Side by side
| CRCST (HSPA) | CSPDT (CBSPD) | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Certified Registered Central Service Technician | Certified Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician |
| Experience to qualify | 400 hands-on hours in an SPD (paid or volunteer), before the exam or within 6 months after (provisional) | One of: 12 months full-time SPD work; 6 months each in allied health and SPD; an SPD training course passed with 70+; or 12 months of SPD-related sales/service |
| Can test with no experience? | Yes, provisionally (hours due within 6 months) | Yes, via the training-course route |
| Exam | 150 questions (125 scored), 3 hours, computer-based at Prometric | 150 questions (125 scored + 25 pretest) at PSI test sites |
| When | Year-round; 120 days to sit after approval | Four one-week windows: Feb 2–7, May 4–9, Aug 3–8, Nov 2–7, 2026 |
| How to apply | Online (card) or by mail (check/money order) | Paper application, mailed |
| Fee | $140 per attempt | $135 |
| Renewal | Every year: 12 CE credits + $50 | Valid for 5 years |
Sources: HSPA: CRCST certification, HSPA Certification Handbook (revised January 2026), CBSPD: SPD Technician Certification Exam (CSPDT), CBSPD: FAQs
CRCST by HSPA
- Experience
- 400 hours: decontamination 120, prep & packaging 120, sterilization & disinfection 120, storage & distribution 24, quality assurance 16. The 400 hours explained.
- Test first?
- Yes, as a provisional candidate. You then have 6 months after passing to submit your 400 hours, or the certification is revoked.
- Exam
- 150 multiple-choice questions (125 scored), 3 hours, computer-based at a Prometric center. Once approved you have 120 days to sit it.
- Fee
- $140 per attempt.
- Renewal
- Every year: 12 CE credits and a $50 fee.
Sources: HSPA: CRCST certification, HSPA Certification Handbook (revised January 2026), HSPA: Can I take the CRCST exam before I've completed my 400 hours?
CSPDT by CBSPD
- Eligibility (one of)
- 12 months full-time (or equivalent) SPD work · or 6 months each in allied health and SPD · or an SPD training course passed with 70+ · or 12 months of SPD-related healthcare product sales/service.
- Exam
- 125 scored + 25 unscored questions. Four one-week windows a year at PSI test sites. The current window is Nov 2–7, 2026; the application deadline is Tuesday, Oct 27, 2026. Paper application, mailed in.
- Fee
- $135.
- Renewal
- Certification is valid for 5 years.
Sources: CBSPD: SPD Technician Certification Exam (CSPDT), CBSPD 2026 technician candidate bulletin, CBSPD: Exam dates & test sites, CBSPD: FAQs
Which should I get?
- No SPD experience yet: the CRCST lets you test first (provisional) and log the 400 hours afterwards, but you need a department to sign them off. CBSPD's route without experience is a completed training course. 16 entry-level listings live now
- Already working in SPD: either works. CBSPD's 5-year validity means less renewal admin; the CRCST renews yearly.
- Check the listing and your state: most state laws name both credentials; New York also allows a "substantially equivalent" credential, and New Jersey's rule refers to a national program recognized by the state health department. See certification by state.
States that require certification
According to HSPA, sterile processing technicians must be certified in Connecticut, Delaware, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. Minnesota's law takes effect January 1, 2028: new technicians have two years from hire to certify, and technicians already working before then need 10 hours of continuing education instead. HSPA lists Florida, Oregon and South Carolina as active for legislation. Deadlines and grandfather rules for each state are in our state-by-state table. Sources: HSPA: Legislative certification issues (state map), HSPA: Minnesota governor signs certification bill (June 16, 2025)
Beyond the technician exam
HSPA also offers the Certified Instrument Specialist (CIS: requires a full CRCST plus 200 more hands-on hours), the Certified Endoscope Reprocessor (CER: three months of hands-on endoscope reprocessing experience) and the Certified Healthcare Leader (CHL: requires a full CRCST) for managers. Source: HSPA Certification Handbook (revised January 2026) See lead & supervisor pay.
Frequently asked questions
Is CRCST or CBSPD better?
Neither is ranked above the other by law: the state laws in Connecticut, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania and Tennessee name both the CRCST and the CSPDT. The CRCST requires 400 hands-on hours (before or within 6 months after the exam) and renews yearly; the CSPDT requires one of four eligibility routes and is valid for 5 years. Sources: HSPA: CRCST certification, CBSPD: SPD Technician Certification Exam (CSPDT), HSPA: Legislative certification issues (state map).
How much does the CRCST exam cost?
$140 per attempt, according to HSPA's 2026 Certification Handbook, plus a $50 annual renewal fee once certified. Source: HSPA Certification Handbook (revised January 2026).
How much does the CBSPD technician exam cost?
$135, according to CBSPD. Source: CBSPD: SPD Technician Certification Exam (CSPDT).
When are the CBSPD exam dates in 2026?
CBSPD lists four one-week windows: Feb 2–7, May 4–9, Aug 3–8 and Nov 2–7, 2026. The application deadline for the November window is Tuesday, Oct 27, 2026, and applications are mailed, not submitted online. Source: CBSPD: SPD Technician Certification Exam (CSPDT).
Sources
- HSPA: CRCST certification
- HSPA Certification Handbook (revised January 2026)
- HSPA: Can I take the CRCST exam before I've completed my 400 hours?
- CBSPD: SPD Technician Certification Exam (CSPDT)
- CBSPD 2026 technician candidate bulletin
- CBSPD: Exam dates & test sites
- CBSPD: FAQs
- HSPA: Legislative certification issues (state map)
- HSPA: Minnesota governor signs certification bill (June 16, 2025)
SterileShift is not affiliated with HSPA, CBSPD or the BLS. Rules, fees and dates change: confirm on the official sites before you apply or pay for anything.