Sterile Processing Technician

Sterile Processing Technician
WHAT MAKES MY JOB HOT?
Short-term training:
• Training programs are typically 2-5 months
long, including both lecture and lab/clinical
practice. Programs prepare students to take
a professional certification exam.
• Program graduates often receive a
Certificate of Completion in Central
Processing, which—along with professional
certification—can get them an entry-level job
as a Sterile Processing Tech.
Faster than average growth:
• In Massachusetts, this job is expected to
grow 10% from 2008-2018.
Good pay (Boston 2010 figures):
• Typical entry-level wage: $13.73/hr.
• Median wage: $18.31/hr.
• Experienced-level wage: $24.96/hr.
Typical job benefits include:
• Medical & other insurance
• 401(k) retirement savings plan
• Tuition and certification fee reimbursement
Room for advancement:
WHAT I DO: I am a medical professional
who sterilizes and sets up supplies and
equipment needed for surgery, physical
exams, and other medical procedures.
• A Sterile Processing Tech can move up to
become a Sterile Processing Tech II, then
III, and can then advance to become a
Supervisor or Manager.
My tasks include:
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Receiving used surgical instruments, supplies, and
equipment from operating rooms and other areas of a
hospital/medical facility
Disassembling, inspecting (to set aside any rejects),
cleaning, reassembling, and sorting contaminated supplies
and equipment
Loading, monitoring, operating, and maintaining different
kinds of cleaning and sterilization equipment
Identifying, documenting, and reporting equipment in need of
repair
Organizing and assembling instrument trays required for
specific surgical cases (for example, total knee replacement,
sinus surgery, or gall bladder surgery), and filling special
requests as needed
Maintaining records of all equipment and supplies (for
example, scissors, screws, and drapes) and ordering
supplies as needed
My job is a good fit for someone who
is:
 Hands on and comfortable with performing
routine tasks
 Organized and detail-oriented
 A problem solver
 A good communicator
For more info about this job:
CareerOneStop — See the Occupation Profile
for "Medical Equipment Preparers"
http://www.careeronestop.org/
Sources: CareerOneStop; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Survey; Massachusetts Wage Information; MA Department of Workforce Development; America’s Career
InfoNet (O*NET OnLine) • Photo Credits: The Bay State Banner, Oct. 14, 2010, Vol. 46, No. 10 (leftmost photo); World photos by Don Seabrook (middle photos); Healthcare Purchasing News (rightmost
photo).
Getting a Foot in the Door: What Employers are Looking For
Employers may also refer to me as a(n):
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Central Processing & Distribution Technician (CPD Tech)
Central Processing Technician (CPT)
Central Sterile Processing Technician
Central Sterile Supply Technician (CSS Tech)
Instrument Technician
Sterile Processing & Distribution Technician (SPD Tech)
Employers in the Boston area include:
Typical work settings include: Hospitals, physician and dental offices,
surgery centers, biotech and veterinary hospitals
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Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Brigham & Women's Hospital
Children's Hospital
Faulkner Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital
Tufts Medical Center
Typical Job Application Requirements include: Academic/training
credentials
• High School Diploma or GED Work experience
• For an entry-level Sterile Processing Tech I position, some employers hire new graduates, but others
prefer or require that job applicants have a few months to 1 year of work experience in a health care
setting. TIP: If you are a new graduate, find out if an employer would count clinical practice (for a training
program) as work experience.
Other employer
requirements/
preferences may
include:
• Criminal background and sex offender check
• Professional certification in Sterile Processing (or working towards it). See the following Web sites for
• organizations that offer professional certification exams:
• Short-term training—Coursework in Sterile Processing (often through a community college) to achieve a
Certificate of Completion in Sterile Processing or on-the-job training directly through a hospital program.
Training program clinicals may require a criminal background and sex offender check.
 Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD)
http://www.sterileprocessing.org/
 International Association of Healthcare Central Service Material Management (IAHCSMM)
http://www.iahcsmm.org/
• Night, weekend, &/or holiday shifts—Technicians new to the job may get these shifts at first.
Hard and Soft Skills Employers Typically Seek
(in addition to the job's main duties):
Reading, writing, and basic arithmetic skills
Basic computer skills
Ability to follow detailed instructions and organizational skills
Problem solving skills
Communication and customer service skills
Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fastpaced environment
• Patience to perform routine tasks
• Skill to work with small parts
• Physical stamina to stand and walk for extended periods of
time, and strength to frequently move 20+ lbs. of equipment
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Photo Credits: Photo of Sterile Processing Technician at St. Mary's of Michigan by Jeff Schrier, The Saginaw News, Nov. 29, 2010 (top photo); Photo of Sterile Processing
Technician from Western Technical College Web site (bottom photo).
Getting a Credential that Can Land You a Job
CERTIFICATE PROGRAM IN CENTRAL PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY
Fictional Community College
Jane Doe, Program Coordinator
Office A, Room 123, 123.456.7890, abcdef@college.edu
STEP 1: Learn about the program and make sure it's a good fit for your interests, goals, needs, and schedule.
• XYZ's Central Processing Technology Program is a 16-week course offered every semester. This one-semester course consists
of 4 hours of theory each week, and 24 hours of clinical practice each week. Clinical is graded Pass/Fail.
• Students who successfully complete the program receive a Certificate in Central Processing Technology.
Wait List
£
Yes

Attendance Options
No
£
Full Time

Part Time
Classes Are Offered

Day

Evening

Summer
STEP 2: Find the cost of the program and make sure it's a good fit for your wallet.
• Tuition and Fees: $2,579 (based on the cost the college charges a student for completing the program within normal time)
• Books and Supplies: $800 per semester
• Median Loan Debt: $1,650 (based on those students who complete the program)
STEP 3: Apply to the college and complete all college admissions requirements (ALL requirements MUST be completed before
applying to the program).
• Submit an application and proof of a High School Diploma or GED
• Complete additional enrollment requirements including submitting a Financial Aid Application and an Immunization Form
• Register--and it is strongly recommended that you attend the college's orientation session
STEP 4: Complete prerequisite courses (if applicable) and other program admissions requirements.
• No prerequisite courses, but a mandatory health program information session
CONGRATULATIONS—YOU'VE BEEN ACCEPTED INTO THE PROGRAM!
STEP 5: Complete successfully all courses and other program requirements.
• The Central Processing Technology Program consists of the following course:
Course Sequence
Program Length: 16 weeks total (1 semester only)
Number of Courses: 1
Course No.
Course Title
Credits
CP 101
Central Processing Technology
4
Minimum grade needed to
pass the course?
C
This course introduces students to the field of Central Service. It focuses on: Decontamination; Disinfection; Sterilization;
Instrumentation; Sterile Packaging and Storage; Regulations and Standards; Quality Assurance and Inventory Management and
Tracking; and more. Course content also includes: History of Central Service Technology; Legal, Ethical, and Moral Issues;
Communication Skills; Introduction to Microbiology; Infection Control; Medical and Surgical Terminology; and Anatomy and Physiology.
• Prior to starting the required clinical component of this course, you must submit a Report of Medical History and other forms, and
you must clear a criminal background and sex offender check (results are confidential). Some clinical facilities may require
additional screening such as drug testing.
CONGRATULATIONS—YOU NOW HAVE A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION
IN CENTRAL PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY!
STEP 6 (Strongly recommended): Take a professional certification exam.
• The program prepares students to take the international professional certification exam, which is offered by the International
Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management (IAHCSMM).
• It is recommended that you become professionally certified (by passing the exam) prior to applying for a job. Many employers
require/prefer professional certification or expect that you work towards it once hired.
STEP 7: Use your certificate to start working or continue your studies.
Land a job as a Sterile Processing Technician 1 or pursue a Certificate in Central Services and Materials Management through the
community college (3 semesters over 1 yr., including summer).
Moving on Up!: Grow Your Career and Your Paycheck
The sample career ladder below shows how a Sterile Processing Tech I can move up into higher positions in Sterile
Processing. It illustrates how you can progress from entry-level positions in the field to higher levels of pay, skill, and
responsibility. Each step contains position-specific information on the typical level of education/training and/or work experience
regional employers require/prefer; professional certification; and a typical starting wage in the Greater Boston area. The
orange box shows options for transferring some of the skills you've acquired in Sterile Processing to pursue training in other
well-paying careers. Regardless of the path you take, it really pays to move up!
Note: The starting wage figure in the orange box below are based on BLS figures (for the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division, May 2009). The wage figure in each step
of the career ladder is based on conversations with regional employers about a typical starting wage for the position in 2010.
Sample Career Ladder in Sterile Processing
STEP 5
Manager
 Bachelor's degree preferred (e.g., BSN,
bachelor's in another health care-related field
or in business)
 Professional certification required
 5+ yrs. experience
 Typical starting wage: $35+/hr.
Or, after some experience as a Sterile Processing Technician,
consider pursuing training to become a:
• Surgical Technologist, $14+/hr. (starting wage); or
• Radiologic Technologist, $23/hr. (starting wage); or
• Registered Nursing, $28/hr. (starting wage)
STEP 4
Supervisor
 Some college credits or Associate's degree not required
but preferred (e.g., in a health care-related field)
 Professional certification required
 3+ yrs. experience preferred
 Typical starting wage: ~$25/hr.
STEP 3
Sterile Processing Tech III
 2-3 yrs. experience as a Tech I/II
 Professional certification preferred
 Typical starting wage: ~$18/hr
STEP 2
Sterile Processing Tech II
 1-2 yrs. experience as a Tech I
 Professional certification preferred
 Typical starting wage: ~$15/hr.
STEP 1
Sterile Processing Tech I
 High School Diploma or GED
 Completion of Sterile Processing training, plus a few months to 1 year
experience not required but preferred
 Professional certification preferred (generally within 1 year of hiring)
 Typical starting wage: $13+/hr.