The CRCST exam has 150 multiple-choice questions, 125 scored and 25 unscored pretest questions, and you get three hours to finish it on a computer at a Prometric test center (HSPA Certification Handbook, revised January 2026). It costs $140, and HSPA does not publish the passing score.
CRCST exam facts
| CRCST exam | |
|---|---|
| Questions | 150 multiple choice: 125 scored, 25 unscored pretest |
| Time | 3 hours, plus an optional 15-minute tutorial before the clock starts |
| Where | In person at a Prometric test center, on a computer |
| Language | English only |
| Fee | $140 per attempt ($25 of it non-refundable) |
| Refunds | Request within 30 days of the start of your eligibility period, before you book |
| Window to test | 120 days from application approval, no extensions |
| Passing score | Not published |
| Retake | After at least 6 weeks, for another $140 |
| Hands-on hours | 400, before the exam or within 6 months after passing |
Sources: HSPA's CRCST page and Certification Handbook. Checked November 2026.
The pretest questions are mixed in at random and look like the scored ones, so answer every question as if it counts. You can mark questions and change answers before you submit.
Many questions are short work scenarios. A free example from our bank:
Which type of steam is best for steam sterilization?
- A. Saturated steam that is at least 97% dry
- B. Steam mixed with some air so the heat spreads evenly
- C. Wet steam with a dryness of about 85%
- D. Superheated steam that is hotter than its pressure calls for
Answer: A. Dry saturated steam gives up its heat when it condenses on cooler surfaces, which kills microorganisms fast. Air blocks steam from reaching surfaces (B), wet steam transfers heat poorly and causes wet packs (C), and superheated steam behaves more like hot dry air (D).
The free 25-question diagnostic uses questions like this, weighted by HSPA's domain shares.
What the exam covers
HSPA's 2023 content outline splits the exam into seven domains:
- Cleaning, Decontamination and Disinfection: 21%
- Preparation and Packaging: 21%
- Sterilization Process: 21%
- Departmental Considerations: 15%
- Sterile Storage, Transport and Inventory Management: 9%
- Professional Development and Human Relation Skills: 8%
- Patient Care Equipment and Distribution: 5%
HSPA's handbook says the exam was written using its Sterile Processing Technical Manual (9th edition, 2023), ANSI/AAMI ST79 (2017) and AORN's Guidelines for Perioperative Practice. Our study guides follow the same seven domains.
Applying and scheduling
- Apply online at HSPA with the $140 fee. HSPA says to allow 3 to 4 weeks for processing.
- Get your scheduling email. HSPA sends it within 24 hours of processing. Check that your first and last name match your ID exactly. Name changes must be made with HSPA before you book.
- Book with Prometric online or by phone. You have 120 days from approval, and HSPA grants no extensions. Book at least 48 hours ahead. HSPA recommends booking at least 45 days before your window ends, because seats can run out.
- Reschedule early if you need to. The deadline is noon Eastern, three business days before your test. Prometric may charge a fee. Cancelling after the deadline or missing the test forfeits the fee, and arriving late can too.
If you are applying before your 400 hours are done, you will be a provisional CRCST after passing. The 400 hours guide covers the six-month deadline.
On test day
- Bring one physical ID with a current photo, your signature and a valid expiration date. HSPA accepts a driver's license, state or federal ID card, passport, employee ID, military ID or student ID.
- Expect a photo at check-in. HSPA made this mandatory at Prometric from September 1, 2024.
- Leave everything in the locker. Only your ID and locker key go into the testing room.
Passing score and results
HSPA does not publish a passing score or percentage. Its handbook says the passing point was set with the Angoff method, supplemented by the Beuk compromise method, and approved by HSPA's Certification Council. Your pass or fail depends on how many of the 125 scored questions you get right.
You see pass or fail on screen when you finish, and an email follows within 48 hours. If you pass, HSPA mails your certificate package within two weeks. If you fail, your result report appears in your online portal. It rates each domain as "At or Above," "Below" or "Well Below," with no percentage score.
HSPA publishes yearly counts. In 2025, 10,083 candidates passed the CRCST and 5,286 failed, about 66% passing (HSPA certification statistics).
Retakes
If you fail, you can send a retake application right away, but your new eligibility starts six weeks after your last exam date. Each retake costs the full $140. HSPA says the wait helps make sure no candidate sees the same exam form more than twice.
Use the domain ratings on your report to decide what to study. The how to pass the CRCST page has a six-week plan.
Practice before you book
Take the free 25-question CRCST diagnostic to see where you stand in each domain, then work through the free practice questions. The CRCST practice test page explains how to use practice tests well, and the exam overview has the domain details.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the CRCST exam?
The CRCST exam has 150 multiple-choice questions. HSPA's handbook says 125 are scored and 25 are unscored pretest questions, mixed in so you can't tell them apart.
How long is the CRCST exam?
You have three hours. An optional 15-minute tutorial on using the testing computer comes first, and the exam clock doesn't start until the tutorial ends.
What is the passing score for the CRCST?
HSPA does not publish one. Its handbook says the passing point was set by content experts using the Angoff method and approved by HSPA's Certification Council. Result reports show pass or fail, with domain ratings but no percentage.
How much does the CRCST exam cost?
The CRCST exam costs $140, and each retake costs another $140. The $140 includes a $25 submission fee that HSPA does not refund. HSPA's handbook says a refund request must be made within 30 days of the start of your testing eligibility period, and before you book an exam appointment.
Can I take the CRCST exam online?
HSPA's handbook says all its exams are given at Prometric testing facilities, and it does not describe a remote option. Plan to test in person at a Prometric center.
How soon can I retake the CRCST?
You must wait at least six weeks after a failed attempt. You can send the retake application and $140 fee sooner, but your new testing window starts six weeks after your last exam date.
We are not affiliated with HSPA and never see real exam questions. Every question is written from HSPA's public content outline and the standards it names, so nothing here is a leaked or recalled item. How we write questions
Questions? support@crcstready.com