Failed my first attempt with a 68% back in January and was pretty frustrated since you need a 70% to pass. I'd been studying casually for about 3 weeks but clearly that wasn't cutting it for the infection control and reprocessing sections, which felt like they accounted for maybe 35% of the questions I saw.
Second time around I gave myself 6 weeks and committed to 2 hours every evening after my shift. The biggest gap in my knowledge was high-level disinfection protocols — specifically the differences between Cidex OPA and glutaraldehyde exposure times and which scopes require sterilization versus HLD. That material is dense but it's very testable.
Also spent a solid week just on GI anatomy and endoscope component identification since those questions tripped me up the first time. The exam's 150 questions and you get 3 hours, so time wasn't the issue — it's really about knowing the reprocessing standards cold. Ended up scoring a 78% on attempt two and honestly felt like I could've done better if I'd started the second prep cycle sooner.
Congrats on passing the second time. Did you find the actual exam questions were similar in style to the CBSPD practice materials? I'm scheduled for next month and trying to figure out where to focus the last few weeks of prep.
That infection control section is no joke. I passed on my first try with a 72% but honestly think I got lucky on a few of the sterilization questions. What resources did you use for the reprocessing standards? I mostly leaned on SGNA guidelines and found them pretty well aligned with what was actually tested.
We had three techs sit for CET last year at our surgery center. Two passed on the first attempt and one needed a second shot. The reprocessing and documentation sections are definitely weighted heavily. Anyone who underestimates the documentation piece usually regrets it.
Six weeks at 2 hours a day sounds about right based on what others in my cohort did. The folks who tried to cram it into 2 weeks mostly didn't make it. GI anatomy was my weak spot too — especially the pediatric scope specifications and the differences in channel diameter between models.
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