Sterile processing technicians are an integral but often overlooked part of medical teams. These technicians are responsible for inventorying, packaging and sterilizing medical instruments. This is a key part of controlling infection in the medical workplace. This article will tell you how to become a sterile processing technician in the U.S.

Steps

  1. 1
    Obtain a high school diploma or a GED.[1] You should have a strong background in science.
  2. 2
    Take certification courses at community colleges, career colleges, or take an online course. There are several schools which offer online courses. Career colleges offer 10 weeks programs, community colleges 1 to 2 years programs.[2]
    • Some of these sterile processing technician programs offer traditional instruction combined with hands-on training in the hospitals, medical centers or surgery centers. Check with the schools in your area or on industry oriented websites.
    Advertisement
  3. 3
    Gain on-the-job experience. You can usually get this experience through jobs or official certification programs.[3]
  4. 4
    Earn certification through either the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD)[4] or the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management (IAHCSMM).[5]
    • Sterile Processing Technician Certification is required by law only in 2 states at the moment, New York and New Jersey. But most employers require certification. There are 2 kinds of certification, CBSPD and IAHCSMM. Certification requirements vary between the CBSPD and IAHCSMM. Check each association for updated information.
  5. Advertisement

About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 16 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 115,130 times.
340 votes - 90%
Co-authors: 16
Updated: November 5, 2019
Views: 115,130
Categories: Healthcare Careers
Advertisement