Thinking about becoming a sterile processing technician? This page breaks down what you need to know — from certification prep and exam requirements to in-person training qualifications.
The HSPA CRCST exam offers two eligibility pathways:
Most students choose the first option so they can take the exam sooner and complete their hours while working in the field.
Preppy provides 40 hours of hands-on training as part of the program.
While we do not directly provide the full 400-hour externship, we offer job assistance to help you find employment in sterile processing. Once hired, you can complete the required 400 hours on the job to move from provisional to full certification.
Most students complete the Sterile Processing Technician program in 3–6 months, but since it’s fully self-paced, you can move faster or slower depending on your schedule.
Yes. The coursework is fully online and can be completed from anywhere. There are no mandatory in-person classes.
No prior experience is required. The program is designed to help beginners build foundational knowledge and prepare for certification.
Graduates receive:
Yes. After you complete the Medical Terminology and Anatomy portion of the program, you can request your physical materials.
We provide HSPA’s official textbook and workbook, and they’re included in your tuition at no additional cost.
If you’re having login issues, we can help you reset your password and make sure your credentials are working. If the issue continues, we’ll connect you with our Support team to get it resolved as quickly as possible.
If you don’t see your welcome email, double check your spam folder and the email address you used to enroll. We can also check your enrollment status on our end. If the issue continues, we’ll loop in Support to get everything sorted.
For additional questions about enrollment, tuition, or how Preppy works, visit our full FAQ page.