Study guide
CRCST exam domains, with the published weights
The seven CRCST exam domains and the percentage weights in the November 2023 content outline, with what each domain covers and a short practice quiz.
Last reviewed November 4, 2026
The seven sections
HSPA's CRCST exam content outline, revised November 2023, lists seven knowledge domains and a percentage weight for each. The weights sum to 100. Cleaning, decontamination, and disinfection is 21 percent. Preparation and packaging is 21 percent. Sterilization is 21 percent. Departmental considerations is 15 percent. Sterile storage, transport, and inventory management is 9 percent. Professional development and human relation skills is 8 percent. Patient care equipment and distribution is 5 percent.
A mock that ignores the weights will over-practice instruments or under-practice sterilization. CRCST Practice builds each 150-question mock with largest-remainder rounding so the counts follow those percentages.
Where the outline came from
HSPA says the outline was created through the 2023 job task analysis. The certification page tells candidates the current exam references include the Sterile Processing Technical Manual, 9th edition (2023), ANSI/AAMI ST79 (2017), and AORN's Guidelines for Perioperative Practice (2023). Those books are paid publications. CRCST Practice does not copy them. We cite the public outline, the CDC guideline, OSHA, and FDA reprocessing pages.
Try five questions
Five original questions. Answer each one to see the explanation and its public source. The full bank has 491.
Departmental Considerations
Which sterile processing area is kept at positive pressure, so air moves out of it into the surrounding space?
Common questions
Which domain is the largest?
Three domains are tied at 21 percent: cleaning and disinfection, preparation and packaging, and sterilization.
Did the weights change after 2023?
The outline PDF hosted by HSPA is marked revised November 2023, and the 2026 certification handbook still points candidates to that content outline. Check myhspa.org before you sit, in case a later revision is posted.