Study guide
CRCST exam format and timing
The CRCST exam is computer-based: 150 multiple-choice questions in 3 hours, with 125 scored and 25 unscored pretest items. How scoring and results work.
Last reviewed November 4, 2026
What the handbook says
The exam is computer-based at a Prometric site. There is no paper version. You have three hours. An optional 15-minute tutorial sits in front of the clock and does not count against the three hours. You can mark questions and change answers before you submit.
The 2026 HSPA certification handbook says the form has 150 multiple-choice questions: 125 scored and 25 unscored pretest items mixed in so you cannot tell them apart. Your result does not include the pretest items. CRCST Practice mocks are 150 scored practice questions, so every item counts. That is a stricter count than HSPA's mix, on purpose.
Try five questions
Five original questions. Answer each one to see the explanation and its public source. The full bank has 491.
Professional Development and Human Relation Skills
Which description matches the CRCST exam format HSPA publishes?
Common questions
Can I bring notes?
No. It is a closed-book Prometric exam. Practice under a timer so the three hours are not a surprise.
What does a CRCST Practice mock timer do?
It runs for 180 minutes from the moment you start. You can submit early. Unanswered items are scored wrong. The timer is a study tool, not Prometric software.