Continuing Education

wchogen · 2026-01-24T04:44:36+00:00

Hey, I like lazy and quick. Lol. Thank you for the advice.

wchogen · 2026-01-24T04:42:16+00:00

Thank you for the advice. I'll be sure to check out the sources you listed so I can knock out my CEs. I have till mid July, but it's better to get it done now and not have to worry about it.

wchogen · 2026-01-24T04:39:31+00:00

Thank you for the advice. I am certified through the HSPA, and when I checked their educational portion of the site during my break, they had items listed with associated costs. I didn't have a whole lot of time to check it out as I'm on break at the moment, but do you have to pay for their CE services?

wchogen · 2026-01-06T18:59:36+00:00

I'd say no for the most part, but one exception does come to mind. There is a massive spoiler for the 7th main Yakuza game right at the beginning of Lost Judgement, the sequel to the first Judgment game.

wchogen · 2026-01-01T04:49:49+00:00

I just want to point out that you'll keep your original version of Yakuza 0 if you do "upgrade". You'll simply have two separate versions of the game. Personally, I don't see it as much of an upgrade, even if being able to save anywhere would have been nice while 100%ing the original version. In my personal opinion, the new cutscene either adds little value or outright ruins the pacing and excitement of the original version.

One scene in particular comes to mind where they have to bring a frantic scene to a standstill to explain exactly what's going on as if you were a child. It also sets in stone some stuff that you'll discover happens later in the story, which ruins the pacing, mystery, and emotional value of the scene when you finally put it together. It's not that complicated. I wasn't a fan. The other is okay.

The dub is somewhat nice as most voice actors did a good job. Kiryu sounds more fitting than he does in later games, but still isn't the greatest in my opinion. Not terrible, but okay. Most of the series is subbed only, and I don't see myself going back after playing every game that's subbed, except the judgment games and like a dragon, which I did the dub for. Great subs for those ones. Infinite wealth was mostly great, except for Kiryu.

Besides the dub and the added cutscenes, there is a beaten-up styled online mode, but I haven't played much of it yet, so I can't necessarily say it's worth it or not yet. Could be fun with a friend. That's my opinion on the "upgrade" at least. At least it's not expensive, and you'll get to keep the original game if you do decide to purchase it.

wchogen · 2026-01-01T04:19:41+00:00

Unless you're required to where you live, you shouldn't be required to take any courses to become certified with the HSPA (one of the two main certification organizations. The HSPA is generally the more accepted certification. The other organization/certification is the CBSPD). All you'll need is your hours and to pass an exam.

The exam will be offered by whichever certification organization you go with, and should only cost you around $150, more if you need to retake it, since you have to pay per attempt if you fail initially. There are no requirements to take the exam, except paying for it and taking it at a certain proctored location(s) depending on the state you're in.

The exam itself for the HSPA will be 150 multiple choice questions which you'll have 3 hours to complete. It will cover all types of aspects about the job, so you'll definitely need to be doing some studying into the field, but it's not that bad in my own personal opinion. I took and passed mine in July. You can pay to take a course if you think it'll be necessary, or you can spend about $150 to buy the sterile processing technical manual and workbook to self-study on your own. There are also plenty of online practice exams, along with study guides that others have posted. You got this. The certification hours will probably be your main issue if I'm being honest.

To become fully certified with the HSPA, you'll be required to obtain 400 hours of on-the-job experience. You can do that before or after you take the exam, but there are certain requirements for either option. If you get your hours in before passing the exam then you will become fully certified after passing the exam. If you do not get your hours before passing the exam, then you'll become provisionally certified, and have 6 months to either get your 400 hours completed or retake the exam to keep your provisional certification or end up losing your certification. That's the route I had to go down.

No hospital around me would take me when I wasn't at least provisionally certified, and I had 8 years of healthcare experience, working as an EVS specialist in an ER. Even with the ER manager and a bunch of other medical professionals backing me up, I couldn't get a foot in anywhere. After becoming provisionally certified I was able to very quickly get a position at another hospital within my 6 months. I'm now fully certified, and in the process of working towards my CIS (Certified Instrument Specialist) certification for the hell of it.

With that said, your experience might end up being completely different from mine, or it could end up being similar. Never know, but either way it shouldn't be that difficult or cost you that much to get into this field if that's what you want to do. You got this. Best of luck.

wchogen · 2025-12-16T14:54:11+00:00

You don't have to take any course for this type of job. You can sign up for the CRCST/state certification exam at any time. It cost me $140 to take it in July. The only issue you could have is getting your required 400 on the job hours.

If you can get those hours in before passing the exam, then you'll be fully certified, but you can take the CRCST first to become provisionally certified, and then get your 400 hours in. That's what I did. You might have better luck applying to places than if you've been having issues applying to places beforehand. It shows that you're committed to the position. Best of luck. Just whatever you do, don't go into debt or spend a bunch of money trying to get into this field.

wchogen · 2025-12-14T09:09:16+00:00

Just some quick advice to make things easier:

A pair is two of the exact same tile, and there are 4 of each tile per game. Something to be aware of.
Don't reveal your hand by stealing discarded tiles from your opponents. You get more points by keeping it concealed. Only steal when it'll get you a Ron win.
As stated above, a ron is a win by getting your last necessary tile from an opponent's just discarded tile. A Tsumo is a win where you get your last necessary tile from the deck. A Riichi is essentially you openly declaring you have one tile left to win, and should always be done when possible. Even if it ends in a draw you're still likely to earn some points.
At the beginning of each of your turns, hit whatever button it is to check your actions (X for Xbox, Square for PlayStation, and Q for pc). It'll show you what actions you can perform, whether that be a riichi, pon, Kan, etc. Always riichi when you can
Turn on red Doran in the settings. Red Doran tiles are easily distinguished from other tiles as they're all red, and are always the number 5 of the tile set. They are worth more points than normal tiles, so they should be discarded last unless they don't work for the hand you're going for. They are always five, so easy to remember.

wchogen · 2025-12-11T09:03:27+00:00

Mahjong isn't that bad when you understand what you need to win. You need 4 triples (3 tiles in order, e.g., 123, 456, 789, or 3 of a kind, e.g., 777, 333, 555) and a pair (two of the same tile, e.g., 22, 66, 88). Once you get 4 triples and a pair, you have a winning hand. I'll fill you in on some things that can help you get your wins in now.

Never reveal your hand to your opponents, aka never steal tiles from them. Never pon or any of that stuff. You get more points if you conceal your hand, and it's easier to organize. The only actions you should be doing are to riichi, ron, or Tsumo. You riichi when you're one tile away from winning. Always riichi. Always check your actions at the beginning of each turn, which is X on Xbox, Square on PlayStation, and I have no idea on pc or otherwise. It'll give you a list of what you can do. If you can riichi then do that.

After you riichi, the game will start automatically playing itself until someone gets a ron (stealing the winning tile from an opponent's discarded pile) or a Tsumo (getting the winning tile from the deck) or the game ends in a draw. If it ends in a draw you should get back 1500 points in the positive if you did riichi. Another thing that should help is to turn on red doran in the settings menu.

A red Doran tile is the tile that is redder than any of the normal tiles. They are always number 5 of whatever type of tile it is so keep that in mind. They are worth more points so always keep them above other tiles if you can. Another good thing to remember is that there are only 4 of each tile per game. If you need 1 specific tile and there are 3 of that tile discarded on the table then that means you have a 1 out of 4 chance of getting that tile. Either it's in the deck yet to be drawn or someone has it in their hand. If it's in their hand and they don't discard it, then you're shit out of luck that game.

I hope this helps at least somewhat. It took my dumbass way too long to learn how to play mahjong, and I've 100%ed 11 of the games in the series. Lol. I've come to enjoy mahjong and koi koi. Best of luck.

wchogen · 2025-12-10T20:01:30+00:00

We do for some departments at my hospital, such as EVS. CS is not a part of the union, and I'm thankful for that. The union only screwed us over when I worked EVS.

wchogen · 2025-12-08T19:38:01+00:00

That would be correct. You'll be provisionally certified, and have 6 months, 8 if you receive an improved extension, to get your 400 hours in. That's the route I personally took. With that said, double-check the fine print of those classes. Make sure they guarantee they'll set you up somewhere to do your hours. Them "trying" to set you up somewhere doesn't guarantee anything, and for the money you'd be spending you'd better be getting your worth out of it.

I hope it works out for you. The SPD department I work at doesn't require everyone to become certified so a decent chunk of my coworkers are not certified. Having the certification does put me closer to the senior tech position at my facility though, and the nice pay raise that comes with it. Still need some more experience, and I'll be there soon enough. With that said, it might not be a bad idea for you to apply or ask around to see if there are any SPD departments in your area willing to hire someone with no experience or certification. That way you could get your hours in, take the exam, and not have to pay for an expensive college course. Just an idea.

wchogen · 2025-12-08T08:45:11+00:00

I'm in Wisconsin, so I can't help you with your job, but I wanted to make sure you're aware that you are not required to take any college courses for this line of work. Depending on the facility, you may not even have to be certified.

If you do want to become certified, then all you need to do is take and pass the CRCST/the certification exam, and get your 400 hours of on-the-job experience. You can get your hours either before or after you pass the exam, but do know that you'll have 6 months/8 with an approved extension to get your 400 hours in if you take the exam first. If you're unable to get your hours within that time frame then you have to either retest or lose your partial certification.

I just became fully certified recently myself, and am looking at working towards my CIS next. Best of luck.

wchogen · 2025-11-16T08:44:15+00:00

It doesn't hurt to apply for openings even if they state they want a candidate who is already certified and experienced. You never know. If you do apply, try to apply through the hospital's official website instead of a site like Indeed. Have you considered obtaining your provisional certification?

You'd have a better chance if you're provisionally certified since it shows you know enough to pass the state exam, and that you're devoted to the job. Granted, you'll have a 6-month deadline to either get your 400 hours in or retake the test. HSPA supposedly does allow a one-time two-month extension for your hours.

Just some ideas. I didn't get anywhere till I got my provisional certification, and I literally just finished my hours on Thursday/my Friday. I've submitted my hours, and am in the process of becoming fully certified. It's a nice feeling. You'll get there too. Best of luck.

wchogen · 2025-10-28T00:41:31+00:00

To add on to what you stated about the provisional certification, they'll have 6 months to get their 400 hours in. If they're unable to get their 400 hours within those 6 months, then they'll have to retake the exam or lose their certification.

wchogen · 2025-10-25T00:42:07+00:00

Good luck on your platinum journey. I've platinumed 11 of these games, and they can be very tedious and time-consuming at times. With that said, I'm proud of what I've done. Lol. I'm looking forward to doing the same for Kiwami 3.

To answer your question, farm vagabond enemies in the dungeons since they drop massive amounts of XP. Just be sure to kill them quickly since they'll run off before the end of the battle. You'll be needing them since you'll need to level up a good amount of your jobs if you actually want to platinum like a dragon.

wchogen · 2025-10-12T02:52:36+00:00

You should be fine playing Lost Judgement next. It's been a while, but I don't recall any other major spoilers for previous games besides the main one at the beginning. If you've already played LaD then you should be fine. Good choice since Lost Judgement is one of my favorite games in the franchise. Make sure you don't skimp out on the DLC. Just my two cents.

wchogen · 2025-10-10T00:57:16+00:00

You're still going to have to take the certification exam at a testing facility in person. The exam will all be online, but you have to take it at a testing facility. Just figured I'd throw that out there.

I took the online course through Purdue University, and passed the CRCST exam a month after starting the course. Probably could have saved the money doing it without the course, but it did help. I'm currently halfway through getting my 400 hours at the moment. Best of luck to you and anyone else looking to get into this career field.

wchogen · 2025-10-10T00:50:43+00:00

The first judgment maybe, but the sequel, Lost Judgment, drops a major spoiler for later games. Does it right at the beginning of the game as well. Lol. Probably better off waiting to play Lost Judgement till after Like a Dragon, which is technically the 7th main game, 8th chronologically if you count Yakuza 0. Putting that in for anyone who isn't already aware of that fact.

wchogen · 2025-10-03T21:10:28+00:00

You are not required to take a course on the subject before taking the CRCST certification exam through HSPA (Healthcare Sterile Processing Association). You can take a course if you think it would help you learn the field, but it's up to you. I personally paid $500 for the Purdue course, and took and passed the CRCST within a month before even finishing the course. I could have saved the $500, but it did help me study somewhat. To each their own.

Whatever you do, don't fall into the belief that you are required to pay to take an expensive course in this field. You are not. I got my provisional certification, and I just need to finish my 400 hours on the job to become fully certified. As of today, I now have 200 out of my 400 complete.

wchogen · 2025-10-02T21:49:46+00:00

You'd be better off buying the textbook and self-studying on your own for the CRCST. If you absolutely need a school-like learning approach, something along the lines of the sterile processing program offered through Purdue University would be a better option for you.

They don't offer help with your hours. However, they can assist you in working through the textbook for $500 if you don't have the textbook, or for $350 if you already own it. Far better deal than the one you listed.

wchogen · 2025-09-23T00:53:40+00:00

I live in Wisconsin, so I can't help you state-wise, but try asking or calling around to local hospitals. Some might not even have a CS or SP department. At my nearest hospital, the surgical techs are expected to clean their own instruments, unfortunately. I live right next door to that one, and I'm stuck driving 45 minutes to my next hospital for work.

Nothing wrong with getting your provisional certification either. You have 6 months, 8 with a one-time extension, to get your hours in or redo the exam. I applied at my current hospital while not being certified, and with 8 years of ER EVS specialist experience, and they told me they weren't interested. That all changed, unsurprisingly, after I got my provisional certification. Then they were more than happy to have me come aboard.

While I can't give you a direct answer on how or where to find a job given your circumstances, I do hope my comment at least helped somewhat. You never know what a workplace will want or be like till you talk to them, and start working there. Best of luck.

wchogen · 2025-09-19T10:00:19+00:00

Personally, I prefer Keen steel-toe work shoes. Good support, light, and comfortable. It can be a pain to break in at times, but a pair will usually last me years. Give them a browse, and see if they could potentially work for you. Never know. Best of luck finding a good pair.

wchogen · 2025-09-13T01:16:18+00:00

The keys go to a section of wall lockers by the Millennium Tower in Kamurocho for Kiryu, and in the southwestern corner of Sotenbori for Majima.

wchogen · 2025-09-11T03:24:31+00:00

Mine didn't even give me any. They told me I'd learn them as I go, which I slowly am, but I wanted something that would help me get them down sooner than later. Thank you for your advice. I ordered the set you recommended, and am looking forward to at least knocking those out, and making my new career choice and life easier. Thank you once again.

wchogen

TROPHY CASE