The seven states
| State | New hires must certify | Credential | Grandfathered | Annual CE | Live jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut Law text |
Within 2 years of date of hire | CRCST or CSPDT | Employed as a central service technician before Jan 1, 2016 | 10 hours a year | 2 jobs |
| Delaware Law text |
Within 18 months of date of hire | CRCST or CSPDT | Working as a central service technician on Jan 1, 2023 | 10 hours a year | 0 |
| Minnesota Law text |
Within 2 years of date of hire | Certification (see bill text) | Working in the profession before Jan 1, 2028 (10 hours CE instead) | 10 hours | 11 jobs |
| New Jersey Law text |
Within 3 years of employment | A national sterile processing certification recognized by NJ DOH | None stated | – | 5 jobs |
| New York Law text |
Within 18 months of date of hire | CRCST, CSPDT or a substantially equivalent credential | 1 cumulative year as a CS tech in the 4 years before the law took effect (Jan 1, 2015) | 10 hours a year | 14 jobs |
| Pennsylvania Law text |
Within 18 months of date of hire | CRCST or CSPDT | Employed as a CS tech before Dec 29, 2020 | Required annually (see FAQ) | 23 jobs |
| Tennessee Law text |
Within 2 years of date of hire | CRCST or CSPDT | Employed as a CS tech before Jan 1, 2017 | 10 hours a year | 26 jobs |
Summarized from the statute or regulation text linked in each row (Minnesota from HSPA's summary of the 2025 law). HSPA itself notes that its legislative pages are informational, not legal advice. Live job counts: SterileShift, Oct 21, 2026.
State by state
Connecticut
- New hires: Within 2 years of date of hire
- Applies to: Central service technicians in health care facilities
- Credential: CRCST or CSPDT
- Grandfathered: Employed as a central service technician before Jan 1, 2016
- Continuing education: 10 hours a year
Source: Connecticut central service technician law (HB 5913, via HSPA) · 2 live Connecticut jobs
Delaware
- New hires: Within 18 months of date of hire
- Applies to: Hospitals and freestanding surgical centers
- Credential: CRCST or CSPDT
- Grandfathered: Working as a central service technician on Jan 1, 2023
- Continuing education: 10 hours a year
Source: Delaware Code Title 16, Ch. 30A, Subchapter II
Minnesota
- New hires: Within 2 years of date of hire (law takes effect Jan 1, 2028)
- Applies to: New central service technicians (law effective Jan 1, 2028)
- Credential: Certification (see bill text)
- Grandfathered: Working in the profession before Jan 1, 2028 (10 hours CE instead)
- Continuing education: 10 hours
Source: HSPA: Minnesota governor signs certification bill (June 16, 2025) · 11 live Minnesota jobs
New Jersey
- New hires: Within 3 years of employment
- Applies to: All personnel involved in sterile processing (hospital licensing rules)
- Credential: A national sterile processing certification recognized by NJ DOH
- Grandfathered: None stated
Source: N.J.A.C. 8:43G-8.2 central service staff qualifications (via HSPA) · 5 live New Jersey jobs
New York
- New hires: Within 18 months of date of hire
- Applies to: Central service technicians in healthcare facilities
- Credential: CRCST, CSPDT or a substantially equivalent credential
- Grandfathered: 1 cumulative year as a CS tech in the 4 years before the law took effect (Jan 1, 2015)
- Continuing education: 10 hours a year
Source: New York central service technician law (via HSPA) · 14 live New York jobs
Pennsylvania
- New hires: Within 18 months of date of hire
- Applies to: Hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities
- Credential: CRCST or CSPDT
- Grandfathered: Employed as a CS tech before Dec 29, 2020
- Continuing education: Required annually (see FAQ)
Source: Pennsylvania central service technician law FAQs (via HSPA) · 23 live Pennsylvania jobs
Tennessee
- New hires: Within 2 years of date of hire
- Applies to: Healthcare institutions
- Credential: CRCST or CSPDT
- Grandfathered: Employed as a CS tech before Jan 1, 2017
- Continuing education: 10 hours a year
Source: Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-11-239 (via HSPA) · 26 live Tennessee jobs
States with legislation in progress
HSPA lists Florida, Oregon and South Carolina as "active for legislation or regulation." Nothing is in force there yet according to that list, but employers in any state can require certification in their own job requirements. Source: HSPA: Legislative certification issues (state map)
What this means if you're job hunting
- Not certified yet? All seven rules give new hires a period to certify, so you can be hired uncertified, but plan to pass within the deadline. The CRCST's provisional route and CBSPD's course route don't need prior work experience: see how to become an SPD tech.
- Moving states? Grandfather clauses are tied to dates and, in some states, to employment history. Pennsylvania's FAQ, for example, says a facility may hire an uncertified person who worked as a CS technician in a health care facility before Dec 29, 2020. Source: Pennsylvania central service technician law FAQs (via HSPA)
- Travel techs: Connecticut, New York and Tennessee's laws cover technicians a facility contracts with, not only employees.
Frequently asked questions
Which states require sterile processing certification?
HSPA lists Connecticut, Delaware, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. Minnesota's law takes effect January 1, 2028. Source: HSPA: Legislative certification issues (state map).
How long do I have to get certified in New York?
New York's law gives a newly hired central service technician 18 months from the date of hire to obtain the CRCST or CSPDT credential. Source: New York central service technician law (via HSPA).
Do I need certification to work in sterile processing in Texas or California?
Neither appears on HSPA's list of states that require certification or that are active for legislation (Florida, Oregon and South Carolina are). Employers can still require it, and many listings do. Source: HSPA: Legislative certification issues (state map).
Sources
- HSPA: Legislative certification issues (state map)
- Connecticut central service technician law (HB 5913, via HSPA)
- Delaware Code Title 16, Ch. 30A, Subchapter II
- HSPA: Minnesota governor signs certification bill (June 16, 2025)
- N.J.A.C. 8:43G-8.2 central service staff qualifications (via HSPA)
- New York central service technician law (via HSPA)
- Pennsylvania central service technician law FAQs (via HSPA)
- Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-11-239 (via HSPA)
- 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.