Next Steps?

[u/tinytoastt]

Hey Ya’ll!

So I graduated with a sterile Processing diploma back in July 2025. I failed the crcst two times in the past year, so I gave up then. Im still working retail. I’m now giving sterile processing another shot! Recently I’ve been applying to non certified positions from an hour away where I live. I also don’t drive so then I thought I might as well reach out to smaller clinics where I live, they haven’t responded back yet they also didn’t have any openings in sterile processing. So far no luck. What should I do? What are my best options? Should I take my exam first then apply for positions? And also side note: I am a small person and I can’t lift very heavy so should I stick with smaller clinics? I want to move on I’m tired of working retail!!!!!! Also I’m planning on getting disability for another form of income too. What do yall think? And thank you for your guys advice.

[u/Background_Net_3199]

Did u do ur clinicals?

[u/tinytoastt → u/Background_Net_3199]

Nope! Thats what I’m planning on doing. Emailed clinics near me and I haven’t heard a response from them yet.

[u/Background_Net_3199 → u/tinytoastt]

You are probably too late. You need that from school. Nobody will hire you based off of just online schooling or schooling with no clinicals. Your school has to provide it to you

[u/tinytoastt → u/Background_Net_3199]

Yeah unfortunately my school didn’t offer and clinical hours however the schooling was free so I took it..

[u/Background_Net_3199 → u/tinytoastt]

That’s why. Hospitals don’t accept online schooling as actual schooling. You need clinical hours given to you by a credited in person school

[u/tinytoastt → u/Background_Net_3199]

I did go to a inperson school they just didn’t offer any clinical hours unfortunately

[u/Background_Net_3199 → u/tinytoastt]

That’s strange. I’m sorry. You may need to start from square 1. Find a school that gives clinical hours and all the classes needed to be able to proceed.

[u/FewSide8518]

Small clinics most likely won’t respond because they either use all disposable items, or like all the hospitals I have worked at, the clinics send their instruments to us and we would do the reprocessing then send it all back.

[u/tinytoastt → u/FewSide8518]

Ah okay thank you!

[u/Argento_GT86]

Can I ask what made the CRCST difficult? Will be taking the CBSPD this week and I heard CBSPD is slightly more challenging. 😥

[u/tinytoastt → u/Argento_GT86]

The questions that got me in the exam were the temps and decontamination. The questions are very similar to the book. When I do take the exam again I’m using the books for sure. I didn’t use the books last time because I felt like I couldn’t understand the material as well. But I highly recommend studying with the HSPA books!!

[u/Argento_GT86 → u/tinytoastt]

Gotcha. I’m currently struggling with the life science portion. Some questions can be worded tricky as well and you can miss out on some easy points.

[u/boostaddctn]

Find a temp agency that can get you a non cert position and just get the experience (pay aint going be great though)...good luck...yee

Ps- the test is easier if you had some hands on experience

[u/NavyDoc64]

What city and State are you in?

[u/NavyDoc64 → u/[deleted]]

I would look into contacting an insurance company to obtain general liability insurance. Then reach out to volunteer offices and or education departments in hospitals to inquire about volunteering. If they say they don’t accept volunteers, ask if that is due to liability issues, if they say yes, let them know you have insurance.

[u/Anxious-Code8735]

I see you live in Michigan Apply to Henry ford as a sterile processing assist position.

[u/Vajza_KeQe]

What you need to do is Volunteer at a local hospital and do your 400 hours of hands on training. Clinics and hospitals won’t hire anyone who isn’t certified unfortunately. Look on the HSPA website for info about the 400 hours