CRCST verification: how to check a certification

To verify a CRCST, enter the technician's last name and HSPA ID number at HSPA's free lookup, verify.myhspa.org, which shows the person's name and certification status. You can't search by name alone, so an employer has to get the ID number from the technician.

HSPA's handbook says certification status is not confidential and HSPA will confirm it on request, but it won't release a person's ID number, exam results or number of attempts without their consent (HSPA Certification Handbook, revised January 2026).

What HSPA verification gives you

	HSPA verification
Online lookup	verify.myhspa.org, free
You enter	Last name and HSPA ID number
It shows	Name and certification status
HSPA by request	Name, certification type, effective and expiration dates, and status
Not released without consent	ID number, pass or fail results, number of exam attempts
Bulk checks	A paid integration for organizations (HSPA for hospitals and schools)
HSPA phone	800-962-8274, weekdays 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central

Sources: HSPA verification page, HSPA's Certification Handbook, sections on certificates and certification verification, and the contact details on HSPA's CRCST renewal page. Checked November 2026.

The same lookup covers HSPA's other credentials, such as the CIS, CER and CHL.

For employers

1. Ask the candidate for their HSPA ID number. It is printed on their certificate. HSPA won't give it out.
2. Search verify.myhspa.org with their last name and ID. The last name must match HSPA's records.
3. Check the status. The lookup shows only the name and certification status, with no dates. For the effective and expiration dates, look at the technician's current certificate, which lists them, or ask HSPA, which confirms dates on request. HSPA certifications last one year at a time, and a CRCST renews by the last day of the holder's anniversary month.
4. Ask about provisional status. A provisional CRCST has passed the exam but has six months to submit the 400 hands-on hours. If the hours aren't submitted in time, the credential is forfeited. See the CRCST 400 hours guide.

For written confirmation with dates, contact HSPA directly. Re-check each year after the holder's renewal month, since an unrenewed certification lapses.

If you verify a whole department or check every new hire, HSPA offers a paid integration that verifies credentials in bulk for HR departments. Its page for hospitals and schools describes it and says to email certification@myhspa.org to learn more.

In seven states, certification is also a legal requirement with a deadline for new hires: 18 months in Delaware, New York and Pennsylvania, two years in Connecticut, Minnesota and Tennessee, and three years in New Jersey. The Delaware, Pennsylvania and Tennessee laws also make the facility keep records showing each tech qualifies. Our certification page links each law.

When the lookup shows no certification

If a candidate or new hire isn't certified yet, their deadline is the next question. Give them a plan:

• Check where they stand. The free 25-question CRCST diagnostic is untimed, explains each answer and scores each of HSPA's seven domains. No account is needed, so a new hire can take it on day one.
• Plan the hours. The 400 hours guide shows how the hours split across work areas and who can sign them.
• Book the exam. The CRCST exam page covers the application, the 120-day testing window and retakes.

If you are a technician working toward the CRCST, the same three steps apply to you.

For technicians

Your HSPA ID number is on your certificate. Since January 1, 2024, HSPA no longer mails renewal certificates; you print them as PDFs from HSPA's online certification portal (HSPA program updates).

Keep a PDF of your current certificate handy for job applications. If your last name has changed, update it with HSPA so lookups match.

Verifying a CBSPD certification (CSPDT)

The CSPDT comes from a different board, CBSPD, with its own process (CBSPD verification page):

• By phone, free: call CBSPD at 908-236-0530, 9:30 to 5:30 Eastern, Monday to Friday.
• By formal letter, $10 per name: order online with the person's name, their CBSPD certification ID or the last four digits of their Social Security number, and the certifications held. CBSPD says the letter is emailed within 24 hours.

CBSPD also posts monthly lists of newly certified people on its statistics page, unless a certificant has asked to be left off. Our CRCST vs CBSPD page compares the two credentials.

Frequently asked questions

How do I verify a CRCST certification?

Go to verify.myhspa.org and enter the technician's last name and HSPA ID number. The lookup shows their name and certification status. You can also ask HSPA to confirm the certification type, dates and status.

Can I look up a CRCST by name only?

No. HSPA's lookup needs both the last name and the HSPA ID number. HSPA won't release the ID number without the technician's consent, so employers have to ask the technician for it.

Where do I find my HSPA ID number?

It is printed on your HSPA certificate, which carries a unique ID number. Since 2024, HSPA provides renewal certificates as printable PDFs through its online certification portal instead of by mail.

Does CRCST verification show exam scores?

No. HSPA's handbook says it will not release pass or fail results or the number of exam attempts without the certificant's written consent. The online lookup shows the name and status, and HSPA confirms the effective and expiration dates on request.

How often should an employer re-verify a CRCST?

Once a year is a sensible minimum. HSPA certifications are valid one year at a time and renew by the last day of the holder's anniversary month, so check status after that month.

How do I verify a CBSPD certification?

Call CBSPD at 908-236-0530 for a free verbal check, or order a formal letter for $10 per name. The letter needs the person's name, their CBSPD ID or last four Social Security digits, and the certifications held.

Questions? support@crcstready.com