Continuing education

CRCST CEU resources.

Getting certified is step one. Keeping your CRCST means earning continuing-education credits every year — here’s exactly how many you need, and the best free and paid ways to earn them.

The short answer: HSPA requires 12 CE credits per year to renew your CRCST — plus 6 more per year for each additional HSPA certification you hold (CHL, CIS, CER). One contact hour = one CE credit, and you renew annually by the last day of your certification’s anniversary month.

How CRCST recertification works

Your CRCST is current for one year at a time. To renew, you report your 12 CE credits and pay the annual renewal fee before your anniversary month ends. Miss it and you enter a grace period with a late fee; let it fully lapse and you generally have to re-take the exam — so it pays to track credits through the year instead of scrambling at renewal.

The good news: you do not have to pay for CEs. Between free webinar libraries, podcasts, and documented in-service hours at work, most techs can cover all 12 credits at no cost.

Where to earn your CEUs

These are reputable, sterile-processing–specific sources. HSPA is where you ultimately report credits; the rest are where you earn them.

HSPA — Recertification & CEFree & paid · Lesson plans · webinars · podcastsThe source of truth for CRCST renewal. Earn CEs through HSPA lesson plans (2 CE each), webinars (1 CE), and podcasts (0.5 CE) — then report them here before your anniversary month.
Beyond Clean — Free CE LibraryFree · Webinars · podcastOne of the largest free continuing-education libraries in sterile processing — expert-led webinars and a long-running podcast, all cost-free.
Censis — Free Accredited CEUsFree · On-demand coursesFree, accredited sterile-processing CE courses accepted toward both HSPA and CBSPD recertification. On-demand, so you can knock out credits on your own schedule.
CBSPD — Additional CertificationsPaid · Certification bodyIf you hold or want a CBSPD credential (CSPDT and others), this is the board — NCCA-accredited certifications on a 5-year renewal cycle. Useful if you're stacking credentials.

More free & low-cost ways to earn credit

Where the SPD jobs are — and how to get hired

Sterile processing is one of the most in-demand healthcare roles, and certification is increasingly required by law. Here’s where to look — and the fastest way in.

ATS hospital internshipsThe fastest on-ramp: ATS places certified students into real hospital internships through signed clinical-affiliation agreements. Train → certify → intern → hired.
Hospital & health-system career pagesSearch “sterile processing technician,” “SPD tech,” or “central sterile” on Indeed, then apply directly on the hospital's own careers page for the best odds.
LinkedIn JobsNew-tech-friendly listings with recruiter contacts. A complete profile with your CRCST listed gets you found by hospital recruiters.
Questions, answered

CEU FAQ

How many CEUs do I need to keep my CRCST?
HSPA requires 12 continuing-education (CE) credits per year to renew the CRCST. If you hold additional HSPA certifications (like CHL, CIS, or CER), you need 6 more CE credits per year for each one. One contact hour equals one CE credit.
How often do I have to renew my CRCST?
Annually. All HSPA certifications are current for one-year periods, and your renewal — CEs plus the renewal fee — is due no later than the last day of your certification's anniversary month.
Can I earn CEUs for free?
Yes. Beyond Clean and Censis both offer large libraries of free, accredited sterile-processing CE, and documented in-service hours at work count too. You can realistically meet the 12-CE annual requirement without paying for credits.
What happens if I let my certification lapse?
If you miss your renewal, HSPA provides a grace period with a late fee before the certification fully lapses; a fully lapsed certification generally means re-taking the exam. Don't risk it — track your CEs through the year and report them before your anniversary month.
Do I report CEUs myself?
Yes. You track your CE credits during the year and submit them through your HSPA account at renewal. Keep certificates and in-service records so you can document each credit if asked.
Keep exploring

More resources

Sterile Processing GuidesPlain-English guides to certification, the CRCST exam, and getting hired.
News & UpdatesCEU reminders, career news, and who's hiring in sterile processing.
Enrolling now

Not certified yet? Start here.

Get CRCST-ready from anywhere with ATS self-study — then use this page to keep your certification current for years.

Explore self-study →Call (215) 360-3177