Sterile Processing Technician Training & Certification
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“Sterile processing technicians are advocates for patient safety. Good technicians ask lots of questions and speak up if they feel something isn’t safe for their patients. Good technicians are also constantly learning and sharing their new insights with teammates so we can all improve together.”
Stacey MacArthur, MS, Manager of Sterile Processing, Providence Portland Medical Center
Becoming a sterile processing technician might be a viable career path for those who desire a medical job but are more comfortable with tools than working directly with patients. These healthcare professionals prepare and maintain medical tools so that equipment, hospitals, and medical offices are free of contamination.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2024), job openings for sterile processing technicians, also referred to as medical equipment preparers, should grow 6 percent between 2023 and 2033, which is slightly faster than the average growth expected for all occupations during that time (5 percent). In May 2023, the highest-paying states for medical equipment preparers were California, the District of Columbia, Alaska, New Jersey, and Delaware.
Currently, only a handful of states require certification to become sterile processing technicians. Still, having a certificate from an accredited sterile processing technician training program can allow a candidate to compete for the highest-paying jobs.
Read below about sterile processing technician schools and how to get started in this career on the rise.
Meet the Expert: Stacey MacArthur, CRCST, CIS, CER, CHL, MS
Stacey MacArthur is the manager of sterile processing at Providence Portland Medical Center. She holds a master of science in management and organizational leadership and a bachelor of business administration from Warner Pacific College.
MacArthur is renowned for her expertise in regulatory compliance, budget management, and quality improvement. Her career is distinguished by her commitment to staff development and process enhancement, alongside her active involvement in professional organizations and educational roles, contributing significantly to advancing healthcare standards. She holds certifications as a Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST), Certified Instrument Specialist (CIS), Certified Endoscope Reprocessor (CER), and Certified Healthcare Leader (CHL) from the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA).
MedicalTehchnologySchools.com: What is something you wish the public understood about sterile processing technicians?
MacArthur: I wrote this to encourage my team during Sterile Processing Week. I believe it sums up my response to your question:
Dear patient,
You don’t know me. I am a member of your healthcare team. I will be helping to take care of you during your procedure. My team and I are very much behind the scenes. You likely won’t get to see my face, learn my name, or even know what I did to aid in your care, but be assured—I am here. I have your back.
Every day, my colleagues and I work tirelessly to serve you. I take contaminated, unsafe instruments and equipment from completed medical and surgical procedures and transform them into clean, sterile, safe instruments and equipment that will be used to save lives over and over. My job is to keep you safe against invisible monsters while you are at your most vulnerable.
This work requires a lot of knowledge and lots of ongoing training. Not only do I need to be able to identify all the instruments needed to help you, but I also need to know how to disassemble and reassemble them, how to properly clean them, how to inspect and sterilize them so that they will be accurate, safe, and ready for you. For your safety, it is important that I know important concepts in anatomy, medical terminology, microbiology, ergonomics, metallurgy, surgical instrument identification, and how they may be used. It is a lot – but I do it for you.
This work can be dangerous. Throughout my workday, I am exposed to many hazards. Some days my back hurts because I lift many heavy trays and push heavy carts of instruments and supplies. I must constantly watch out for wet floors, potentially hazardous chemicals, sharp things, hot ojects, and biohazardous materials. It is important that I stay safe, so I can be here to help my team and take care of patients like you.
I can appreciate the magnitude of what you may be experiencing. You are sick or injured. You are likely in pain. You may be scared. You are trusting your healthcare team to help you leave the hospital whole, healed and better than when you came in. As you drift off to sleep, focus on healing and recovery. My colleagues and I help to care for many patients every day, but at this moment, you are the MOST important patient. Please know that even though I am not in the room with you, I did my work with YOU in mind.
Sincerely,
Your Sterile Processing Technician
MedicalTechnologySchools.com: What advice would you give to aspiring sterile processing technician students?
MacArthur: Do your homework. Research what sterile Processing technicians do. Research the job market for your town and the pay. Job requirements, titles, and pay ranges can vary greatly in different communities.
Also, investigate certification requirements for your state. Currently, five states require certification: Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.
This work can be physically demanding. In most cases, technicians are on their feet for most of their shifts. There is considerable lifting (most pans weigh 25 pounds or less), but for every time the operating room uses a tray, sterile processing probably lifts it seven times.
This work can be dangerous. Back injuries are common due to the frequency of lifting trays and pushing carts. Our profession exposes us to biohazardous materials, piping hot autoclaves, and numerous chemicals and detergents. We must be on the lookout for wet floors, hot items, sharp items, and contaminated items.
This work requires a high degree of accuracy, and workers are often pushed to increase efficiency and get instruments out to prevent delays. Strong communication skills are essential to this position. It can be fast-paced, and priorities can change quickly.
Sterile processing technicians are advocates for patient safety. Good technicians ask lots of questions and speak up if they feel something isn’t safe for their patients. Good technicians are also constantly learning and sharing their new insights with teammates so we can all improve together.
Degree & Certification Programs for Sterile Processing Techs
Most sterile processing technician schools offer a certificate of completion, although an associate degree is sometimes available. Certificate programs range from as few as 28 hours to as many as 200 hours of training and may include additional hours of clinical experience.
Although licensure is not required in most states, students who want to demonstrate their professional competency can seek certification. Sterile processing certification exams are offered through the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD) or the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA).
Following is a sampling of program options for aspiring sterile processing technicians:
Contra Costa Medical Career College (Certificate)
At Contra Costa Medical Career College in Antioch, California, students can earn a technical certificate in sterile processing. The program includes classroom instruction, 214 hours of training in the CCMCC fully functional simulated lab, and between 200 and 400 hours of experience in an externship environment, to be assigned by the college.
This certificate will provide students with the knowledge of current techniques, trends, and regulations, enabling them to function with nationally based competencies in healthcare sterile supply processing and distribution areas.
After completing this certificate, graduates will be ready to take the certification for distribution technician and healthcare sterile processing exams as well as the exam offered through HSPA (Healthcare Sterile Processing Association). Graduates can take up opportunities at hospitals or surgery centers, outpatient surgery clinics, veterinary hospitals, and dental surgery clinics.
- Location: Antioch, California
- Accreditation: Accrediting Council of Continuing Education & Training (ACCET)
- Expected Time to Completion: One year or less
Mount Hood Community College (Certificate)
Mount Hood Community College (MHCC) boasts a beautiful campus nestled in the Oregon mountains, a fantastic place to gain the skills of a sterile processing technician. Unlike some other featured programs, the MHCC program is a broader surgical technician program offering specific training in sterile processing.
This sterile processing technician course provides instruction for those who wish to hold entry-level positions in healthcare facilities’ sterile processing and central service departments.
This two-year program prepares graduates for various healthcare positions. It is based on the curriculum provided by the IAHCSMM, which means that upon completion, graduates are eligible to sit for the CRCST exam. The course requires students to take 60 hours of direct coursework, 30 hours of labs, and 400 hours of hands-on clinical practice.
- Location: Gresham, Oregon
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP); Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
- Expected Time to Completion: 24 months
Fayetteville Technical Community College (Certificate)
Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC), located in Fayetteville, North Carolina, offers a highly competitive program that accepts just ten students per year and is one of the shortest at 17 credits. The FTCC program follows the standards of the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI). It prepares graduates to sit for the National Certification Exam from the Certification Board of Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD).
As part of the program, students will delve into topics such as introduction to computers; applied communications; introduction to sterile processing; STP clinical practice; career assessment; and prof success prep. Graduates can take up opportunities at central processing units in hospitals, surgery centers, and dialysis facilities.
Through this program, students will develop the knowledge and skills required for properly disinfecting, preparing, processing, storing, and issuing sterile and non-sterile supplies, instrumentation, and equipment for patient care.
- Location: Fayetteville, North Carolina
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Expected Time to Completion: One semester
Pima Medical Institute (Certificate)
Pima Medical Institute offers a sterile processing technician certificate program, providing students with knowledge of microbiology, surgical instruments, surgical terminology, medical equipment, storage and distribution, and the skills required for decontamination and sterilization.
Graduates receive a certificate and can apply for and take the Certified Registered Central Service Technician examination through the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management. They can take up positions in various environments, such as hospitals, intensive care units, emergency rooms, labor & delivery units, dental/eye care practices, operating rooms, plastic surgery offices, laboratories, and surgery centers.
This 35.5-credit program includes courses such as principles and practices of sterile processing; surgical instruments; microbiology and infection control; sterilization procedures and practice; surgical terminology; decontamination procedures and practice; medical equipment; and storage and distribution. The curriculum also includes an externship.
- Location: Phoenix, AZ; Denver, CO
- Accreditation: Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
- Expected Time to Completion: Nine months
List of Sterile Processing Technician Schools
| School | City | State | Website | GRADS ('21) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia Technician Training | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | https://ptt.edu | 87 |
| Contra Costa Medical Career College | Antioch | California | https://www.ccmcc.edu | 69 |
| Anoka Technical College | Anoka | Minnesota | https://www.anokatech.edu | 52 |
| Fortis College | Houston | Texas | https://www.fortis.edu | 52 |
| Pima Medical Institute-Phoenix | Phoenix | Arizona | https://pmi.edu | 41 |
| Glendale Career College | Glendale | California | https://www.success.edu | 37 |
| College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn | Illinois | https://www.cod.edu | 34 |
| Antilles School of Technical Careers | San Juan | Puerto Rico | https://antillespr.edu | 29 |
| Fortis College-Orange Park | Orange Park | Florida | https://www.fortis.edu | 28 |
| Sinclair Community College | Dayton | Ohio | https://www.sinclair.edu | 26 |
| Parkland College | Champaign | Illinois | https://www.parkland.edu | 26 |
| Premiere Career College | Irwindale | California | https://www.premierecollege.education | 26 |
| Massachusetts Bay Community College | Wellesley Hills | Massachusetts | https://www.massbay.edu | 25 |
| Saint Paul College | Saint Paul | Minnesota | https://www.saintpaul.edu | 24 |
| Brewster Technical College | Tampa | Florida | https://www.hillsboroughschools.org/brewster | 24 |
| Pima Medical Institute-Denver | Denver | Colorado | https://pmi.edu | 21 |
| Nashville State Community College | Nashville | Tennessee | https://www.nscc.edu | 20 |
| Onondaga Cortland Madison BOCES | Liverpool | New York | https://www.ocmboces.org | 19 |
| Atlantic Technical College | Coconut Creek | Florida | https://www.atlantictechnicalcollege.edu | 19 |
| Clover Park Technical College | Lakewood | Washington | https://www.cptc.edu | 18 |
| Berkeley College-Woodland Park | Woodland Park | New Jersey | https://berkeleycollege.edu | 18 |
| Washtenaw Community College | Ann Arbor | Michigan | https://www.wccnet.edu | 17 |
| Minneapolis Community and Technical College | Minneapolis | Minnesota | https://minneapolis.edu | 17 |
| Brookline College-Tempe | Tempe | Arizona | https://www.brooklinecollege.edu | 17 |
| Medical Career Institute | Ocean | New Jersey | https://www.mcinj.edu | 16 |
| Mountainland Technical College | Lehi | Utah | https://mtec.edu | 15 |
| Stautzenberger College-Brecksville | Brecksville | Ohio | https://www.sctoday.edu | 15 |
| Pinellas Technical College-St. Petersburg | Saint Petersburg | Florida | https://www.pcsb.org/myptc | 14 |
| Front Range Community College | Westminster | Colorado | https://www.frontrange.edu | 14 |
| Renton Technical College | Renton | Washington | https://www.rtc.edu | 13 |
| Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Murfreesboro | Murfreesboro | Tennessee | https://tcatmurfreesboro.edu | 13 |
| Lansing Community College | Lansing | Michigan | https://www.lcc.edu | 13 |
| Lincoln Land Community College | Springfield | Illinois | https://www.llcc.edu | 13 |
| Stark State College | North Canton | Ohio | https://www.starkstate.edu | 12 |
| American Institute of Medical Sciences & Education | Piscataway | New Jersey | https://aimseducation.edu | 12 |
| Fortis College-Richmond | Richmond | Virginia | https://www.fortis.edu | 12 |
| Fortis Institute | Houston | Texas | https://www.fortis.edu | 10 |
| Delta College | University Center | Michigan | https://www.delta.edu | 10 |
| Chippewa Valley Technical College | Eau Claire | Wisconsin | https://www.cvtc.edu | 10 |
| Baton Rouge Community College | Baton Rouge | Louisiana | https://www.mybrcc.edu | 9 |
| Tarrant County College District | Fort Worth | Texas | https://www.tccd.edu | 9 |
| Pima Medical Institute-Albuquerque West | Albuquerque | New Mexico | https://pmi.edu | 9 |
| Central New Mexico Community College | Albuquerque | New Mexico | https://www.cnm.edu | 9 |
| Waukesha County Technical College | Pewaukee | Wisconsin | https://www.wctc.edu | 8 |
| Milwaukee Area Technical College | Milwaukee | Wisconsin | https://www.matc.edu | 8 |
| College of Southern Nevada | Las Vegas | Nevada | https://www.csn.edu | 7 |
| William Rainey Harper College | Palatine | Illinois | https://www.harpercollege.edu | 6 |
| Stautzenberger College-Maumee | Maumee | Ohio | https://www.sctoday.edu | 6 |
| Brookline College-Tucson | Tucson | Arizona | https://www.brooklinecollege.edu | 6 |
| Southern University at Shreveport | Shreveport | Louisiana | https://www.susla.edu | 6 |
| Davidson-Davie Community College | Thomasville | North Carolina | https://www.davidsondavie.edu | 6 |
| Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College | Mount Gay | West Virginia | https://www.southernwv.edu | 5 |
| SOWELA Technical Community College | Lake Charles | Louisiana | https://www.sowela.edu | 5 |
| Ivy Tech Community College | Indianapolis | Indiana | https://www.ivytech.edu | 5 |
| Columbia Basin College | Pasco | Washington | https://www.columbiabasin.edu | 4 |
| Fayetteville Technical Community College | Fayetteville | North Carolina | https://www.faytechcc.edu | 4 |
| Mid-State Technical College | Wisconsin Rapids | Wisconsin | https://www.mstc.edu | 4 |
| Triton College | River Grove | Illinois | https://www.triton.edu | 4 |
| Western Technical College | La Crosse | Wisconsin | https://www.westerntc.edu | 4 |
| East Valley Institute of Technology | Mesa | Arizona | https://www.evit.com | 3 |
| Cuyahoga Community College District | Cleveland | Ohio | https://www.tri-c.edu | 2 |
| Blackhawk Technical College | Janesville | Wisconsin | https://www.blackhawk.edu | 2 |
| Greenville Technical College | Greenville | South Carolina | https://www.gvltec.edu | 2 |
| Community College of Allegheny County | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | https://www.ccac.edu | 1 |
| Aims Community College | Greeley | Colorado | https://www.aims.edu | 1 |
| Lindsey Hopkins Technical College | Miami | Florida | https://www.lindseyhopkins.edu | 1 |
Hybrid & Online Programs
As with most healthcare certificate programs, the typical sterile processing program requires students to complete a clinical training component in person. However, hybrid program options are available for students seeking the convenience and flexibility of online sterile process technician schooling.
Some of the most popular online or hybrid programs include:
Not only is Purdue one of U.S. News and World Report’s “Top 20 Public Schools,” but it also offers one of the few online sterile processing technician programs. This flexible distance education coursework prepares students to take the HSPA examination and become Certified Registered Central Service Technicians (CRCSTs). Although the HSPA exam requires 400 hours of clinical experience, students can complete that component in their home area.
Using the HSPA Central Service Technical Manual, students will study topics such as medical terminology, disinfection, sterile packaging and storage, management of patient care equipment, low-temperature sterilization, high-temperature sterilization, and surgical instrumentation.
- Location: West Lafayette, Indiana
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Expected Time to Completion: Varies
Stark State College offers an online full-time certificate and an associate of technical studies in medical instrument sterilization technician. The program trains students in the processing, cleaning, distributing, packaging, storing, and controlling of sterile goods, surgical trays, medical equipment, and instruments. Both programs include the same technical classes.
The certificate requires completing 32 credits, while the associate degree requires 62 to 63 credits. The curriculum includes courses such as medical instrument sterilization, introduction to anatomy and physiology, introduction to surgical terminology, and medical terminology.
The college also offers a 16-credit career enhancement certificate in medical instrument sterilization technician, ideal for those with one year of working experience in the field.
- Location: North Canton, Ohio
- Accreditation: The Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Expected Time to Completion: Certificate (12 months); associate degree (24 months)
| School | City | State | Website | GRADS ('21) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martinsburg College | Martinsburg | West Virginia | https://martinsburgcollege.edu | 31 |
| Stark State College | North Canton | Ohio | https://www.starkstate.edu | 12 |
| Eastern Gateway Community College | Steubenville | Ohio | https://egcc.edu | 3 |
Core & Elective Courses for Sterile Processing Techs
Many core and elective classes are common across sterile processing technician school programs. Although course titles may differ, the following subjects are likely to be covered in any curriculum:
- Medical terminology: A requirement for all healthcare students, this course provides the basic language for anyone entering the medical field. Students will learn the Latin and Greek roots to properly identify body parts and various pathologies.
- Anatomy and physiology: Students who take this course will learn the basic organs and functions of the human body, including common ailments and conditions.
- Sterilization: Students learn basic duties and procedures for maintaining sterile healthcare tools in this course. Students will learn to appropriately prepare, wrap, and distribute equipment to minimize contagions and maintain healthy hospitals. They will also learn how to operate sterilization machinery and enforce decontamination standards in various clinical settings.
- Practicum: Many programs include a practicum in the coursework, providing students with mentor technicians who perform supervised clinical rounds. In this course, students work in surgical situations, providing support and maintenance of tools for empirical experience in this profession.
- Specialty courses: Students who want to specialize in one of these fields are offered courses such as management (e.g., insurance guidelines, customer management strategies, and program direction goals), ambulatory surgery sterile processing, and GI scope training (e.g., how to process flexible endoscopes and GI track surgical sterilization procedures).
Accreditation of Sterile Processing Technician Programs
There is no major body that accredits sterile processing technician programs. However, it is wise to attend a school that houses a surgical technology program approved by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Accreditation Review Council on Education in Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (ARC/STSA). Since there is an overlap of courses and general knowledge, attending an ARC/STSA-approved program can give graduates the best chance for success on the national exams.
In addition to choosing a school affiliated with the ARC/STSA, verifying that a sterile processing technician training program is attached to a regionally accredited university is wise. It’s advisable to find a school accredited by one of the regional bodies recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Also, it would be wise for online students to ensure that their distance learning courses are accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). A program’s accreditation status can impact graduates’ eligibility to sit for certification exams and, therefore, is worth investigating before enrollment.
Career Outlook
Sterilization technicians fall under the general umbrella of Medical Equipment Preparers and are expected to be highly needed over the next decade. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) suggests that the field will grow 6 percent from 2023 to 2033, slightly faster than the average for all occupations (BLS 2024). As with many other healthcare specialties, students in this area of expertise will benefit from the aging Baby Boomer population’s need for additional care. By the year 2033, it is expected that 4,000 new jobs will be created to adapt to this growing need.
In May 2023, nearly 70,700 people were employed as medical equipment preparers. Most of these workers were employed by general medical and surgical hospitals. However, the highest wages are found in management companies, with an average of $73,910 per year. Specialty hospitals are also key areas where surgical preparers and sterile processing technicians are employed, and the wages are among the highest in the field—approximately $55,300 per year (BLS May 2023).
Still, the level of pay program graduates can expect as sterile processing technicians depends upon the job’s location and the applicant’s experience level. Top-paying states include California, the District of Columbia, Alaska, New Jersey, and Delaware with salaries ranging from $52,450 to $61,780 annually. Professionals with more experience in the healthcare field or as sterilization technicians will be more competitive for these high-paying jobs (BLS May 2023).
Licensing & Certification for Sterile Processing Techs
Students who wish to become certified through an organization affiliated with the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) must become acquainted with the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution, Inc. (CBSPD). The CBSPD, formerly known as NICHSPDP, develops and administers a competency-based certification exam to ensure that sterile processing technicians meet “international” standards and protocol.
The CBSPD offers four specialty exams for different tracks of sterile processing technician training:
- Technician
- GI Scope
- Ambulatory Surgery Technician
- Management
The specialty uniquely dictates eligibility for each of these exams. For example, the Technician exam requires 12 months of on-site sales and service of surgical equipment, while the Management exam requires 24 months of management in a Surgical Processing Department (SPD).
The other certification body recognized by the NCCA is the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA). The requirements for this certification differ slightly from those of the CBSPD, but many hospitals and surgical centers recognize both. The HSPA also provides specialty exams, including
- Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST)
- Certified Instrument Specialist (CIS)
- Certified Healthcare Leader (CHL)
- Certified Central Service Vendor Program (CCSVP)
Currently, only Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee require certification to be licensed as sterile processing technicians, although certification legislation is pending in other states. Most hospitals will require some level of certification for an applicant to be competitive in the workplace.
