The CSPT (Compounded Sterile Preparation Technician) certification is an advanced specialty credential offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) for pharmacy technicians who specialize in sterile compounding environments. Preparing for this exam requires deep familiarity with USP 797 and USP 800 standards, aseptic technique, cleanroom operations, and pharmaceutical calculations.
Our free CSPT practice test PDF gives you printable exam-style questions covering every major domain of the certification. Study at your own pace, annotate your copy, and reinforce the knowledge needed to pass on exam day.
The CSPT examination tests your ability to apply advanced sterile compounding knowledge in a clinical or institutional pharmacy setting. Understanding the following topic areas is essential for passing.
USP 797 defines the environmental requirements for compounding sterile preparations. The primary engineering control (PEC) — such as a laminar airflow workbench (LAFW) or biological safety cabinet (BSC) — must maintain ISO 5 air quality. The buffer area surrounding the PEC must meet ISO 7 standards, while the ante area must meet ISO 8. Horizontal-flow LAFWs are used for non-hazardous drug preparations; BSCs with vertical airflow are required for hazardous drug compounding to protect the compounder.
The updated USP 797 chapter categorizes CSPs into three sterility categories. Category 1 CSPs are prepared in conditions that do not meet ISO 5 requirements and carry short BUDs — 12 hours at controlled room temperature or 24 hours refrigerated. Category 2 CSPs are prepared in ISO 5 PECs with supporting ISO 7/ISO 8 environments and may receive extended BUDs based on sterility testing. Category 3 CSPs have the most stringent environmental and testing requirements and may qualify for the longest BUDs. Knowing BUD limits for each category is a high-frequency exam topic.
Compounding personnel must demonstrate competency through garbing evaluations, hand hygiene technique assessments, gloved fingertip sampling, and media fill testing. Media fill tests simulate aseptic technique using growth media instead of actual drug product — any growth in the media indicates a breach of aseptic technique. Personnel must complete initial competency assessments and periodic reassessments per USP 797 requirements.
A critical site is any surface or opening that is at risk for contamination and could affect the sterility of a CSP. This includes the needle tip, vial septum, ampule neck, and syringe tip. Proper aseptic technique requires disinfecting all critical sites with 70% IPA and allowing full contact time before manipulation. Vials are accessed using a coring-prevention technique; ampules require a filter needle or filter straw during withdrawal.
Cleanroom environmental monitoring includes viable air sampling (active and passive), surface sampling using contact plates or swabs, and non-viable particle counts. Temperature, humidity, and pressure differential logs must be maintained. ISO 5 areas require more frequent monitoring than ISO 7 or ISO 8 areas. Out-of-specification results trigger corrective action documentation.
USP 800 governs the handling of hazardous drugs (HDs) listed on the NIOSH hazardous drug list. Requirements include negative pressure rooms for HDs, use of closed-system transfer devices (CSTDs), and a four-step decontamination process: deactivation, decontamination, cleaning, and disinfection. Personnel handling HDs must use appropriate PPE including double gloves, a chemotherapy gown, and respiratory protection where indicated.
In addition to downloading the PDF, you can take our interactive CSPT practice test directly in your browser. Our online questions are randomized, auto-scored, and include detailed answer explanations to help you understand not just what the correct answer is, but why. Combine the printable PDF for offline review with the online tests for timed practice, and you'll have full coverage of every domain on the CSPT exam.