CRCST (Certified Registered Central Service Technician) is a certification offered by the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management (IAHCSMM). The CRCST certification is for individuals who work in the central service or sterilization departments of healthcare facilities, and is a measure of their knowledge, skills and abilities in the decontamination, preparation, packaging, sterilization and distribution of sterile instruments, equipment and supplies. The CRCST exam tests a candidate's understanding of the principles and practices of central service, as well as their ability to apply that knowledge to real-world scenarios.
The International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management (IAHCSMM) is the premier association representing healthcare Central Service (CS) professionals worldwide. Because CS professionals are responsible for cleaning, decontaminating, sterilizing, and distributing medical and surgical instrumentation, they are among the most vital contributors to the delivery of safe, high-quality patient care. For more than 50 years, IAHCSMM has been providing these professionals with the broadest range of certification and continuing education offerings available, along with the unsurpassed support that only a full-service membership organization can bring.
IAHCSMM Offers Four Certifications
- Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST): The accredited introductory certification for CS Professionals
- Certified Instrument Specialist (CIS): A secondary certification focusing on medical instrumentation
- Certified Healthcare Leader (CHL): A secondary certification for CS Management
- Certified Central Service Vendor Program (CCSVP): A certification specifically for CS Vendors
This course is designed to give you a peak into the functions of a CSPD, (Central Sterile Processing Department). This course is intended to show you what Sterile Processing Techs do. If you want to take a certified SPD course and become certified you can take our online course at Premier Central Services.
Benefits of becoming a CRSCT?
Depending on the hospitals in which they’re offered, many positions in this field can involve some responsibilities that vary from each one another. However, in general, all the different job titles are interchangeable. Most positions require you to clean and sterilize surgical instruments and devices as well as assemble and test equipment and order supplies. Here is the main difference: Positions with job titles that say “certified” require you to have specific certification, where other positions may not require it.
Short Training Programs
One of the greatest benefits of sterile processing tech jobs is that schooling requires only a small amount of time in order to become certified. Sterile Processing certificate or diploma programs can be completed in as little as a 3 months. Premier Central Services has on online course that fits well to anyone's schedule.
Most sterile processing tech jobs require potential candidates to have at least a certificate. But some might require industry certification even though only 4 states require certification. So along with enhancing your employment opportunities, and increasing your pay, obtaining a certification is a great way to demonstrate your professional abilities.