Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) Exam Content Outline - Revised November 2023

Sep 27, 2026

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Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) Exam Content Outline defines the knowledge areas required for Central Service Technician duties, based on the 2023 job task analysis. The outline assigns percentage weights across seven exam sections, indicating how strongly each section influences overall results. It details departmental considerations, including environmental factors, personnel practices, regulations, documentation, and quality assurance. It also covers cleaning, decontamination, and disinfection, including safety, area preparation, quality testing, equipment maintenance, item preparation, and disinfection practices.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time15 min

AccessFree to download

SECTION 1: DEPARTMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS

I. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS

II. PERSONNEL CONSIDERATIONS

III. REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS

IV. DOCUMENTATION AND RECORD KEEPING

V. QUALITY ASSURANCE

SECTION 2: CLEANING, DECONTAMINATION AND DISINFECTION

I. AREA SPECIFIC SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS

II. WORK AREA PREPARATION

III. QUALITY TESTS

IV. MAINTENANCE AND TROUBLESHOOTING OF EQUIPMENT

V. ITEM PREPARATION

VI. DISINFECTION

Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) Exam Content Outline Revised November 2023 The CRCST Exam Content Outline was created through the 2023 job task analysis and outlines the specific areas of knowledge necessary to perform the duties of a Central Service Technician. The Content Outline also details the percentage weight for each of the seven sections which comprise the CRCST Exam. The higher the percentage weight, the more heavily the questions in that area will affect your overall test score. SECTION 1: DEPARTMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS (PERCENTAGE WEIGHT 15%) I. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS A. Work-area specific temperature, humidity and air flow requirements per ASHRAE guidelines (i.e., decontamination, preparation and packaging, sterilization, sterile storage) B. Corrective action processes when environmental elements fall outside of standard parameters C. Work-area specific cleaning protocols (i.e., decontamination, preparation and packaging, sterilization, sterile storage) D. Chemical safety and handling (e.g., interpret the Manufacturer’s Instructions for Use [IFU] and safety data sheets [SDS], spill protocol, disposal, eyewash station) II. PERSONNEL CONSIDERATIONS A. Dress code standards (e.g., hand hygiene, surgical attire, artificial nails, jewelry) B. Traffic control guidelines (e.g., one-way workflow, work area classifications) C. Ergonomics (e.g., work-flow, body mechanics) III. REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS A. State and federal regulations (e.g., Food and Drug Administration [FDA], Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services [CMS]) B. Industry standards (e.g., American National Standards Institute/Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation [ANSI/AAMI], Association of periOperative Registered Nurses [AORN]) IV. DOCUMENTATION AND RECORD KEEPING A. Record retention (e.g., policy and procedure, record location, quality test results, auditing) B. Types of records (e.g., accident/incident reports, orientation, education and training record requirements) C. Rationale for record retention (e.g., standards, legal document) V. QUALITY ASSURANCE A. Quality assurance benchmarks (e.g., tray audits, Immediate Use Steam Sterilization [IUSS], instrument set turnaround times, surgical case cart accuracy, inventory fill rates) B. Quality assurance programs (e.g., total/continuous quality improvement, six sigma, LEAN) SECTION 2: CLEANING, DECONTAMINATION AND DISINFECTION (PERCENTAGE WEIGHT 21%) I. AREA SPECIFIC SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS A. OSHA/Blood Borne Pathogens B. Microbiology (e.g., cross contamination, microbial transmission, chain of infection, biofilm, Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease [CJD]) C. Area specific safety considerations (e.g., sharps, wet floors, chemicals, eyewash/shower station) D. Equipment operation (e.g., operator manuals) E. Safe transportation of soiled items into decontamination (e.g., inspecting for and reporting inadequate point of use cleaning) F. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) usage (types of PPE, donning/doffing, frequency of changing, disposal) PAGE 1 OF 6 MYHSPA.ORG/CERTIFICATION Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) Exam Content Outline Revised November 2023 II. WORK AREA PREPARATION A. Cleaning tool selection (e.g., brushes, sponges, towels) B. Equipment operation (e.g., washer disinfector, ultrasonic, cart washer, leak tester, how to check and replenish chemicals in equipment) C. Chemical identification and preparation following the Manufacturer’s Instructions for Use (IFU) (e.g., dilution, equipment, expiration date, correct cleaning agent/chemicals) III. QUALITY TESTS A. Efficacy testing process (e.g., washers/disinfector, ultrasonic, Automated Endoscope Reprocessor [AER], cart washers) B. Frequency of efficacy tests (e.g., washers, ultrasonic, Automated Endoscope Reprocessor [AER], cart washers) C. Quality assurance testing (e.g., how to document and interpret efficacy

FAQs

What is the purpose of the CRCST Exam Content Outline?

It outlines the knowledge areas needed to perform Central Service Technician duties, based on the 2023 job task analysis, and specifies how exam topics are weighted.

How are the exam sections weighted and why does it matter?

Each of the seven sections has an assigned percentage weight. Higher-weight sections will more heavily affect overall test score.

What topics are included under cleaning, decontamination, and disinfection?

The outline covers area-specific safety considerations, work area preparation, quality tests, equipment maintenance and troubleshooting, item preparation, and disinfection practices.

Sep 27, 2026

Uploaded by Ivy