• 50 questions

CBSPD Management Practice Test

An unofficial sterile processing management practice test on the six content areas of the CBSPD management exam outline.

What is the OSHA limit for employee exposure to ethylene oxide as an 8-hour time-weighted average?

Pick an answer, then press Check answer. Then you see Correct or Not quite, with the reason. Keys: A to D pick, Enter checks.

Print covers the next 24 questions. Share this set copies a link to the same questions in the same order.

Exam mode: 24 questions, 30 minutes.

More options

Unofficial practice questions, not affiliated with the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution. Bank checked October 7, 2026.

The real exam, as the CBSPD describes it

Questions
120
Fee
$155; convenience fees may apply
Scored questions
100 scored, 20 unscored pretest
Time
2.5 hours in the bulletin; 3 hours on the board's page
Pass mark
Scaled score of 70, not a percent
When
Four one-week windows a year
Certification
Lasts 5 years

Checked October 7, 2026 against CBSPD Management Candidate Bulletin (November 2026 version) and the CBSPD management certification page. Rules change, so confirm with the agency itself before your test.

The CBSPD's own management exam page

Next step CRCST practice testEndoscope reprocessor practice test

All 50 questions

Rules and regulations 10

  • A device may have caused a serious injury to a patient, and its manufacturer is known. To whom does the hospital send the report? 21 CFR 803.30, user facility reporting requirements (FDA), 803.30(a)(2). Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 1. Rules and Regulations.
  • A hospital learns that a device may have contributed to the death of one of its patients. Within what time must it report to the FDA, at the latest? 21 CFR 803.30, user facility reporting requirements (FDA), 803.30(a)(1). Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 1. Rules and Regulations.
  • A new decontamination technician has occupational exposure. Within what time of initial assignment must hepatitis B vaccination be made available? OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.1030, Bloodborne pathogens, 1910.1030(f)(2)(i). Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 1. Rules and Regulations.
  • A new sterilant is brought into the department. When does the Hazard Communication standard require training on it? OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.1200, Hazard Communication, 1910.1200(h)(1). Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 1. Rules and Regulations.
Show all 50 questions (46 more)

Rules and regulations, continued

  • For how long must an employer save the OSHA 300 Log of work-related injuries and illnesses? OSHA, 29 CFR 1904.33, Retention and updating, 1904.33(a). Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 1. Rules and Regulations.
  • How often must the Exposure Control Plan for bloodborne pathogens be reviewed and updated, at the least? OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.1030, Bloodborne pathogens, 1910.1030(c)(1)(iv). Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 1. Rules and Regulations.
  • Under the Medicare condition of participation for hospitals, who appoints the infection preventionist responsible for the infection prevention and control program? 42 CFR 482.42, Condition of participation: Infection prevention and control (CMS), 482.42(a)(1). Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 1. Rules and Regulations.
  • Under which federal law does the EPA register a disinfectant that is sold for use on environmental surfaces? CDC, Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities (2008), Regulatory Framework for Disinfectants and Sterilants, EPA and FDA. Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 1. Rules and Regulations.
  • What is the OSHA limit for employee exposure to ethylene oxide as an 8-hour time-weighted average? OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.1047, Ethylene oxide, 1910.1047(c). Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 1. Rules and Regulations.
  • Which agency regulates a liquid chemical sterilant that is used on critical and semicritical medical devices? CDC, Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities (2008), Regulatory Framework for Disinfectants and Sterilants, EPA and FDA. Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 1. Rules and Regulations.

Roles and responsibilities 10

  • A biological indicator from a steam sterilizer is positive. What is the first step of the CDC guideline's suggested protocol? CDC, Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities (2008), Table 12. Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 2. Roles and Responsibilities.
  • A biological indicator is positive in an ethylene oxide sterilizer. Which items does the CDC guideline say to treat as nonsterile? CDC, Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities (2008), Summary of Recommendations, Recommendation 16.e. Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 2. Roles and Responsibilities.
  • A steam sterilizer has had a major repair. How is it tested before it returns to routine use? CDC, Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities (2008), Sterilizing Practices, Sterilization Cycle Verification. Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 2. Roles and Responsibilities.
  • A vendor lends a flexible endoscope to the facility. What must the policy on loaner endoscopes ensure? CDC, Essential Elements of a Reprocessing Program for Flexible Endoscopes (HICPAC, 2016), Administrative, 2.c. Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 2. Roles and Responsibilities.
  • The department changes its wrap. What happens to items processed during the three product test cycles? CDC, Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities (2008), Sterilizing Practices, Sterilization Cycle Verification. Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 2. Roles and Responsibilities.
  • During surgery on a patient with suspected Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, how does the CDC say the instruments are kept? CDC, Infection Control for CJD, Reprocessing surgical instruments. Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 2. Roles and Responsibilities.
  • Flash sterilization of an implantable device was unavoidable. Which records does the CDC guideline call essential? CDC, Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities (2008), Flash Sterilization, Uses. Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 2. Roles and Responsibilities.
  • What is toxic anterior segment syndrome (TASS)? CDC, MMWR 56(25), Toxic Anterior Segment Syndrome After Cataract Surgery, Maine, 2006. Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 2. Roles and Responsibilities.
  • Which of these is recorded for each sterilization cycle? CDC, Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities (2008), Summary of Recommendations, Recommendation 19.e. Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 2. Roles and Responsibilities.
  • Which two essential elements of ethylene oxide sterilization generally cannot be monitored in a healthcare sterilizer? CDC, Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities (2008), Sterilizing Practices, Monitoring. Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 2. Roles and Responsibilities.

Fiscal management 7

  • A budget counts one full-time equivalent (FTE) as 2,080 paid hours a year. The department was paid for 24,960 hours. How many FTEs is that? Own question; the answer is arithmetic on the numbers in the question. Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 3. Fiscal Management.
  • A capital request is for a $120,000 washer that is expected to save $30,000 a year. What is the simple payback period? Own question; the answer is arithmetic on the numbers in the question. Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 3. Fiscal Management.
  • A nonexempt technician earns $20 an hour and works 46 hours in one workweek. What is the gross pay for the week under the federal overtime rule? U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, Overtime Pay. Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 3. Fiscal Management.
  • A sterilizer costs $84,000 and is depreciated in equal amounts over 7 years, with no value at the end. What is the depreciation each year? Own question; the answer is arithmetic on the numbers in the question. Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 3. Fiscal Management.
  • Forty instruments need work. Repair costs $85 each and replacement costs $140 each. How much does repair save over replacement? Own question; the answer is arithmetic on the numbers in the question. Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 3. Fiscal Management.
  • In one month the department spent $18,600 on wraps, indicators and detergents and processed 6,200 trays. What was the supply cost per tray? Own question; the answer is arithmetic on the numbers in the question. Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 3. Fiscal Management.
  • The supply budget for a month was $42,000 and the actual spending was $45,150. By what percent was the department over budget? Own question; the answer is arithmetic on the numbers in the question. Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 3. Fiscal Management.

Human resources management 6

  • A manager writes a job description before advertising a technician post. How does the EEOC treat that written job description under the ADA? EEOC, The ADA: Your Responsibilities as an Employer, How Are Essential Functions Determined? Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 4. Human Resources Management.
  • A new technician starts in the department. Until when does the CDC guideline say all of that technician's work is supervised? CDC, Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities (2008), Summary of Recommendations, Recommendation 19.a. Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 4. Human Resources Management.
  • For how long are bloodborne pathogens training records kept? OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.1030, Bloodborne pathogens, 1910.1030(h)(2)(ii). Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 4. Human Resources Management.
  • How much job-protected leave does the Family and Medical Leave Act give an eligible employee for the birth of a child? U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, Family and Medical Leave Act, What Does the FMLA Provide? Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 4. Human Resources Management.
  • Which of these must a bloodborne pathogens training record include? OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.1030, Bloodborne pathogens, 1910.1030(h)(2)(i). Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 4. Human Resources Management.
  • The workload is 2,400 trays a week, staff assemble 8 trays per productive hour, and one FTE gives 37.5 productive hours a week. How many FTEs does assembly need? Own question; the answer is arithmetic on the numbers in the question. Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 4. Human Resources Management.

Life sciences 7

  • Apart from prions, which microorganisms have the highest innate resistance to chemical germicides? CDC, Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities (2008), Factors Affecting the Efficacy of Disinfection and Sterilization, Innate Resistance of Microorganisms. Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 5. Life Sciences.
  • How does moist heat destroy microorganisms? CDC, Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities (2008), Steam Sterilization, Mode of Action. Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 5. Life Sciences.
  • How does organic matter such as blood or pus most commonly interfere with a disinfectant? CDC, Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities (2008), Factors Affecting the Efficacy of Disinfection and Sterilization, Organic and Inorganic Matter. Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 5. Life Sciences.
  • How much more resistant to antimicrobials can bacteria within a biofilm be than the same bacteria in suspension? CDC, Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities (2008), Factors Affecting the Efficacy of Disinfection and Sterilization, Biofilms. Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 5. Life Sciences.
  • Standard sterilization and disinfection procedures are adequate for equipment contaminated with bloodborne and emerging pathogens. Which agents does the CDC guideline except? CDC, Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities (2008), Summary of Recommendations, Recommendation 9.a. Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 5. Life Sciences.
  • What does a D-value measure? CDC, Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities (2008), Steam Sterilization, Microbicidal Activity. Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 5. Life Sciences.
  • What gives mycobacteria their resistance to disinfectants, by the CDC guideline? CDC, Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities (2008), Factors Affecting the Efficacy of Disinfection and Sterilization, Innate Resistance of Microorganisms. Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 5. Life Sciences.

General knowledge 10

  • A department has 40 employees. In what form must its OSHA emergency action plan be kept? OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.38, Emergency action plans, 1910.38(b). Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 6. General Knowledge.
  • A manager wants to test a change to the tray assembly process on a small scale. Which method does AHRQ describe as a way to test a change? AHRQ, Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit, Plan-Do-Study-Act Directions and Examples. Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 6. General Knowledge.
  • During infection control rounds in central processing, a practice is found that departs from policy. What does the CDC guideline say to do with deviations? CDC, Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities (2008), Summary of Recommendations, Recommendation 19.c. Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 6. General Knowledge.
  • On a room or a container, what does the biological hazard warning signify under the OSHA standard on signs and tags? OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.145, Specifications for accident prevention signs and tags, 1910.145(e)(4). Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 6. General Knowledge.
  • Under the Medicare condition of participation, how often must a hospital review and update its emergency preparedness plan, at the least? 42 CFR 482.15, Condition of participation: Emergency preparedness (CMS), 482.15(a). Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 6. General Knowledge.
  • Under the OSHA standard on accident prevention signs, what does a danger sign indicate? OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.145, Specifications for accident prevention signs and tags, 1910.145(c). Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 6. General Knowledge.
  • What does the OSHA electrical standard say about plugging in energized cord- and plug-connected equipment? OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.334, Use of equipment (electrical), 1910.334(a)(5)(i). Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 6. General Knowledge.
  • What is a central tenet of root cause analysis, by AHRQ's primer? AHRQ Patient Safety Network, Root Cause Analysis, Background. Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 6. General Knowledge.
  • What share of health care workers does OSHA estimate are latex sensitive? OSHA, Latex Allergy, Overview. Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 6. General Knowledge.
  • Who should develop the policies on endoscope reprocessing, by CDC's advisory committee? CDC, Essential Elements of a Reprocessing Program for Flexible Endoscopes (HICPAC, 2016), Administrative, 2.a. Outline: CBSPD Management Examination Outline (November 2026 bulletin), 6. General Knowledge.

How this list was compiled: Our own questions, written to the six content areas of the Management Examination Outline in the Management Candidate Bulletin of the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (November 2026 version, https://www.cbspd.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/MGT-CB-w-App-NOV-2026.pdf, linked from https://www.cbspd.net/management/, read 2026-10-07), in its weights of 19, 20, 14, 13, 14 and 20 percent. The bank holds 10, 10, 7, 6, 7, 10 questions in that order. Every fact was read on 2026-10-07 in the public page the question names: OSHA standards, FDA and CMS regulations in the eCFR, the CDC Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities (2008) and other CDC pages, the U.S. Department of Labor, the EEOC and AHRQ. The answers of the calculation questions are worked out again from the numbers in each question. The board's study guide and the private standards the outline names were not used. Licence: Questions, choices and explanations are original work of this site.

How it works

This CBSPD management practice test has 50 questions of our own for sterile processing supervisors and managers. It is unofficial and not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD).

Read the full guide

What the exam covers

The outline in the board's Management Candidate Bulletin, November 2026 version, read October 7, 2026, has six areas: rules and regulations 19%, roles and responsibilities 20%, fiscal management 14%, human resources management 13%, life sciences 14% and general knowledge 20%.

How the bank is split

The 50 questions follow those weights: 10, 10, 7, 6, 7 and 10. Exam mode asks 24 in 30 minutes, the pace of 120 questions in the bulletin's 2.5 hours.

Where the facts come from

Federal rules and guidance: OSHA standards, FDA and CMS regulations, the CDC, the Department of Labor and the EEOC. The fiscal questions are arithmetic on their own numbers. The board's study guide and the private standards the outline names were not used.

  • The outline also names private standards and accreditors. No question here tests their text, so study those from your own copies.

Questions and answers

How many questions are on the CBSPD management exam?

120: 100 scored multiple-choice questions and 20 unscored pretest questions, by the November 2026 candidate bulletin. The bulletin gives 2.5 hours and the board's management page lists 3 hours, so confirm with your admission notice.

What is the passing score for the CBSPD management exam?

A scaled score of 70, by the bulletin. A scaled score is not a percent, and passing candidates are given no numeric score.

Who can take the CBSPD management exam?

The board lists three routes: 24 months as a hands-on supervisor or manager; 24 months in allied health plus 24 months in sterile processing and a management course; or 36 months as a technician plus a management course.

Are these real CBSPD management exam questions?

No. All 50 are our own, written from public federal sources. None repeats or rewords an item of the exam, the board's study guide or a course.

More tests

Show 7 more

Browse Safety and Trades