CRCST vs CBSPD (CSPDT), Compared Honestly
Two boards certify the same bench. Here is CRCST vs CSPDT dimension by dimension, then how to tell which exam is yours to sit.
CRCST and CSPDT are two certifications for the same job — the sterile-processing / central-service technician who cleans, decontaminates, assembles and sterilizes surgical instruments. They come from different bodies: CRCST is issued by HSPA (the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association, formerly IAHCSMM), and CSPDT is issued by the CBSPD (the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution). You generally sit one or the other, not both.
Neither is a government licence — both are voluntary professional credentials. Which one to take usually comes down to what your employer names, what your state accepts, and which pathway your training already points at. Below is each cert dimension by dimension, then a plain way to decide. If you have landed on CRCST, the free CRCST practice test and the study guide are built for it.
Side by side
CRCST and CSPDT, side by side
Here are the two certifications side by side. Read down the dimension column, then across to each cert. Where a cell would need a fee, a count or a date, it points you at the body that owns that number instead of guessing it.
| Dimension | CRCST (HSPA) | CSPDT (CBSPD) |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing body | HSPA — Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (formerly IAHCSMM, renamed 2021). | CBSPD — Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution. |
| Full credential | CRCST — Certified Registered Central Service Technician. | CSPDT — Certified Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician. |
| What it certifies | Entry-level competence as a sterile-processing / central-service technician. | The same field — a sterile-processing and distribution technician. |
| Recognition | Widely referenced across US hospitals and the more commonly named of the two in job posts and state certification rules; the larger SPD professional community. | A long-established alternative board, also accepted by many employers and under some state rules. |
| Eligibility path (high level) | Register, sit the exam, and complete a hands-on experience requirement to move from provisional to full certification — the exact hours and deadline are on myhspa.org. | Its own eligibility route, with options based on experience or training — confirm the current path with the CBSPD. |
| Exam format (high level) | A proctored multiple-choice exam across seven weighted content domains; the question count and passing score are on myhspa.org. | A multiple-choice exam over the same body of knowledge; format specifics are with the CBSPD. |
| Renewal | Periodic recertification with continuing education — the CE count and renewal fee are on myhspa.org. | Periodic renewal with its own continuing-education requirements — details are with the CBSPD. |
| Fees, dates, pass rates | Not reprinted here — set by HSPA and change over time: myhspa.org. | Likewise set by the board and subject to change: the CBSPD. |
Two different bodies, two different exams. Most techs hold one, not both.
Two boards certify the same bench. In practice your employer or your state usually decides which letters go after your name.
How to choose
How to choose between them
Both are legitimate, so the decision is practical, not a matter of prestige. Work it in this order.
Read the job posting first
Most sterile-processing roles name the credential they want. If a hospital lists CRCST or HSPA by name, that is your answer before anything else.
Check your state
A growing number of states require SPD techs to hold certification as a condition of employment, and those rules list which credentials count. Confirm the current rule for your own state rather than assuming — the list changes as bills pass.
Match your training
Pick the cert your course and study materials already point at. Preparation built around one exam's blueprint transfers only partly to the other.
Then commit to one
You rarely need both to start. Choose the credential that opens the most doors where you work, and drill that one exam.
Both certs
Can you hold both?
Yes — nothing stops a technician from holding both CRCST and CSPDT, and some do over a long career. But there is little reason to sit both at the start: they cover the same role, and employers almost never require the pair. Pick the one that clears the most doors for you now, and add the second later only if a specific job asks for it.
Whichever you choose, the fundamentals overlap heavily — decontamination, packaging, sterilization and monitoring. If CRCST is your target, start with what the CRCST certification is and how to register, then work the study guide and drill the practice test.
FAQ
CRCST vs CBSPD FAQ
Is CRCST or CBSPD better?
Neither is universally 'better' — CRCST (HSPA) and CSPDT (CBSPD) certify the same sterile-processing role from two different boards. CRCST is the more widely recognized and more commonly named of the two, while CSPDT is a long-standing alternative. The one that is 'better' for you is the one your employer or state accepts, so check a job posting in your area first.
Can I take both CRCST and CBSPD?
Yes. Nothing stops you from holding both credentials, but most technicians start with one. Employers rarely require the pair, so pick a single cert to begin with and add the second later only if a specific role calls for it.
Do employers prefer CRCST or CSPDT?
It varies by employer and region. Many hospitals name CRCST specifically; others accept either or name CSPDT. Read the posting, and where your state mandates certification, check which credentials the rule lists. For current fees, formats and requirements, go to myhspa.org for CRCST or the CBSPD for CSPDT.
SteriDesk CRCST
Decided on CRCST? Start drilling.
If CRCST is your exam, the SteriDesk app drills HSPA-style questions across all seven domains with an explanation on every one — or practise free right here on this site.