification: your 400 hours are done when you apply.
- Provisional certification: you take the exam first and have 6 months after passing to finish and document the hours. HSPA allows a one-time two-month extension in specific circumstances (Become Certified).
HSPA recommends starting the hours before you test, and it's good advice. The exam asks about situations you'll recognize much faster if you've worked a decontamination sink and a sterilizer.
How much the CRCST costs
- Exam: $140. Of that, $25 is a non-refundable application fee.
- Retakes: each new attempt needs a new application and fee, after the 6-week wait.
- Renewal: $50 a year, plus 12 continuing education credits.
- Study materials: optional. The SP Technical Manual is the main reference. A course costs more, and HSPA is explicit that finishing one does not equal certification.
For most people the real cost is the exam fee plus a book, then $50 a year to keep the credential.
Is the CRCST exam hard?
It's broad rather than tricky. Seven areas, from decontamination chemistry to inventory and communication, and the questions are written around how a department should work, not just definitions. If your job keeps you in one part of the department, expect the areas you rarely touch, such as quality assurance or patient care equipment, to need the most study.
Three things help:
- Use the area list as a checklist. Practice each of the seven, not only your daily tasks.
- Practice at exam pace. 150 questions in 180 minutes is a little over a minute each.
- Use the feedback if you need a retake. The "Below" and "Well Below" areas are your study plan for the next six weeks.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take the CRCST exam online?
The 2026 handbook only describes testing at Prometric testing centers, on a computer. There is no paper version, and HSPA doesn't list a remote option.
How many questions can you miss on the CRCST?
HSPA doesn't publish a number. The pass mark is set by experts for each exam, and HSPA doesn't release percentage scores, so any "you can miss X questions" figure is a guess.
When are the CRCST exam dates in 2026?
There are no fixed dates. The exam runs year-round, and once your application is approved you have 120 days to schedule and take it.
Can I take the CRCST exam before finishing my 400 hours?
Yes. Apply for provisional certification, pass the exam, then complete and document the 400 hours within 6 months.
How much is the CRCST exam?
$140, which includes a $25 non-refundable application fee. Renewal is $50 a year.
Ready to see which of the seven areas need work? Start with our free CRCST practice quizzes.
Official source: eligibility, fees, and the current content outline are set by Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA). Confirm the details there before you register.