CBSPD Recertification

How to renew your CBSPD certification — continuing education requirements, approved sources, costs, and deadlines.

Renewal Requirements

CBSPD certifications must be renewed every 5 years. Renewal requires completing continuing education (CE) credits and paying the renewal fee. There is no re-examination required for renewal as long as you meet the CE requirements.

Renewal cycleEvery 5 years from date of certification

CE credits required12 contact hours (within the 5-year period)

Renewal fee$50 (CBSPD members) / $100 (non-members)

SubmissionOnline through cbspd.net account

Grace period90 days after expiration (late fee applies)

Approved CE Sources

CBSPD accepts continuing education from multiple sources. Credits must be relevant to sterile processing and distribution:

CBSPD-approved educational programs and conferences

HSPA (IAHCSMM) educational offerings and Self-Study lessons

AORN perioperative nursing education (relevant topics)

AAMI standards education programs

Employer-provided in-service training (documented and approved)

College coursework in healthcare, microbiology, or related fields

Vendor-provided education (instrument/equipment IFU training)

What Happens If You Lapse

If you don't renew within the 90-day grace period, your certification is considered lapsed. To restore it, you will typically need to:

Pay a reinstatement fee (higher than standard renewal)
Provide proof of current CE credits
May be required to re-examine if lapsed for more than 1 year

In states with certification mandates (NJ, NY, CT, TN), a lapsed certification may affect your employment eligibility. Don't let it expire.

Tips for Staying Current

Spread it out:Complete 2-3 CE credits per year instead of scrambling at the end of your cycle.

Track everything:Keep certificates of completion for all education. CBSPD may audit your renewal application.

Use free sources:Many vendor-sponsored webinars and HSPA Self-Study lessons count toward your requirement at no cost.

Set calendar reminders:Note your expiration date and set reminders 6 months and 3 months before.

Need to brush up before renewal?

Practice questions help you stay sharp on core concepts between renewals.

Take a Practice Test