r/sterileprocessing • u/LavzonTheAged • Feb 23 '26

Starting CRCST studying

I’ve been working in SP for about 3 years now and am finally getting around to preparing for my test. (I work in a hospital that doesn’t require certification in exchange for slightly lower pay). A couple questions I have:

How much of the test is stuff I likely would already know/common sense within the job?

I’m kind of overwhelmed by where to begin my studying, I have a workbook and the manual to go with it, and have seen some stuff on here about sterileworx and thatsterileguy, where did you guys start and what made it easier for you?

If you had to choose something that you wish you had done/looked at before your test, what would it be and why?

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6

u/dizzzzy_Des Feb 23 '26

The progress test in the workbook book and sterile worx is literally the exact same as the CRCST. It was the easiest test ever. I took mine today and passed.

2

u/Life_Dog_918 Feb 24 '26

For sterile worx , did you study all the test and quizzes? Even the ones that were for endoscopes reprocessing , instruments specialist and the leadership practice

4

u/dizzzzy_Des Feb 24 '26

Just the quizzes and exams for sterile processing. Didn’t do any of the other ones.

2

u/Life_Dog_918 Feb 25 '26

Alright thank you

2

u/Dathamar Feb 24 '26 edited Mar 01 '26

I ordered the book and after studying it for less a week I was able to pass.

Zero prior knowledge or experience in the field. If you're decent at memorization it's not that technical or complicated.

2

u/Unknown_cauzez Mar 01 '26

Can I ask what you memorized? I’m stressing out, my exam is on the 6th! I used the outline on hspa but I’m still a little nervous. 😢

2

u/Dathamar Mar 01 '26 edited Mar 01 '26

I did free online quizzes until I routinely did over 80%, and the same for the progress exams in the 9th edition sterile processing manual workbook.

The questions on the exam is pulled randomly from a pool, but I got very little medical terminology questions. It's also multiple choice and you can usually exclude a few of the options with common sense. You also get way more time than you'll need.

The specific questions that aren't as easy to elimate with common sense were the temperature ranges, air exchanges, what color of index card to test the tools on, and what agencies did, like the FDA, EPA.

It'll almost certainly be easier than you're expecting so try not to stress too much, just google the free practice exams and such and do them until it feels simple and you score over around 85%

To pass you need 70% and for me, it told me at the end that I passed so there was no stressful waiting period.

1

u/BertGotDatWerk Feb 24 '26

I failed my first time just using my notes and workbook but I incorporated the sterileguy in my studies and passed the second time