This healthcare short-term certificate program prepares students for entry-level careers in sterile processing and materials management. Commonly referred to as Central Service Technicians, Sterile Processing Technicians perform disinfection, decontamination, and sterilization procedures required to ensure proper reprocessing of patient care items, surgical equipment and instrumentation, and a variety of other medical devices. Additional duties include assembly and inspection of surgical instruments, maintenance of patient care equipment, inventory management, quality assurance methods, and surgical preoperative case preparation.
Sterile Processing Technicians may be employed in hospital central service departments, sterile processing in ambulatory surgical centers, dental clinics, and other medical device-related facilities. Many technicians work a 40-hour week, but may also need to be available for innovative shifts or holidays and on-call opportunities.
This is a two-quarter program of 19 credits beginning in Fall quarter. The Allied Health Sterile Processing Technician Certificate is a selective admissions program, with an application process specific to the program. Students will acquire hands-on training and lecture coursework designed to prepare them for the 400 hours of required externship within a clinical setting. Upon successful completion of all required coursework and clinical requirements, students will achieve a Sterile Processing Technician Certificate and be eligible to sit for the Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) Examination. Submission of the application to sit for the CRCST examination is the end-point requirement for the short-term certificate.
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