HSPA Practice Test

Did you know? The HSPA CRCST exam requires you to complete 400 hours of hands-on experience before or within 6 months of passing the test. This practical component ensures every HSPA sterile processing professional is fully prepared for the demands of the job.

If you are searching for a HSPA 150 question practice test or an HSPA free practice test, start with the free questions on this page: every answer comes with an explanation, and the study notes below cover the HSPA exam topics in order.

• Topics: Safety, infection control, medical terminology
• Questions: Approx. 22 questions

1. Enroll in Training - Complete a sterile processing course or self-study with the HSPA 9th edition manual.
2. Complete 400 Hours - Gain 400 hours of hands-on experience in a sterile processing department (can be done before or after exam).
3. Apply for Exam - Create an account on the HSPA website and submit your exam application with the fee.
4. Schedule Test - Book your exam appointment at a local Prometric testing center.
5. Pass HSPA Exam - Take and pass the 150-question HSPA test (graded pass/fail; HSPA does not publish the cut score).
6. Submit Hours - If you took the exam provisionally, submit proof of your 400 hours within 6 months.
7. Maintain Certification - Renew annually by completing 12 CE credits and paying the renewal fee.

HSPA Certification for Sterile Processing Technicians

The HSPA certification (formerly IAHCSMM) offers the Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) credential, which requires passing a 150-question exam covering decontamination, sterilization, and instrument identification. Candidates must also complete 400 hours of hands-on experience in a sterile processing department within six months of passing the written exam.

CRCST Exam Eligibility and Renewal

HSPA certification must be renewed annually with 12 continuing education (CE) credits submitted to HSPA. The exam fee is $140 for all candidates (including a $25 non-refundable application fee), and the test is administered through Prometric testing centers nationwide.

HSPA Sterile Processing Exam Content Areas

The HSPA sterile processing exam tests seven content domains, including cleaning, decontamination and disinfection (20%), preparation and packaging (20%), sterilization process (20%), and sterile storage and inventory management (10%), plus documentation, customer relations, and patient care equipment (10% each). Test-takers should know AAMI ST79 standards, biological indicators, and Bowie-Dick test protocols for prevacuum steam sterilizers.

Instrument Identification Knowledge

Questions cover recognizing Kelly clamps, Metzenbaum scissors, Kerrison rongeurs, and retractors by name and function. Understanding instrument assembly, lubrication with instrument milk, and proper tray weight limits (25 pounds maximum per AAMI) is required.

HSPA Practice Test Preparation Strategy

An effective HSPA practice exam should mirror the 150-question format with a 3-hour time limit; since HSPA reports only pass/fail, treat 75% or better on practice tests as your target. Quality practice questions cover microbiology basics, Spaulding classification (critical, semi-critical, non-critical items), and ethylene oxide aeration times.

Study Resources Beyond Practice Tests

Pair practice tests with the HSPA Sterile Processing Technical Manual (9th edition, 2023), which is the official reference used to write exam questions. Focus review time on weak domains identified through practice test scoring reports rather than re-reading material already mastered. A short HSPA practice quiz of 20-25 questions per domain is enough to expose a weak area without burning a full 3-hour session.

How an HSPA Certification Practice Test Prepares You for the Real CRCST Exam

The CRCST practice test HSPA candidates need most is one that behaves like the real thing. The live exam has 150 multiple-choice questions, but only 125 are scored; the other 25 are unscored pretest items mixed in at random, so treat every question as if it counts. With 3 hours on the clock, that is about 72 seconds per question, the pace to rehearse on any HSPA exam practice test before you sit at Prometric.

Weight your practice the way HSPA weights the exam. Cleaning and decontamination, preparation and packaging, and the sterilization process each carry roughly 20% of scored items, so about 75 of your 125 scored questions come from those three domains. The other four domains share the remaining 40%. If an HSPA practice exam shows you under 75% in any 20% domain, that is where your next study block belongs.

One thing a practice test cannot simulate: once HSPA approves your application you have a 120-day window to schedule at a Prometric center, so use your HSPA free practice test results to decide when to apply.

If you're preparing for multiple certifications in the sterile processing and healthcare technician space, you may also benefit from reviewing the AAC practice test to strengthen your grasp on related clinical terminology and procedures.

Candidates working toward advanced credentials often pair their HSPA study sessions with the AACC practice test to reinforce laboratory and instrument reprocessing concepts that overlap both exams.

The total HSPA certification cost typically ranges from $250 to $500 for self-study candidates, or up to $3,000 if attending a formal college program. Many employers reimburse these fees.

Start Your HSPA Certification Journey

Join thousands of sterile processing professionals who passed their exam using our free resources. Take your first HSPA practice test now, or jump straight to an HSPA practice quiz on the domain you find hardest, and get certified!

Always submit your renewal application and HSPA CE credits before your certification expiration date to avoid late fees or losing your credential. You can track credits through the HSPA login portal.

Official Resources

• HSPA: Become Certified - the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association's official CRCST page with the current Certification Handbook, exam content outline, online application, and the 120-day Prometric scheduling window.
• HSPA: Renew Your Certification - official annual renewal rules, the 12 CE credit requirement, deadlines, and the renewal fee for CRCST holders.
• AAMI Standards - the standards body behind ANSI/AAMI ST79 and related sterilization standards that the HSPA exam questions on decontamination, sterilization, and monitoring are written against.