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Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST)
The introductory certification for Sterile Processing Professionals.
The CRCST certification program is designed to recognize entry level and existing technicians who have demonstrated the experience, knowledge and skills necessary to provide competent services as a central service/sterile processing technician. CRCST's are integral members of the healthcare team who are responsible for decontaminating, inspecting, assembling, disassembling, packaging and sterilizing reusable surgical instruments or devices in a healthcare facility that are essential for patient safety.
Accreditation
The CRCST Certification is accredited by both the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).
Renewal Requirements
CE Information
The CRCST requires 12 CE credits per year to renew. These credits must focus on information and advancements relevant to the Sterile Processing field and be of a technical nature.
Fee Information
There is a $50 fee required to renew your certification (no matter how many you may hold). If you would like to purchase membership as an optional addition, there is an extra fee of $10.
- Certification Only
- $50
- Certification + Membership
- $60
CE Options
Please Note: CE credits reported for your renewal must have occurred within your renewal year.
If, for example, your renewal date is May 31, and you renewed early on May 4 last year, then your CE credits for this year must have occurred on or after May 5 of last year.
If, for example, your renewal date is May 31, and you renewed late last year on June 10, then your CE credits for this year must have occurred on or after May 5 of last year.
All certified individuals are responsible for submitting CE credits to renew each of their certifications annually. Continuing Education is to be accrued in hour increments:
1 hour equals 1 CE credit, ½ hour equals ½ CE credit, and ¼ hour equals ¼ CE credit.
There are several ways of achieving CE credit and you may use any combination of hours accumulated. The following are the four categories of CE available. Further detailed information on each category can be found on the Continuing Education (CE) Submission Form.
Individuals may submit Lesson Plans, Webinars, and Podcasts online through IAHCSMM.org, have lesson quizzes scored by Purdue University or submit approved lessons and certificates from other sources.
- Lesson Plans: IAHCSMM's Lesson Plans offer 2 CE for completing a reading and passing a quiz.
- Webinars: IAHCSMM's Webinars offer 1 CE for completing a video session and entering a survey.
- Podcasts: IAHCSMM's Podcasts offer .5 CE for listening to an episode and completing a quiz.
If you are submitting from vendors or other association websites, make sure the certificate printouts include your name, the completion date, the topic, and the CE value.
Individuals may submit in-services or meetings from their place of employment, relevant to Sterile Processing or job performance.
If you are submitting in-services or staff meetings, make sure they are either submitted on IAHCSMM’s CE Submission Form or listed on your facility’s letterhead and include the date, topic, and duration/CE value of each event. Regardless of whether you use IAHCSMM’s form or your facility’s letterhead, be sure both your name, and the name, title, and signature of your supervisor/manager/educator are provided.
Individuals may submit attendance from IAHCSMM conferences or meetings, or attendance from other pre-approved meetings/seminars.
If you are submitting Certificates of Attendance from conferences or seminars, make sure they include your name, the meeting date(s), the topic(s), the CE value provided, and the IAHCSMM CE approval code.
Individuals may submit completion of a technical, community or secondary college course applicable toward Sterile Processing or job performance with a grade of C or better.
If you are submitting transcripts from a course, make sure you provide an official transcript with the course completion date, title/topic, and your grade (of a C or better.)
Earn CE Through IAHCSMM
Lesson Plans
Reading lesson plans are available for all IAHCSMM certifications. Plans are published in PROCESS magazine, and available to read online. Scoring of the quizzes must be completed online, and successful passing scores are worth 2 CE.
Webinars
Covering a wide range of topics, IAHCSMM webinars provide a visual learning tool to achieve continuing education toward IAHCSMM certifications. Successful completion of a webinar followed by a survey will grant 1 CE.
Podcasts
The IAHCSMM Process This! podcast shares conversations with known and upcoming leaders within the SP profession, available wherever you listen to your favorite podcast. Each edition is worth 0.5 CE, after successful completion of a quiz.
Your Renewal...Simplified
Renewing online is quick and easy. Upload your CE credits, pay your renewal fee, and your submission is instantly submitted to IAHCSMM for processing.
If renewing by mail, please be sure to include all of your CE credits and your renewal fee with your mailed submission. Mailed renewals may take two to three weeks additional time for processing.