How To Become a Sterile Processing Technician 2025

You can become a sterile processing technician (SPT) once you earn your high school diploma, gain 400 hours of experience, and complete a certification program.

Sterile processing technicians play a crucial role in hospitals by ensuring surgical instruments are clean and ready for use. Becoming a sterile processing technician offers a rewarding career where your work directly contributes to patient safety and well-being, making a difference in healthcare outcomes.

This article guides you through what a sterile processing technician does, sterile processing technician training requirements, job opportunities, salary information, and other career paths. It also covers the importance of earning your CSPDT certification, which can boost your credentials and job prospects.

What Is a Sterile Processing Technician?

Sterile processing technicians are medical professionals who disinfect surgical tools and equipment. Sterile processing technician job responsibilities include cleaning, sterilizing, assembling, and maintaining medical instruments and equipment used in surgeries and various medical procedures. Their work is essential for infection prevention and patient safety, as they ensure all tools are properly decontaminated and ready for use in hospitals, clinics, and surgical centers.

They also follow strict protocols to prevent contamination, operate specialized sterilization equipment, and manage inventory of sterile supplies. They may also inspect, wrap, and organize instruments into trays for use in operating rooms and other clinical settings. Some technicians travel between facilities to meet staffing needs or cover shortages, which offers flexibility and higher earning potential.

Common job titles for sterile processing technicians include:

sterile processing technician (SPT)
central sterile processing technician
travel sterile processing technician
medical equipment preparer

How To Become a Sterile Processing Technician

Below are the essential steps, from education and training to certification, that will help you land your first job as a certified sterile processing technician.

1. Earn a High School Diploma or GED

The first step to becoming a certified SPT is to earn a high school diploma or equivalent. While in high school, be sure to focus extra hard on your biology and chemistry classes or even medicine classes if your school offers them. To give yourself a head start, you should also research sterile processing programs early on since some may let you apply before you graduate.

2. Choose a Sterile Processing Technician Training Program

Accredited sterile processing technician programs are available at community colleges, training schools, and online, lasting from 10 weeks to two years. Meeting with an advisor, observing classes, and speaking with instructors and students can help in selecting the right program.

3. Enroll in and Complete a Program

In order to be enrolled in an SPT program, you may need to take an entrance exam that assesses your problem-solving skills and coursework aptitude. Once you're admitted, you'll take college-level classes that cover some of the following topics:

infection control
decontamination
sterilization
instrument handling
inventory
microbiology
medical terminology
anatomy/physiology

4. Prepare for the Sterile Processing Technician Certificate Exam

Each state has different guidelines for becoming a Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST). Be sure to research your state's requirements and document any relevant work experience, including paid or volunteer roles, as proof for accrediting bodies.

5. Pass the CRCST Certification Exam

The main accrediting bodies for the CRCST certification exam are the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA), formerly the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management (IAHCSMM), is responsible for offering the CRCST certification, which is accredited by both NCCA and ANSI.

HSPA requires that you have 400 hours of practical experience within the past five years in areas like decontamination, instrument preparation, sterilization, storage, and quality assurance. If you want to earn this certification before you have the experience, you can do so by passing the exam and receiving a provisional certificate. You will need to complete 400 hours of hands-on experience with six months of passing, however.

6. Consider Further Education

Career advancement opportunities exist, such as becoming a sterile processing supervisor or technologist. Some technicians also pursue further education in related healthcare fields like nursing.

Common advancement roles include:

sterile processing supervisor
sterile processing technologist
clinical medical assistant
surgical technologist
surgical technician
licensed practical nurse
registered nurse

Sterile Processing Technician Training Programs

Featured below are 10 accredited, high-quality sterile processing technician programs that offer comprehensive training to obtain your sterile processing technician certificate.

Concorde Career College

Concorde Career Colleges has multiple campuses that offer a sterile processing technician program in California, Colorado, Florida, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas. The curriculum focuses on infection control, sterilization methods, and instrument handling. Clinical externships provide valuable sterile processing technician on-the-job training in different types of healthcare facilities.

Prerequisites: High school diploma or GED; background check and drug screen
Tuition: $2,756 to $2,950 (depending on the state)
Financial aid: SPT programs at Concorde Career College are not eligible for federal financial aid.
Program length: Five months

Houston Community College

Houston Community College's sterile processing technician certificate program in Texas provides theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed for entry-level positions. Coursework covers decontamination, sterilization, and inventory management. Clinical rotations in local hospitals offer crucial sterile processing technician training.

Prerequisites: High school diploma or GED; TSI Assessment (Texas Success Initiative) scores or exemption
Tuition: $1,110.50 (in-district)
Financial aid: HCC's SPT program is not covered by financial aid.
Program length: Two semesters

LaGuardia Community College

LaGuardia Community College's central service technician program in New York focuses on the principles and practices of sterile processing. The sterile processing technician curriculum includes infection control, sterilization, and instrument handling. Students will need to secure their own internship to gain the required 400 hours of experience.

Prerequisites: High school diploma or GED
Tuition: $1,500
Financial aid: LaGuardia Community College offers various financial aid options, including a payment plan.
Program length: Four to six months

Penn Foster

Penn Foster offers an accredited, self-paced online program sterile processing technician career diploma. Graduates are prepared for the CRCST exam, and the school covers the cost of the exam.

Prerequisites: High school diploma or GED
Tuition: $1,249
Financial aid: Penn Foster often offers discounts and will lower the price of a course if you pay in full. It also has monthly payment plans.
Program length: Two to four months

Malcolm X College

The Malcolm X College is a part of the City Colleges of Chicago. It offers a sterile processing program that results in a basic certificate in sterile processing. Students will gain the necessary knowledge and experience to sit for the CRCST exam.

Prerequisites: High school diploma or GED; eligibility for English 101
Tuition: $2,512 for in-district students; $6,624 for in-state students; $8,288 for out-of-state students
Financial aid: The City Colleges of Chicago, including Malcolm X College, offer various financial aid options.
Program length: One semester

Stark State College

Stark State College has an online SPT course that prepares students for the CRCST exam. Students who want to enroll should already have completed their 400 hours of experience. As a benefit, students receive a voucher that covers the cost of the exam. Plus, the course has open enrollment and is self-paced, so you can start it at any time.

Prerequisites: High school diploma or GED
Tuition: $2,795 after a 15% discount
Financial aid: This course is not-for-credit, so it does not qualify for federal financial aid. However, some employers may help cover the costs.
Program length: Maximum of 12 months

Atlanta Technical College

At Atlanta Technical College, you can earn a Central Sterile Supply Processing Technician Advanced Technical Certificate of Credit. This program does include the required experience SPTs need before becoming certified.

Prerequisites: High school diploma or GED
Tuition: $4,098
Financial aid: Atlanta Technical College encourages students to use the FAFSA to apply for financial aid.
Program length: Two semesters

Queensborough Community College

A part of the City University of New York, Queensborough Community College has a sterile processing technician course that comes with a voucher for the certification exam. You can register for the course online and finish the self-paced course on your own time. You'll also have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience.

Prerequisites: High school diploma or GED
Tuition: $2,795 after a 15% discount
Financial aid: This course is not-for-credit, so it does not qualify for federal financial aid. However, some employers may help cover the costs.
Program length: Maximum of 12 months

Oakland Community College

The sterile processing technician training program at Oakland Community College in Michigan prepares individuals for certification and entry-level positions. The program includes classroom learning and 96 hours of onsite clinical experience in metro Detroit hospitals, providing valuable sterile processing technician training while on the job.

Prerequisites: 18 years or older, successful background check, basic math & reading test (for Michigan Works funding), TB clearance, immunizations, and attendance at an information session
Tuition: $2,000
Financial aid: OCC partners with Oakland County Michigan Works! to offer funding to qualified candidates. Students 25 and older can use the Michigan Reconnect to get their degree for free.
Program length: Three months

Miami Dade College

Located in Florida, Miami Dade Colleges offers an in-person central sterile processing technician career certificate. Most of the courses are in the evenings, and students will have the opportunity to work in a clinical facility in Miami-Dade County.

Prerequisites: High school diploma or equivalent
Tuition: $1,972.79
Program Length: MDC encourages students to fill out the FAFSA to access federal aid. It also offers several institutional scholarships.
Program length: Eight months

Sterile Processing Technician Job Outlook & Salaries

Sterile processing technicians across the U.S. may typically make between $53,000 and $96,000 annually, with the national average according to Indeed being just under $72,000.

In addition to their annual pay, common benefits often include employer-matched retirement plans (like 401(k)s), health coverage, and paid vacation time. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a job growth rate of 6% for surgical assistants and technologists, a category encompassing sterile processing technicians, for the next 10 years.

FAQs About Sterile Processing Technician Training

Below, we've provided some answers to some frequently asked questions about becoming a sterile processing technician that covers the length of programs, job duties, and sterile processing technician certifications online.

How Long Does It Take To Become a Sterile Processing Technician?

Becoming a sterile processing technician can take anywhere from a few months to two years, depending on your chosen educational path. Certificate programs may be completed in as little as 3 to 12 months, while associate degree programs typically require two years. Hands-on clinical experience and certification are often required.

What Does a Sterile Processing Technician Do?

Job duties of a sterile processing technician include cleaning, decontaminating, sterilizing, and assembling medical instruments and equipment used in surgeries and clinical procedures. They prepare and package instruments, operate sterilization equipment, maintain inventory, inspect tools for damage, and ensure all items meet strict infection control standards to support patient safety.

What Is the Best Online School for a Sterile Processing Technician?

Penn Foster is one of the best online sterile processing technician certificate programs because of its price and accessibility. They typically include exam fee coverage and aim to prepare students for the CRCST certification.

Find Sterile Processing Technician Training Near You

If you want to become a sterile processing technician, use our resources here on Learn.org to find colleges with accredited programs and reach out to them today. We've listed some programs in popular states below.