The short version
- Have a high school diploma or equivalent. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine & Science lists it as the education requirement, together with a central service technician program, which typically runs four to eight months. Source: Mayo Clinic College of Medicine & Science: Central service technician career
- Pick your route to hands-on experience: a training program with a clinical placement, or a trainee / Tech I job where the hospital trains you. Right now 16 live listings look entry-level
- Choose a certification: the HSPA CRCST or the CBSPD CSPDT. Compare them in CRCST vs CBSPD.
- Get the hours or training the exam requires: 400 hands-on hours for the CRCST (before testing, or within 6 months after, as a provisional candidate), or one of CBSPD's four eligibility routes. Sources: HSPA: CRCST certification, CBSPD: SPD Technician Certification Exam (CSPDT)
- Pass the exam. CRCST: 150 questions, 3 hours, computer-based at Prometric, $140. CSPDT: 150 questions (125 scored), four one-week windows a year, $135. Sources: HSPA Certification Handbook (revised January 2026), CBSPD: SPD Technician Certification Exam (CSPDT)
- Check your state's rule: seven states require certification, with deadlines of 18 months to 3 years after hire. See certification by state. Source: HSPA: Legislative certification issues (state map)
- Keep it current. The CRCST renews every year (12 CE credits plus a $50 fee); CBSPD certification is valid for 5 years. Sources: HSPA Certification Handbook (revised January 2026), CBSPD: FAQs
Two ways in: school first or job first
| Training program first | Trainee job first | |
|---|---|---|
| How you get experience | Course plus a clinical placement (check that the school arranges it: HSPA does not place candidates) | Paid, on the job, under supervision |
| Certification path | CBSPD accepts a completed SPD course with a grade of 70+; CRCST still needs 400 documented hours | CRCST provisional (test, then log 400 hours in 6 months) or full CRCST after 400 hours; CBSPD after 12 months full-time |
| Cost to you | Tuition (varies by school) + exam fee | Exam fee (ask whether the employer covers it) |
| Where to look | Community colleges and training schools | 16 entry-level listings |
Sources: HSPA: CRCST certification, HSPA: Can I take the CRCST exam before I've completed my 400 hours?, CBSPD: SPD Technician Certification Exam (CSPDT)
How long does it take?
The CRCST's 400 hours are 10 weeks at 40 hours a week (or 20 weeks at 20). After HSPA approves your application you have 120 days to sit the exam. On the CBSPD side, the work-experience route is 12 months full-time, and the course route depends on the program (Mayo describes typical programs as four to eight months). Sources: HSPA Certification Handbook (revised January 2026), CBSPD: SPD Technician Certification Exam (CSPDT), Mayo Clinic College of Medicine & Science: Central service technician career
| CRCST 400 hours by area | Hours | Full-time weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Decontamination | 120 | 3 |
| Preparing & packaging instruments | 120 | 3 |
| Sterilization & disinfection | 120 | 3 |
| Storage & distribution | 24 | 0.6 |
| Quality assurance processes | 16 | 0.4 |
| Total | 400 | 10 |
Hours from HSPA; weeks are our arithmetic at 40 hours a week. Source: HSPA: CRCST certification
What it pays
BLS puts the median wage for medical equipment preparers (31-9093) at $22.93 an hour in May 2025, with the 10th percentile at $17.50 and the 90th at $33.63. In live staff listings on SterileShift (Oct 21, 2026) the median posted pay is $26.96 across 105 listings. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, 31-9093 Medical Equipment Preparers (occupation profile) See salary by state and travel pay.
Next steps
- CRCST exam and the 400 hours, explained
- Interview questions by task area
- Sterile processing jobs by state
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a degree to be a sterile processing technician?
No degree is required for the CRCST or CSPDT. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine & Science says you need a high school diploma (or equivalent) and a central service technician program, typically four to eight months long. HSPA's CRCST route needs 400 hands-on hours instead of a course. Sources: Mayo Clinic College of Medicine & Science: Central service technician career, HSPA: CRCST certification.
Can I become a sterile processing tech with no experience?
Yes. HSPA's provisional route lets you pass the CRCST exam first and log the 400 hours within six months, and CBSPD accepts a completed training course with a grade of 70 or higher in place of work experience. Sources: HSPA: Can I take the CRCST exam before I've completed my 400 hours?, CBSPD: SPD Technician Certification Exam (CSPDT).
How much does it cost to get certified?
The CRCST exam is $140 and renewal is $50 a year plus 12 CE credits; the CBSPD technician exam is $135. Training programs are priced separately by each school. Sources: HSPA Certification Handbook (revised January 2026), CBSPD: SPD Technician Certification Exam (CSPDT).
Sources
- Mayo Clinic College of Medicine & Science: Central service technician career
- HSPA: CRCST certification
- HSPA Certification Handbook (revised January 2026)
- HSPA: Can I take the CRCST exam before I've completed my 400 hours?
- CBSPD: SPD Technician Certification Exam (CSPDT)
- HSPA: Legislative certification issues (state map)
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 31-9093 Medical Equipment Preparers (occupation profile)
- SterileShift job data: 585 live sterile processing openings collected from public hospital and staffing-agency career sites, Oct 21, 2026. How we collect it.
SterileShift is not affiliated with HSPA, CBSPD or the BLS. Rules, fees and dates change: confirm on the official sites before you apply or pay for anything.