The SurePass Guarantee — your money back if you don't pass, and Lifetime covers your $140 retake fee. SurePass Guarantee — money back if you don't pass + $140 retake fee on Lifetime. Only 15 left.
CIS prep
From $49
CIS · Certified Instrument Specialist
Pass the CIS — or get everydollar back. Guaranteed.
Don't pass? Full refund — and Lifetime pays your $140 retake fee
Know exactly what to study, when to study it, and the moment you're ready to sit.
No payment info required · Full study guide included
- 602 exam-style questions, every one with a written explanation
- The definitive 420-page study guide, free on trial
- A readiness score that tells you when you're actually ready to sit
- Works offline — study anywhere, no signal needed
Free with your trial
The unabridged 420-page CIS study guide — free.
Not a 7-day trial. Not 14 days. Start free and the entire guide is yours to keep — no card, no chapter locks, no sample chapter.
- Yours to keep — the trial has no countdown and the guide never locks
- Read all 420+ pages, not a preview
- Highlight, annotate, and turn any passage into a flashcard
- Glossary tooltips on every key term
- Syncs across every device — pick up exactly where you left off
The Capital Prep Method
What to study, when to study it & the exact moment you're ready.
Cut out the months of studying you don't need. CIS prep that adapts every day — no guessing what to do next.
SurePass readiness
A readiness score built from your own answers — not a progress bar. It moves as you answer, and recent work counts most.
Anywhere Mode · Study from your pocket
Ten minutes of scrolling — or ten minutes closer to passing.
Your phone is already in your hand. Two taps, no signal needed.
- Quick Ten — One tap. Ten questions, with the rationale on every one.
- It downloads itself — No button, no setup, nothing to remember.
- No bars? Still works — Airplane mode, the subway, a cabin in the woods.
- Nothing gets lost. Ever. — Saves as you tap, syncs when you're back.
Flashcards and practice questions work offline. The study guide, audio and full-length mocks need a connection.
Flashcards that work offline
Before you decide how to study
More than 1 in 3fail the CIS exam
In 2019 it was 25%. It has not been below 29% in five years.
Source: HSPA’s own published certification statistics (as of Dec. 31, 2025).
That is exactly why we guarantee it.
Pass the CIS — or get your money back.
- Every pass: full refund — and you keep Lifetime access, free.
- Lifetime (SurePass Pro): we also pay your $140 HSPA retake fee.
What you get with each CIS pass
Every pass includes the full study system. Only the length of access and the guarantee payout change.
Only 15 SurePass guarantees leftWeekly limit 15 · CIS
Lowest price
7-Day Pass
one-time · 7 days of access
Less than the HSPA retake fee ($140)
Cram-ready full access for the final week before your exam.
Click any feature to see it.
- Full refund if you don't pass
- Keep full access, free, until you do
One payment · no subscription · secure checkout by Stripe
Strong guarantee
30-Day Pass
one-time · 30 days of access
Less than the HSPA retake fee ($140)
A full month to prep — backed by our pass guarantee.
Click any feature to see it.
- Full refund if you don't pass
- Keep full access, free, until you do
One payment · no subscription · secure checkout by Stripe
Lifetime
Best guarantee
one-time · never expires
Less than the HSPA retake fee ($140)
Study at your pace, forever — backed by our pass guarantee.
Click any feature to see it.
- Full refund if you don't pass
- We pay your full $140 retake fee — one funded retake
One payment · no subscription · secure checkout by Stripe
- Instant access
- Full study guide on trial
SurePass Guarantee: pass or we refund you — qualify by scoring 80%+ on a full-length mock in the 14 days before your exam. Lifetime also covers your full $140 retake fee. See the full terms · · Prices in USD.
CIS · Features and Pricing
How Capital Prep compares
Tap any i to learn more about a feature.
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HSPA's manuals are the certifying body's own reference books — listed because most candidates weigh buying them; HSPA itself notes no study-material purchase is required to sit the exam. Exam Edge, Sterile Tech Prep, Pocket Prep and Mometrix were each checked and sell no CIS product. Competitor features and pricing verified August 2026 — their terms may have changed since, so check before you buy.
Questions, answered
What do I get for free?
The entire 420+ page study guide, free, with no card. You can read every page, highlight it, and make flashcards from it. Practice questions, mocks and the AI tutor are part of the paid passes.
Do I need my CRCST first?
Yes — HSPA requires a current CRCST to sit the CIS, plus 200 hours of hands-on experience in a sterile processing department. If you passed your CRCST with us, everything you learned there carries straight over.
How does the SurePass Guarantee work?
Score 80%+ on one full-length mock, sit the real exam, and if you don't pass we refund what you paid. On Lifetime, clear two mocks with your readiness meter at "Getting close" or above and we also pay your full $140 retake fee. You file the claim in your account with your official score report.
Which pass should I buy?
Match it to your exam date. Sitting within a week, the 7-Day Pass is built for that. A month out, the 30-Day. No date yet, or you want it to keep working after you pass — Lifetime.
Are the questions like the real exam?
They're written to HSPA's CIS content outline and weighted to it, so a mock is the same shape as the real thing: 150 questions and 180 minutes, across all six sections.
What happens when my pass expires?
Your progress is kept. You can upgrade at any time and pick up exactly where you were — and upgrades always credit what you already paid.
Can I use it on my phone?
Yes — everything syncs across devices, and the reader, flashcards and practice all work on a phone.
Is there an online course for the CIS?
Not from HSPA. Their own CIS page states: "Online/distance learning courses are not available for the CIS." For the CRCST they list Purdue's course; for this exam that option doesn't exist. Self-study is the route, which is exactly what this is built for.
Do you offer refunds if I change my mind?
Yes, separately from the pass guarantee: 24 hours on the 7-Day Pass, 48 hours on the 30-Day Pass, or 72 hours on Lifetime, measured from your purchase (or from your upgrade, if you upgraded) — no questions asked, as long as you haven't sat your exam yet. EEA and UK buyers also keep their 14-day statutory right. The SurePass Guarantee is the other promise — that one is about your exam result, not about changing your mind.
Do I need HSPA's manuals?
No — HSPA itself states that no study-material purchase is required to sit the exam, and that its Certification Council does not develop, require, approve or endorse any specific training materials. The exam is written against HSPA's Instrument and Technical Manuals, and our study guide covers that same outline in plain language. Some candidates like having the manuals as a reference too — that's a fine way to go.
My exam date moved. Does the plan adjust?
Yes. Change the date and the Game Plan rebuilds around the new one — it works backwards from your date, so moving it forward compresses the plan and moving it back spreads it out.
Need help deciding?
Ask us anything about the exam, the guarantee or your plan. The assistant answers instantly; for anything it cannot settle, we aim to reply within one business day.
Send us a messageStill not ready?
Start your free trial and read the whole study guide. No payment info required.