CRCST Exam Prep1. Cleaning, Decontamination, and Disinfection
About 21% of scored questions, roughly 26 questions
- Steps of the decontamination workflow, in order
- Manual vs mechanical cleaning: when each is used
- Ultrasonic cleaner principles and testing
- Washer-disinfector cycles and water quality
- Detergents, enzymes, and chemistry selection
- Disinfection levels: high, intermediate, low
- Personal protective equipment for decontamination
2. Preparation and Packaging
About 21% of scored questions, roughly 26 questions
- Instrument inspection, testing, and assembly
- Count sheets and tray assembly verification
- Peel pouches, wrap, and container systems
- Packaging material selection and limits
- Labeling requirements on every package
3. Sterilization Process
About 21% of scored questions, roughly 26 questions
- Steam cycle parameters: 121 C / 30 min, 132 C / 15 min, prevacuum 132 C / 4 min, IUSS 132 C / 3 min
- Gravity vs prevacuum air removal
- Bowie-Dick test: what, when, and why
- Biological vs chemical indicators
- Sterilizer loading rules and cycle failures
- Immediate-use steam sterilization: emergencies only
- Low-temperature methods: ethylene oxide, hydrogen peroxide
4. Departmental Considerations
About 15% of scored questions, roughly 19 questions
- SPD workflow: dirty to clean, one direction
- Environmental controls: temperature, humidity, air exchanges
- Safety: OSHA, sharps, chemical exposure
- Quality assurance and incident reporting
- Inventory basics and case cart systems
5. Sterile Storage, Transport, and Inventory
About 9% of scored questions, roughly 11 questions
- Event-related vs time-related sterility
- Storage conditions: off the floor, away from walls, below sprinklers
- Package inspection before use
- Distribution and case cart delivery
- Inventory rotation: first in, first out
6. Professional Development and Human Relations
About 8% of scored questions, roughly 10 questions
- CRCST eligibility, application, and renewal
- Continuing education requirements
- Professional ethics and scope of practice
- Communication with the OR and other departments
- Teamwork and customer service in SPD
7. Patient Care Equipment and Distribution
About 5% of scored questions, roughly 6 questions
- Spaulding classification: critical, semicritical, noncritical
- Processing level matched to classification
- Single-use vs reusable device rules
- Loaner instrument management
Your 30-day countdown
- Days 30 to 21: Take a baseline practice test, then study your two weakest heavyweight domains.
- Days 20 to 11: Work through the remaining domains, keeping a mistake log of every missed practice question.
- Days 10 to 4: Retest weekly under timed conditions. Study only your mistake log and weak domains.
- Days 3 to 1: Light review only. Confirm your Prometric appointment, gather your ID, and rest.