Sterile Processing Certification: CRCST vs CSPDT Compared

By Editorial Team · November 10, 2026

Photo: Senior Airman Anthony Sanchelli, U.S. Air Force, via Wikimedia Commons (public domain).

There are two main sterile processing technician certifications in the US: the CRCST from HSPA (the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association) and the CSPDT from CBSPD (the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution). Both exams have 150 multiple-choice questions and give you 3 hours. Neither one is simply "better". They differ in how you qualify, when you can test and how you renew.

Pick the CRCST if you already work in a sterile processing department, or have a job lined up in one. You need 400 hands-on hours, but you can pass the exam first and finish them within 6 months. You can test any time of year, and you renew every year. Pick the CSPDT if you're finishing a training course and don't have SPD experience yet. Passing a course with 70 or higher qualifies you on its own. It tests in four one-week windows a year and renews every 5 years. If you're going for the CRCST, our free CRCST practice quizzes show you where you stand.

CRCST vs CSPDT at a glance

Sources: HSPA's Certification Handbook (rev. January 2026), 2026 CRCST application, Become Certified and CRCST pages; CBSPD's 2026 Technician Candidate Bulletin and Technician exam page. As of October 2026.

Which one should you get?

It mostly comes down to where you are right now.

• You're in a training course and haven't worked in an SPD. The CSPDT is the direct route: a course passed with a grade of 70 or higher meets CBSPD's requirement, with no work hours. For the CRCST you'd need a department to give you the 400 hours, either before the exam or within 6 months after it.
• You already work in sterile processing. Either works. The CRCST lets you test as soon as your application is approved instead of waiting for a window, and the hours you're already working count toward the 400. CBSPD's work route asks for 12 months.
• Your employer or state names a credential. Then that decides it. Read the job posting or ask your manager before you pay a fee.
• You care about renewal. The CRCST asks for 12 CE credits and $50 every year. The CSPDT asks for 100 points and $125 once every 5 years, but you have to keep track of those points for the whole cycle.

You can hold both. They come from separate boards, so nothing stops you from adding the second one later.

How to become a sterile processing technician

1. Check what's required where you'll work. HSPA lists seven states that require certification to work in sterile processing: Connecticut, Delaware, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Tennessee, with legislation or regulation active in Florida, Oregon and South Carolina (HSPA, as of October 2026). Check your state's rules for which credentials count.
2. Choose the certification that fits how you'll qualify, using the section above.
3. Qualify. For the CSPDT, finish an SPD course with 70 or higher, or build the work experience. For the CRCST, you don't need a course; HSPA lets you take the exam on experience alone.
4. Apply and book the exam. HSPA candidates schedule with Prometric within 120 days of approval. CBSPD candidates apply by the deadline for a testing window and then book a PSI seat in that week. In 2026 the windows were February 2–7, May 4–9, August 3–8 and November 2–7. CBSPD posts the next year's applications in the first week of January.
5. Finish your hours if you tested first. A provisional CRCST becomes full certification once you document the 400 hours, within 6 months of passing. If you don't, HSPA revokes the certification and you have to retest.
6. Keep it current. Track your CE credits or points from day one.

What the two exams cover

The topics overlap almost completely, because both boards test the same job: decontamination, packaging, sterilization, storage and distribution.

CBSPD publishes the weight of each area in the Technician Candidate Bulletin:

HSPA's CRCST exam is organized into seven areas, from cleaning, decontamination and disinfection through sterilization to professional development. We go through them, along with the CRCST passing score and the 400-hour breakdown, in CRCST exam: questions, cost, passing score and the 400 hours.

One difference in scoring: CBSPD reports a scaled score, and 70 or above passes. HSPA only reports pass or fail. In both cases, a "70" you read about is not 70% of questions correct.

What each costs over five years

Assuming you pass the first time and renew on schedule, here's our arithmetic from the fees above:

The fees end up close. The real difference is the rhythm: a small yearly renewal for the CRCST against one bigger renewal for the CSPDT. If you need to withdraw from a CBSPD window, it costs a $60 non-refundable fee, and you have to do it at least 2 weeks before the window starts.

Frequently asked questions

Is the CRCST or the CSPDT better?

Neither board's credential is better across the board. Both are NCCA-accredited and test the same core job. Choose by how you qualify (hours vs. a course), when you want to test, and what employers near you ask for.

Can you get sterile processing certification without experience?

Yes, through the CSPDT: completing an SPD training course with a grade of 70 or higher meets CBSPD's requirement. The CRCST also lets you take the exam before you have experience, but you must complete 400 hands-on hours within 6 months of passing to keep it.

Can I take the CRCST before finishing my 400 hours?

Yes. You test as a provisional candidate and have 6 months after passing to complete and document the hours. HSPA allows a one-time two-month extension only if you're already working in a department.

How long is each certification valid?

The CRCST renews every year with 12 CE credits and a $50 fee. The CSPDT is valid for 5 years and renews with 100 points and a $125 fee.

Which states require sterile processing certification?

HSPA lists Connecticut, Delaware, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Tennessee, as of October 2026. Check your state's own rules for which credentials meet the requirement.

Preparing for the CRCST? 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.