CRCST Pass Rate: How Hard Is the Sterile Processing Exam?

Official CRCST pass rates by year

The number of people taking the exam jumped 36% in 2025 while the pass rate kept falling. As of the end of 2025 there were 54,525 active CRCST holders.

Why people fail the CRCST

The exam isn't about memorizing definitions. Most questions describe a situation and ask what you should do: a wet pack after sterilization, a failed biological indicator, a damaged instrument insert. People who fail usually:

• Study only from the textbook and never practice applying it under time pressure.
• Skip the smaller domains, like storage, professional development or patient care equipment, which still add up to 22% of the exam.
• Rely on what their own department does, which may differ from the standards the exam tests (AAMI ST79 and the HSPA manual).
• Run short on time. 150 questions in 3 hours is 72 seconds each.

How to be in the passing group

• Take a free practice test first to find your weak domains.
• Study the three biggest domains first; they're 63% of the exam.
• Read every explanation, including for questions you got right.
• Take at least two full-length, timed mock exams. Book the real test once you consistently score 70% or higher.

Our CRCST study guide has a full week-by-week plan.

FAQ

What is the CRCST pass rate?

65.6% in 2025, according to HSPA: 10,083 of 15,369 exams were passed. It was 66.9% in 2024 and 71.9% in 2023.

Is the CRCST exam hard?

It's harder than many expect. About one in three test takers failed in 2025. Most questions are scenario-based, so you need to apply standards, not just recall facts.

What happens if I fail the CRCST?

You can retest after at least 6 weeks. Each attempt costs $140. Your score report shows which domains were below standard so you know what to study.