The HSPA exam (formerly known as the iahcsmm certification) is the definitive standard for sterile processing professionals worldwide. Administered by the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association, this rigorous HSPA test validates your expertise in cleaning, decontamination, assembly, and sterilization of surgical instruments. Earning your HSPA certification demonstrates your commitment to patient safety and infection control excellence.
Our comprehensive HSPA practice test resources are designed to help you master the material found in the HSPA 9th edition manual. Whether you are preparing for the HSPA CRCST exam or looking for a reliable HSPA study guide, our free tools will boost your confidence. Start practicing with real HSPA exam questions today to ensure you pass your certification on the first attempt.
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.
Prepare for the HSPA - Healthcare Sterile Processing Association Certification exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
Quick review for the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association exam
This comprehensive HSPA study guide breaks down essential topics for the certification. Use these HSPA exam insights to focus your preparation on high-yield areas like sterilization methods and regulations.
Estimated score calculation
Required to Pass: ~70% (Estimated)
Your Score: 105 correct ✓ PASS
The journey to HSPA certification involves education, practical experience, and passing the exam. Here is the step-by-step process to becoming a CRCST.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Your HSPA certification must be renewed annually. Maintaining your credential requires staying current with industry standards through continuing education.
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.