SCOPE OF PRACTICE - The population being certified by this examination consists of personnel who reprocess facility owned or loaned surgical instruments and devices including the care of surgical instruments, identification of surgical instruments by proper name, components, assembly and configuration of individual instrument sets, instrument inspection and safety testing, loaner implant sets and components for on-site and/or off-site facilities. The Certificant Board considers this exam an advance practice exam because the candidate must be certified as a sterile processing technician as one of the criteria to sit for the exam. However, this exam is considered minimum competency for surgical instrument processing. This examination is administered nationally and internationally. The workplace setting for candidates includes Hospitals (all sizes) and Ambulatory Surgery Centers where the functions described above are performed.
CERTIFICATION - Candidates who pass the exam will receive a certificate suitable for framing, a certification pin, and have their name posted on our website.
Passing Candidates may use the title: CSIS (Certified Surgical Instrument Specialist).
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Prior to the examination deadline, ONE of the following requirements
MUST be met along with your technician certification in order to qualify to take this exam.
Current/valid CBSPD certification as an SPD Technician (CSPDT) – Must include a copy of your CBSPD Tech certificate ***Plus, ONE of the following:
Completion of a surgical instrument processing or surgical technology course with a passing grade of 70 or higher (provide copy of certificate/grade from your instructor) AND 12 months full-time employment or equivalent part-time hours performing surgical instrument processing (provide verification signed by your manager on your exam application)
Completion of 24 months of full-time employment or equivalent part-time hours performing Operating Room surgical instrument processing activities (provide verification signed by your manager on your exam application)
Completion of 24 months of surgical instrument sales or service (provide verification signed by your employer on your exam application)
Exam fee: $128
Convenience fees
may apply
Disclaimer: The CBSPD does not discriminate among applicants as to age, sex, race, religion, national origin, disability, marital status or any status protected by law. The examination is only offered in English in the United States. Candidates must be able to interpret, speak, read and write English.
QUICK EXAM FACTS
HOW TO REGISTER FOR THE EXAM
Send in your application
Before starting, make sure:
- To Take notice of the title of your application, to confirm that you are applying for the correct exam
- Ensure that you check the eligibility requirement that applies to you (listied at the top of this page)
- Have an approved method of payment: credit card, business check, or money order.
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Select a test site and date
After acceptance of your application, you will receive an email or a postcard with information on how to schedule the date and location of your exam.
If you have not received your notification seven days prior to the examination window, contact the CBSPD office immediately.
| Examination Dates | Application Deadlines |
|---|---|
| February 3-8, 2025 | Tuesday, January 28, 2025 |
| May 5-10, 2025 | Tuesday, April 29, 2025 |
| August 4-9, 2025 | Tuesday, July 29, 2025 |
| November 3-8, 2025 | Tuesday, October 28, 2025 |
Each of our four certification exams have a testing window of one week. Candidates can register to take the exam anytime during the window subject to availability at the test site selected. Any candidate in the U.S. may sign up for more than one different exam during the current one-week exam window.
The candidate may NOT sign up for the same exam more than once during any exam window. Please note that some test sites outside the United States will remain with paper and pencil examinations and the exams will still be offered 4 times a year.