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Education Ranking 3 options
Compare each option’s strengths, ideal fit, and key details. Read the reviews for the reasons behind the ranking.
| Rank and option | Best fit | Documented focus | Decision detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01HSPA Sterile Processing Leadership Manual, 5th editionBest full leadership foundation | Supervisors and managers preparing for the updated CHL exam or formalizing department leadership skills. | Fifth editionView source | It becomes much more valuable when paired with live department data and projects. |
| 02Updated CHL outline and eligibility pageBest 2026 planning resource | Anyone choosing an exam date or verifying readiness during the CHL transition. | Revised content outlineView source | It is a blueprint and requirements page, not a full management course. |
| 03HSPA Educator Development Webinar SeriesBest for building department education | Supervisors and educators responsible for onboarding, technical training, and staff development. | Six-session 2026 seriesView source | The focus is staff education; pair it with the manual for full CHL preparation. |
The documented focus summarizes a published product, program, or market source linked in each row. More sources and the full assessment appear in the reviews below.
Our take
HSPA’s fifth-edition Leadership Manual is the strongest full study base. The new CHL outline and eligibility updates are the essential planning documents for 2026 applicants. HSPA’s Educator Development series adds a focused route for improving staff training.
HSPA Sterile Processing Leadership Manual, 5th edition
The fifth-edition Leadership Manual is the most complete place to start because HSPA connects it to the updated CHL exam. Its value extends beyond the test: sterile processing leaders need to balance staffing, training, quality, finance, and relationships with the OR. A reference that organizes those responsibilities can help a new manager move from reacting to today’s missing tray toward planning capacity and accountability.
The September 25, 2026 price list puts the textbook at $126 for members or $140 for nonmembers, before shipping. The boxed course costs $184 or $205 respectively. Expanded coverage of education, survey preparation, process improvement, and emergency management gives a working leader several ways to use the purchase beyond exam day. Pick one department problem before reading: connect staffing material to your coverage plan or quality material to your error review. That application is what makes the manual worth keeping after certification.
It is the current, comprehensive HSPA resource for the new leadership exam and daily management work.
Updated CHL outline and eligibility page
The CHL calendar changes the study plan. As of September 25, 2026, the September 15 pilot application deadline has passed. Accepted pilot candidates test October 1–15; testing then pauses October 16–December 14 and regular testing resumes December 15. A new applicant should plan around the resumed exam rather than expect a fall appointment. Use the October 2025 content outline for the updated test.
Existing CHL holders also have work to do: HSPA requires eligibility attestation and supporting documentation by October 1, 2027. Someone who attested before May 18, 2026 must add documentation. The practical next step is to identify the experience or education route you will document and request the corresponding record now. Keep this transition task alongside your annual renewal plan so it does not get lost among routine CE requirements.
It prevents a strong candidate from following an outdated CHL pathway.
HSPA Educator Development Webinar Series
HSPA’s 2026 Educator Development series gives the learning shortlist a practical teaching component. The six July–December sessions focus on building education within an SPD, with recordings available after live delivery. The published series price is $79 for members or $150 for nonmembers; completing all six sessions earns six CE credits. This is especially useful when a lead technician inherits onboarding responsibility and needs to build a repeatable program rather than teach each new hire informally.
Its third-place role is focused skill development alongside the manual and exam blueprint. Bring an actual onboarding checklist or training gap to the sessions, then revise one teaching activity and decide how you will assess the result. The series is not a comprehensive CHL exam course, and an advertised CE total does not by itself specify which credential category you can claim. Read the certificate designation for your renewal needs. For eligibility or attestation decisions, use the official requirements page above.
It turns a recurring supervisory responsibility—staff education—into a focused learning plan.
Study through one improvement project
Choose a real department issue—missed first-case trays, repair turnaround, or onboarding time. Use the CHL domains to build a baseline, a staffing and communication plan, an intervention, and a result measure. You will retain more and produce a piece of work that matters beyond the exam.
Why this order
We ranked by relevance to the updated CHL pathway, coverage of leadership domains, practical application, and currency. HSPA is moving to a revised exam and eligibility requirements in 2026, so older prep lists were excluded from the lead recommendations.
What we weighted
- Updated CHL alignment
- Operational leadership depth
- Current eligibility guidance
- Practical department use
- Accessibility for ongoing learning
Product and program facts are linked to their primary sources in each entry. See the full ranking methodology and editorial standards.
Frequently asked
Which CHL manual edition should I use in 2026?
HSPA identifies the fifth-edition Sterile Processing Leadership Manual for the updated exam. Check the current CHL page for the outline and testing window that applies to you.
Is CHL only for current managers?
It is designed for management and supervisory skills. Review HSPA’s updated eligibility requirements and choose it when you can apply the material to leadership responsibility.