Certified Healthcare Leader (CHL) Eligibility Updates & Pilot Exam
A secondary certification for management.
The CHL certification program is designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated the management and supervisory skills necessary to provide effective leadership in the Sterile Processing department (SPD). CHLs are indispensable members of the healthcare team who are responsible for managing the daily operations of the SPD, including standards and regulation compliance, finance, reporting, staffing, human resource management, and inter- and intra-departmental communications.
Updated Eligibility Requirements
The Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) is committed to strengthening the Certified Healthcare Leader (CHL) credential to ensure it reflects the highest standards of professional practice. As part of HSPA’s ongoing test development process, new eligibility requirements will be implemented for the CHL examination beginning in the fall of 2026, starting with a Pilot exam in October.
To apply for the CHL examination beginning October 2026, candidates must:
☐ Hold a current CRCST credential
AND
☐ Meet at least one of the following:
- A minimum of 12 months of full-time experience or part-time equivalent (i.e., a minimum total of 2080 hours) in Sterile Processing
- A minimum of 12 months of full-time experience or part-time equivalent (i.e., a minimum total of 2080 hours) in a leadership role (i.e. experience in preceptorship/training, education, delegation, facilitation/supervision, process improvement and/or quality management/assurance)
- A minimum of an Associate’s degree (or higher)
Applicants will need to provide prerequisite documentation that satisfy one of these three options upon applying. An experience verification form is required to be completed by a Manager/Supervisor/HR Representative, OR a copy of the applicants diploma and/or official transcripts must be included with the application.
Please note that the new CHL application form will be available Summer 2026.
Attestation Requirement for Current CHL Holders
To ensure compliance with the updated standards, all current CHL certificant holders will be required to complete an online attestation form prior to October 2027. This form must be completed in full and digitally signed to attest that the certificant holder meets the new eligibility requirements. Completion of this attestation will be required to maintain your CHL credential beyond October 2027.
CHL certificant holders were emailed the attestation form link on January 28th, 2026 to your primary email on file. If not received, you may also follow this link and login to your HSPA account to complete the attestation form. Completion of this form and attestation in a timely manner is required to maintain your CHL credential. You do not need to submit additional documentation of eligibility once you have completed the form. Once we have received your CHL attestation submission, nothing further is needed from you to maintain your certification.
While we do understand this is a significant change to the program, we expect that all individuals holding a current CHL have already met the updated requirements or will meet them by the October 2027 deadline.
These changes are designed to enhance the CHL credential, strengthen leadership standards, and ensure alignment with HSPA’s broader certification framework.
PILOT EXAMINATION: OCTOBER 1 - 15, 2026
A discounted pilot test for the updated exam will be offered from October 1 – 15, 2026. Following the pilot, CHL testing will not be available from October 16 – December 14, 2026. Regular, ongoing testing of the updated exam will resume December 15, 2026.
The pilot exam, as well as the updated exam moving forward will be based on the 2025 CHL exam content outline, and utilize HSPA’s Sterile Processing Leadership Manual – (5th Edition), ANSI/AAMI ST79 (2017), HSPA’s Sterile Processing Technical Manual (Ninth Edition), ANSI/AAMI’s ST79 (2010 edition), and AORN’s Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices (2017 edition). More information regarding the updated exam, its new content outline and references, and links to apply can be found below.
Applications for the pilot exam will be available Summer of 2026 and due by September 15, 2026.
CHL Exam Timeline
| UPDATE | DATE | |
|---|---|---|
| Pilot applications available | Summer 2026 | |
| Current regular CHL applications no longer accepted | September 1, 2026 | |
| All applications for the Pilot examination need to be received by HSPA | September 15, 2026 | |
| Final day of testing for the current CHL exam | September 23, 2026 | |
| Pilot exam window (all those testing on the pilot must test within this window) | October 1 - 15, 2026 | |
| Blackout period (no testing for the CHL examination) | October 16 - December 14, 2026 | |
| Pilot exam results released | late-November, 2026 | |
| Regular testing for the CHL resumes | December 15, 2026 | |
What This Means for You
- Applicants before September 1, 2026 – Applications will be evaluated under the current requirements (CRCST credential only), but must comply with the updated eligibility criteria by October 1, 2027.
- Pilot Applicants (beginning Summer 2026) – Must comply with the updated eligibility criteria prior to applying.
- Applicants Following the Testing Blackout – All applicants moving forward must comply with the updated eligibility criteria.
- Current CHL certificant holders – By October 1, 2027, all certificants must complete the attestation form and demonstrate compliance with the new criteria to maintain their CHL credential.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FAQs
Please view the list of the CHL updates FAQs below.
Do I need leadership experience or a degree to maintain my current CHL certification?
You do not need leadership experience or a degree to maintain your CHL. The new requirements offer multiple pathways; you only need to meet one of the following (in addition to holding a current CRCST):
- A minimum of 12 months of full-time experience or part-time equivalent in Sterile Processing (minimum total of 2,080 hours, throughout your career), OR
- A minimum of 12 months of full-time experience or part-time equivalent in a leadership role (minimum total of 2,080 hours, throughout your career), OR
- An associate degree or higher.
These flexible pathways were created to accommodate the diverse backgrounds of professionals in our field while strengthening the credential as a whole. Most current CHL holders likely already qualify through their SP experience alone.
If I am a current CHL holder, do I need to do anything to maintain my credential?
As this is a significant change, we cannot automatically update current CHL holders, or in other words “grandfather” them in. To ensure accreditation compliance, all current CHL holders must attest that they meet the eligibility requirements listed above before October 2027.
Follow this link to login to your HSPA account and complete the attestation form. Completion of this form and attestation in a timely manner is required to maintain your CHL credential. While we do understand this is a significant change to the program, we expect that all individuals holding a current CHL have already met the updated requirements or will meet them by the October 2027 deadline.
Do I need to submit eligibility documentation to maintain my CHL?
If you are a current CHL holder and received your certification prior to the October 2026 Pilot Exam, you are not required to submit eligibility documentation, as long as you have completed the online attestation form.
The attestation form is the only requirement to maintain your certification. The form must be completed online by October 2027 to keep your CHL certification active.
Why did the CHL eligibility requirements change?
These updates are the direct result of a comprehensive Job Analysis over the past year, incorporating feedback and discussion from over 1,000 industry experts. We complete a Job Analysis every five years, per industry standards, and use this information to serve as the blueprint for these essential certification updates, and to align with the evolving demands of the Sterile Processing field. These updates help ensure our certification holders meet current expectations within the field. Any changes made to our certifications are made very deliberately and are based on advice from experts working in the Sterile Processing field.
Is there a required timeframe for completing the minimum 12 months (2,080 hours) of full time Sterile Processing (SP) experience to meet the first eligibility option?
No. There is no specific timeframe in which these hours must be earned. Your experience can be accumulated at any point throughout your career and does not need to be continuous. As long as you have a total of at least 2,080 hours of SP work experience, you meet this eligibility requirement.
If I have leadership experience from another job or industry, can it count toward the requirement option of 12 months (2,080 hours) of full time leadership experience?
Yes. Leadership experience from any previous role can be applied, as long as the position involved at least 3 of the following areas of leadership; preceptorship/training, education, delegation, facilitation/supervision, process improvement and/or quality management/assurance. Similar to the SP experience, there is no specific timeframe in which these hours must have been earned—they may come from any point in your career history. As long as you have at least 2,080 hours in a qualifying leadership role, you meet this eligibility option.
When is the CHL pilot exam?
The CHL pilot exam will be offered from October 1 – 15, 2026. Candidates must be able to site for the exam between these dates to participate in the pilot.
What is tested on the CHL pilot exam and how can I prepare?
This is a pilot form of the new CHL exam that will launch officially on December 15, 2026. For details on the exam content, please access the Exam Content Outline, revised October, 2025.
HSPA further recommends reviewing the list of reference materials for the exam.
How much will the pilot exam cost?
The pilot exam is being offered for $98 – a 30% discount off the regular testing fees!
How many people can participate?
Our minimum goal is 200 pilot participants with global representation, however, more applications may be accepted if we are able to process them.
What language is the pilot offered in?
As with all HSPA exams, the pilot will be offered in English only.
How is the pilot exam different from the regular exam?
The pilot exam is based off the new Exam Content Outline, revised in October, 2025. The pilot allows us to test new exam questions according to the new exam content, and gather data before the new CHL exam goes live in December, 2026. However, pilot participants will not receive a pass/fail score immediately upon finishing the exam. Exam analysis will occur for several weeks following the pilot end date, and candidates can expect to receive their results by November, 2026.
Candidates who take the new exam starting in December, 2026 will receive their results immediately at the testing center.
What are the prerequisites to apply for the pilot exam?
To apply for the pilot exam, please submit either the Online Application or the Paper Application (by fax/mail) no later than September 15, 2026. You will need to submit your proof of eligibility, as well as your application payment of $98.00. Once submitted, please allow 3-4 weeks for processing.
When will pilot participants receive their exam results?
Candidates will receive notification of a passing or failing result, as well as certification or information on applying to test again, by the end of November, 2026.