IAHCSMM-CRCST Exam Information and Guideline
Certified Registered Central Service Technician 2024
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Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST)
The Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) certification program is designed to recognize entry level and existing technicians who have demonstrated the experience, knowledge and skills necessary to provide competent services as a central service technician. CRCST's are integral members of the healthcare team who are responsible for decontaminating, inspecting, assembling, disassembling, packaging and sterilizing reusable surgical instruments or devices in a healthcare facility that are essential for patient safety.
To earn CRCST certification, candidates are required to successfully demonstrate skills through completion of hands-on work experience as well as successful completion of an examination developed to measure the understanding of general central services and infection prevention topics. CRCST certificants are required to recertify annually through completion of continuing education requirements.
The CRCST Certification is accredited by both the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).
To prepare for the CRCST certification, the following options are available:
Online Course: Purdue University offers an online course that is designed to help prepare Central Service professionals for the CRCST exam. You can find out more about the course by calling 800.830.0269 or by visiting Purdue's website
Self Study: You may purchase reference materials and choose to study on your own to prepare for the CRCST exam. IAHCSMM's CS Technical Manual (8th ed.) was used as a reference in creating the exam, along with ANSI/AAMI's ST79 (2017 ed.), and AORN's Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices. You can order these publications through the IAHCSMM store and the AORN website.
Work Experience: You may take the exam based on your personal knowledge from experience in the field; it is not required that you take or pass a preparatory course nor study materials on your own. Applicants can apply directly to take the exam without purchasing study materials or enrolling in a course.
CRCST certification requires that you pass the certification exam and complete 400 hours of hands-on experience in a CS department. These hours can be completed before testing or within 6 months of passing the exam. IAHCSMM highly recommends completing, or at least beginning, your hours of experience before testing. Hands-on experience provides an invaluable resource with which to better understand the standards, knowledge, and practices needed to be successful in a CS department and on the CRCST Exam.
Content & Composition of the Examination
The CRCST exam will test your proficiency in these areas:
- Cleaning, Decontamination & Disinfection
- Preparation & Packaging
- Sterilization Process
- Patient Care Equipment
- Sterile Storage & Inventory Management
- Documentation & Record Maintenance
- Customer Relations