CER Practice Test

The CER certification practice test ensures you are ready for the rigorous HSPA examination. Mastering the CER test content is crucial for advancing your career in sterile processing. Try our CMRP practice exam. Practice with the free CER - Certified Endoscope Reprocessor practice test on PracticeTestGeeks (11 questions with answer explanations).

If you are searching for a CER endoscope practice test questions, start with the free questions on this page: every answer comes with an explanation, and the study notes below cover the CER exam topics in order. Each certified endoscope reprocessor practice test set mirrors one HSPA content domain, so you can treat the whole page as a free CER practice exam or drill the CER test questions from a single weak domain.

Technicians who search for a STERIS endo practice test are usually preparing for this same credential: the CER test is written and scored by HSPA, not by an equipment manufacturer, so practise across all the HSPA content domains rather than on one brand's training material.

CER Exam at a Glance

What changed for CER in 2026

• Oct 25, 2026: Delivery changed to Computer-based at Prometric test centers; no paper version (previously Computer-based at Prometric test centers; no paper version; optional 15-min tutorial not timed).^[1]
• Oct 25, 2026: Exam fee changed to $140 per application (includes one exam attempt) (previously $140 (includes $25 non-refundable fee; one attempt)).^[2]
• Oct 25, 2026: Number of questions changed to 150 questions (125 scored, 25 unscored) (previously 150 multiple-choice questions (125 scored, 25 unscored pretest)).^[1]
• Oct 25, 2026: Score release changed to On-screen pass/fail at test end; emailed within 48 hours; certificate package mailed within 2 weeks (previously On-screen pass/fail at end of exam; emailed within 48 hours; certificate mailed within 2 weeks).^[1]
• Oct 25, 2026: Testing window changed to Year-round; 120-day window after approval (previously Year-round; 120-day eligibility window after approval, no extensions).^[1]

Free CER - Certified Endoscope Reprocessor Study Tools

Interactive CER - Certified Endoscope Reprocessor resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:

• Free CER Principles and Maintenance Questions and Answers — 11 questions with instant scoring and answer explanations
• CER - Certified Endoscope Reprocessor flashcards — review key terms and concepts card by card
• CER - Certified Endoscope Reprocessor study guide — topic-by-topic overview of what the exam covers
• CER - Certified Endoscope Reprocessor cheat sheet — one-page printable summary for last-minute review

According to Healthcare Sterile Processing Association, “The CER exam has a total of 150 multiple choice questions. This includes 125 scored and 25 unscored (pretest) questions.”^[1]

CER content outline and where to practise each area

The content areas below are copied from the official CER content outline published by Healthcare Sterile Processing Association, with the share of the exam each area carries. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.

Worked examples: how to reason through CER questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: An endoscope used for a bronchoscopy procedure is classified under the Spaulding system as:

1. Semi-critical, requiring at minimum high-level disinfection
2. Critical, requiring sterilization only
3. Non-critical, requiring low-level disinfection
4. Non-critical, requiring intermediate-level disinfection

Answer: A. Semi-critical, requiring at minimum high-level disinfection

Explanation:

A bronchoscope touches mucous membranes but does not enter normally sterile tissue. Under the Spaulding system that makes it semi-critical, and the minimum level of processing is high-level disinfection.

Critical, sterilization only is wrong because critical items enter sterile tissue or the vascular system. Both non-critical options are wrong because non-critical items touch only intact skin, so low-level or intermediate-level disinfection would be too little for a scope that contacts mucosa.

Rule to remember: classify by what the device contacts. Intact skin is non-critical, mucous membranes are semi-critical, and sterile tissue or blood is critical. The classification sets the minimum processing level.

Example 2

Question: During quality assurance for endoscope reprocessing, an ATP (adenosine triphosphate) bioluminescence test is used to:

1. Confirm sterility of the reprocessed endoscope
2. Detect residual organic contamination as a surrogate marker for cleaning effectiveness
3. Measure the concentration of high-level disinfectant in the solution
4. Verify that the AER machine cycle ran at the correct temperature

Answer: B. Detect residual organic contamination as a surrogate marker for cleaning effectiveness

Explanation:

ATP bioluminescence detects adenosine triphosphate, which is present in organic residue such as tissue, blood and microbes. A high reading after cleaning suggests soil remains, so it works as a quick surrogate for cleaning effectiveness.

Confirming sterility is wrong because ATP cannot show that every organism is dead, and endoscopes are not expected to be sterile after high-level disinfection. Measuring disinfectant concentration is wrong because that needs chemical test strips designed for the product. Verifying the cycle temperature is wrong because that comes from the machine's own cycle record and sensors.

Rule to remember: ATP tests the result of cleaning, not disinfection, sterility, chemistry or machine settings.

Example 3

Question: High-level disinfection (HLD) of flexible endoscopes is sufficient rather than sterilization because:

1. Endoscopes are used only on healthy patients
2. Heat-sensitive materials cannot withstand sterilization cycles and HLD eliminates all pathogens except high numbers of bacterial spores
3. HLD is faster and cheaper with no infection risk
4. Regulatory agencies have not approved sterilization for endoscopes

Answer: B. Heat-sensitive materials cannot withstand sterilization cycles and HLD eliminates all pathogens except high numbers of bacterial spores

Explanation:

Flexible endoscopes contain heat-sensitive materials that many sterilization cycles would damage. High-level disinfection eliminates all pathogens except high numbers of bacterial spores, and that level of risk is accepted for semi-critical items.

Saying endoscopes are used only on healthy patients is wrong, since patients vary and the process must not depend on who they are. Saying high-level disinfection is faster and cheaper with no infection risk is wrong, because it is not risk free and cost is not the basis for the standard. Saying regulators have not approved sterilization is wrong, since low-temperature sterilization methods exist for some devices.

Rule to remember: the processing level follows the device's risk category and its material limits.

How to use these practice tests

Start by reading the official content areas in the HSPA handbook so you know what the exam covers. Then take one of our free fundamentals quizzes without notes to see where you stand.

Sort your misses by content area and work on the weakest first. Use the table above to open the matching set, such as microbiology and infection control or decontamination and manual cleaning. After each question, read the explanation even when you answered correctly, and write down the rule behind it in your own words.

Then tie the sets to your daily work. Compare the answers with your facility's written procedures and the scope manufacturer's instructions for use, because the exam expects you to follow the current instructions for each device. Our sets on automated endoscope reprocessors, chemical disinfectants and quality assurance and documentation are good places to check this.

In the last days before your appointment, mix topics rather than drilling a single set, and practise sitting through a long session so that the 3 hour limit feels familiar. Our questions are written by us and are not real exam questions, so treat them as practice for understanding, not as a prediction of what will appear.

• Topics: Ergonomics, spill response
• Questions: ~15 questions

CER Study Material: What HSPA Builds the Exam From

The best CER study material is the reference list HSPA publishes on the Certified Endoscope Reprocessor certification page, because those are the documents the exam writers used. For the current CER test HSPA names five sources: HSPA's own Endoscope Reprocessing Manual (2nd edition), the ANSI/AAMI ST91:2022 standard for flexible and semi-rigid endoscope processing, the CDC's Essential Elements of a Reprocessing Program for Flexible Endoscopes (2017), two SGNA infection-prevention standards (2018 and 2019), and SGNA's 2017 guideline on high-level disinfectants and sterilants. The HSPA and AAMI titles are sold in the HSPA online store under the "CER" and "AAMI" categories; the SGNA articles are free downloads from SGNA.

Two points catch candidates out. First, HSPA offers no online or distance-learning course for the CER, unlike the CRCST, so certified endoscope reprocessing knowledge has to come from the manual, the standards and your own department. Second, buying study material is optional: HSPA lets you sit the exam on work experience alone, and the Certification Council states it does not require or endorse any specific training product.

A practical plan: read the Endoscope Reprocessing Manual domain by domain, following the seven-domain CER Exam Content Outline (updated June 2021), then use the free questions on this page as an employee CER exam practice test after each domain. Many departments use exactly that sequence, manual chapter then a timed CER practice exam, to document competency before the real appointment.

Certified Endoscope Reprocessor

A certified endoscope reprocessor is a sterile processing or endoscopy technician who has passed HSPA's CER exam and holds the CER credential. The job is to return a flexible endoscope from the procedure room to patient-ready condition: point-of-use pre-cleaning, leak testing, manual cleaning, high-level disinfection or sterilization (often in an automated endoscope reprocessor), drying, transport and storage. Flexible scopes have long, narrow channels that are hard to clean, so a skipped step can leave contamination behind, which is why facilities value certified staff for this work.

The CER is a stand-alone HSPA credential, and current CRCST certification is not required to take the CER exam. To sit for it you need at least three months of hands-on endoscope reprocessing experience within the past three years, documented by the supervisor who oversaw your work. The exam has 150 multiple-choice questions: 125 are scored and 25 are unscored pretest questions, and the application fee is $140 USD. In the official content outline, Reprocessing makes up 32% of the exam and Endoscope Handling, Transport and Storage makes up 16%, so weight your CER test questions practice the same way. Once certified, you renew every year with 6 continuing education credits on endoscopes plus the annual $50 renewal fee.

Expect to invest approximately $250-$350 for your CER certification, including the exam fee and study materials.

Ready to Pass Your CER Test?

Join thousands of certified professionals. Take our CER certification practice test free now, no sign-up needed, and get certified.

Ensure you complete your 6 Continuing Education (CE) credits specifically related to endoscope reprocessing before your renewal date.

Sources & last verified

1. Healthcare Sterile Processing Association — number of questions, time limit, retake fee, retake policy (official source). “The CER exam has a total of 150 multiple choice questions. This includes 125 scored and 25 unscored (pretest) questions.” Verified Oct 25, 2026.
2. Healthcare Sterile Processing Association — exam fee, eligibility (official source). “The $140 application fee includes the cost to take the exam one time, as well as a $25 non-refundable submission fee.” Verified Oct 25, 2026.
3. Healthcare Sterile Processing Association — eligibility (official source). “No. Current CRCST certification is not required to take the CER exam.” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 17, 2026.
4. Healthcare Sterile Processing Association — other (official source). “endoscope handling transport and storage percentage weight 16%” Verified Oct 29, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.

Pros and Cons at a Glance

Sample CER - Certified Endoscope Reprocessor Practice Questions

Try these questions from our free CER - Certified Endoscope Reprocessor practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.

1. Before loading an endoscope into an automated endoscope reprocessor (AER) set to run a sterilization cycle, the technician MUST:

   • A. Perform pre-cleaning, leak testing, and manual cleaning per IFU
   • B. Only perform a leak test to detect channel damage
   • C. Confirm the patient's infection status and adjust the cycle accordingly
   • D. Remove all detachable parts and sterilize them separately in the autoclave

   Answer: A. Perform pre-cleaning, leak testing, and manual cleaning per IFU

Pre-cleaning, leak testing, and manual cleaning must always precede any automated reprocessing cycle to remove gross soil and verify device integrity.

• A. A list of other facilities that use the same repair service.
• B. The personal contact information of the technician who performed the repair.
• C. A detailed report listing the specific components that were repaired or replaced and confirmation that all quality checks were passed.
• D. A simple invoice with only the total cost of the repair.

Answer: C. A detailed report listing the specific components that were repaired or replaced and confirmation that all quality checks were passed.

A detailed service report is crucial for tracking the endoscope's history and ensuring quality control. This documentation provides vital information on what failed, what was fixed, and what parts were replaced, which is essential for quality assurance, tracking repair trends, asset management, and verifying the device was returned to proper specifications.

Take the full CER - Certified Endoscope Reprocessor practice test

You can continue preparing with the aaert cer exam quizlet, which includes answer explanations for every question.

You can continue preparing with the hspa endoscope reprocessing manual pre test, which includes answer explanations for every question.

Official Resources

• HSPA: Certified Endoscope Reprocessor (CER) certification page sets out eligibility, the hands-on experience requirement, the reference materials and the seven exam domains.
• HSPA 2026 Certification Handbook (PDF) is the official rulebook for the exam: scheduling at Prometric, test-day identification, scoring and retake policy.
• HSPA: Renew Your Certification explains the annual CE credit requirement, the renewal fee and the grace period for keeping your CER active.