CRCST - Certified Registered Central Service Technician

The Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) confirms that technicians have the necessary abilities, skills, and experience to operate as sterile processing (SP) professionals. CRCST specialists oversee disassembling, disinfecting, sterilizing, inspecting, and properly repackaging all the reusable instruments and devices used in clinical settings.  

The CRCST certification is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility for the CRCST certification includes gaining 400 hours of hands-on experience and successfully passing the certification exam. Areas of expertise should include equipment storage, sterilization & disinfecting, prep & packing of instruments, quality assurance, and decontamination. Two types of certifications are provided:

Full CRCST Certification

An applicant must have 400 hours of hands-on experience within the last 5 years before applying.

Provisional Certification

Applicant must have 400 hours of experience within 6 months of successfully passing the examination. Required experience must be submitted to the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) before the 6-month expiration date.

The exam is computer-based and consists of 150 multiple-choice questions. You will have 3 hours to complete the exam. The cost of application and examination is $125.

Renewal of CRCST

The CRCST certification is renewed on an annual basis. Applicants must fulfill 12 continuing education (CE) credits every year to maintain compliance. Continuing education must be related to the central sterile processing field. In addition, there is a $50 fee required to renew certification.