IAHCSMM vs. CBSPD: Revisited

Recap

It’s been 3 years since the original IAHCSMM vs CBSPD post and a lot has changed in that time. This time around we will delve deeper than before by revisiting the key differences as well as hear from the organizations themselves on what they believe sets them apart.

In the sterile processing profession, there are 2 certifying bodies, in contrast to many other professions in which there is only one certifying body. The International Association of Healthcare Central Service Material Management, or IAHCSMM, was the first organization to offer certifications in sterile processing and with more than 33,000 active members and certificants, it is the larger of the two. The Certification Board for Sterile Processing & Distribution, or CBSPD, was the second organization to provide certifications and has since amassed over 20,000 active certifications. Both CBSPD and IAHCSMM are highly respected in the industry and participate in the development of AAMI standards. Each organization has created high-quality credentialing exams and literature, developed by top subject experts in the industry and are recognized both nationally and internationally.

IAHCSMM 

IAHCSMM began its journey in 1958 as The National Association of Hospital Central Service (NAHCS) which would later become known as IAHCSMM. In 1971 the organization began offering its first formal certification, today IAHCSMM offers a total of 5 certifications with its latest, the CER, having debuted in 2017. The organization is headquartered in Chicago, IL.

IAHCSMM Certifications:

• Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST)
  • (CRCST is accredited by both ANSI* & NCCA*)
• Instrument Specialist (CIS)
• Certified Healthcare Leader (CHL)
• Certified Central Service Vendor Program (CCSVP)
• Certified Endoscope Reprocessor (CER)

Testing

Testing services for IAHCSMM are provided by Prometric. Certifications taken in the US and Canada are $125 ($150 internationally). IAHCSMM requires 12 continuing education credits (6 for each additional certification) annually in order to maintain certification. Annual recertification costs are $60 with membership or $50 without.

CBSPD

CBSPD was founded in 1988 and was originally known as the National Institute for the Certification of Healthcare Sterile Processing and Distribution Personnel (NICHSPDP). Based out of Lebanon, NJ the CBSPD currently has over 20,000 active certificants and offers 5 certifications.

CBSPD Certifications:

• Certified Sterile Processing and Distribution Tech (CSPDT)
  • (CSPDT is accredited by NCCA*)
• Certified Sterile Processing Management (CSPM)
  • (CSPM is accredited by NCCA*)
• Certified Flexible Endoscope Reprocessor (CFER)
  • (CFER is accredited by NCCA*)
• Certified Ambulatory Surgery Sterile Processing Tech (CASSPT)
• Certified Surgical Instrument Specialist (CSIS)

Testing

Testing services are provided through PSI. Certification exams are $125 with the exception of the CSPM exam, which cost $150 (Credit card and late registration fees apply). CBSPD requires recertification every 5 years. The cost of recertification is $100. Techs are required to obtain 100 continuing education credits over the course of 5 years with the exception of the CSPM, which requires 150.

Side-by-Side Comparison

	IAHCSMM	CBSPD
Certification Length	1 Year	5 Years
Cost of Re-certification	$50 ($60 w/ membership)	$100
CE Requirements	12 per year (6 for each additional certification)	100 per 5 years (100 for each additional certification) (150 for CSPM)
Re-certification Process	Online or By Mail	By Mail
Number of Certifications	5	5
Accredited Certifications	CRCST (ANSI & NCCA)	CSPDT, CSPM, CFER (NCCA)
Study Material Costs	$50 – $160	$20 – $275
Membership	Yes	No
Scholarships	Yes	Yes
Regional Chapters	Yes	No
Publications	Process Magazine (Bi-monthly) Central Source Newsletter (Bi-monthly)	Criterion Newsletter (Bi-annually)
National & International Recognition	Yes	Yes
Testing Availablity	Exams offered year-round	Exams offered 4 times a year
Conferences & Seminars	Annual & Regional	N/A

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In an effort to help our readers better understand the differences between the two organizations and to assist in making an educated decision in the choice of certifying body. We reached out to both IAHCSMM and CBSPD to ask “what sets your organizations apart?” Here’s what we found:

IAHCSMM

IAHCSMM provides multi-faceted support for its members and other SP professionals. Aside from its certifications, IAHCSMM’s offerings and resources include the Annual Conference & Expo, regional chapters, educational videos, webinars, podcasts and professional publications (an information-rich bi-monthly magazine and digital newsletter). IAHCSMM’s professional staff members are highly engaged with SP professionals and their unique and evolving needs. As technology continues to grow and as challenges arise, IAHCSMM and its team continue to adjust and expand their offerings to stay in step — if not ahead of – those changes.

IAHCSMM President, Tony Thurmond, CRCST, CIS, CHL

CBSPD is a certification body. IAHCSMM is a certification body as well as a full-service membership association. CBSPD’s technician certification program is accredited by NCCA. IAHCSMM’s technician certification program is accredited by NCCA and ANSI.
As a full-service membership association, IAHCSMM provides an annual conference and regional chapters (47 in the U.S and 3 international chapters), as well as professional publications (our bi-monthly magazine, PROCESSand our bi-monthly e-publication, Central Source), an ever-growing array of educational offerings, a dedicated Advocacy team, and much more.

IAHCSMM Education Director, Natalie Lind, CRCST, CHL, FCS

CBSPD

The CBSPD was founded on offering certification programs that meet or exceed requirements for competency-based certification programs. This includes providing maximum security for all examinations. The CBSPD was the FIRST SPD Technician certification program accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) in 1995 and has been re-accredited every 5 years since as required. The CBSPD is the only certification program to have their Management and Flexible Endoscope examinations accredited by the NCCA as well. The CBSPD is very proud of its programs which have been accredited by the NCCA. We encourage certification for all staff that clean, decontaminate and sterilize medical devices.

President of the Board of Trustees of the CBSPD, Sue McManus, RN, CSPM, CFER

Both organizations have a lot to offer and you can’t go wrong with either, however, deciding which one is right for you really depends on what are looking for and what best meets your needs. They each have similar offerings but also have benefits in different areas. It’s also worth mentioning that, although CBSPD does not offer access to a membership, you may still sign up for IAHCSMM’s membership if you choose to certify through CBSPD. Please feel free to leave a comment on which organization you chose to certify through and what caused you to make that choice.

To learn more about each organization, visit: www.iahcsmm.org and www.sterileprocessing.org.

*The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is an private, nonprofit membership organization supported by a diverse constituency of private and public sector organizations that administers and coordinates the United States private sector voluntary standardization system.

*The National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) is an organization that develops standards for the accreditation of certification programs, which helps to ensure the health, welfare, and safety of the public. They highlight the essential elements of a high-quality program.