PassPulse Sterile ProcessingPrepare for the CRCST

Is the CRCST exam hard?

Harder every year. HSPA's own counts show 10,083 passes out of 15,369 exams in 2025, about 66%, down from about 67% in 2024 and 72% in 2023. You face 150 questions in 3 hours, and three core areas carry 21% of the exam each.

Updated October 2026

CRCST pass share by year (our calculation)

2023: 7,996 of 11,12871.9%
2024: 7,546 of 11,27267.0%
2025: 10,083 of 15,36965.6%
Calculated from HSPA's published pass and fail counts.

CRCST at a glance

Questions
150 (125 scored, 25 pretest)
Time
3 hours, plus optional 15 minute tutorial
Scoring
Pass or fail, criterion-referenced
Fee
$140
Where
Prometric test centers
Retake
Wait at least 6 weeks, $140

Why the CRCST trips people up

  • Four big areas of equal weight: cleaning and decontamination, preparation and packaging, and sterilization at 21% each, plus departmental considerations at 15%.
  • Many first-time candidates test before or during their hands-on hours, under provisional rules.
  • No number to aim at: HSPA reports only pass or fail.
  • Volume nearly doubled from 8,289 exams in 2019 to 15,369 in 2025 while the pass share fell.

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Content outline

See what's on the CRCST for the full outline from HSPA's 2023 job task analysis.

CRCST FAQ

What is the CRCST pass rate?

HSPA reports counts, not rates. In 2025, 10,083 of 15,369 candidates passed, about 66% by our calculation.

How many questions are on the CRCST?

150: 125 scored and 25 unscored pretest questions.

How long is the CRCST exam?

3 hours, plus an optional 15 minute tutorial before the clock starts.

Free CRCST practice questions

More CRCST guides

Sources
  1. HSPA: Certification statistics
  2. HSPA 2026 Certification Handbook
  3. HSPA: CRCST application and requirements
  4. HSPA: CRCST content outline (revised November 2023)

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PassPulse is an independent exam preparation tool. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) or the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD). Exam, credential and product names mentioned on this page are trademarks of their respective owners and are used only to identify the exams and materials described.

This page is for general information only. It is not official guidance from any certifying body, state agency or employer, and it is not legal, medical, career or financial advice. The information on this page may contain errors or omissions, or may be out of date: fees, policies, exam content and state rules change. Practice questions, answers and explanations on PassPulse may also contain errors. Always confirm current requirements and facts directly with the certifying body, your state, your employer or the manufacturer's instructions before you register, apply or act on them. Pass rates and statistics describe past candidates and do not predict your result.
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