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How to become a sterile processing technician?

Tell us everything we need to know to become a sterile processing technician.

Note: Given the growing interest in the medical field, we're inviting our experienced professionals to share their knowledge.

career-path healthcare medical technician sterilization
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Joseph’s Answer

This is an area I only cross paths with on rare occasions, and only one specific niche at that, so I'm not aware of the full range of paths into this career. However, I do know that while much sterilisation is done with chemicals, heat, and UV; some sterilisation instead uses irradiation with huge doses of gamma rays to kill off potential infectious contaminants. Working with a gamma irradiator facility for sterilisation can be a whole different set of knowledge to working with other systems - needing a good understanding of radiation protection - so I've heard of people that have gone into technician roles in that specific niche of sterilisation having come from Health Physics apprenticeships or similar entry-level nuclear backgrounds. I'm sure that won't be a common way of ending up in that sort of role, but possibly something else to be aware of.
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Dianna’s Answer

From my experience, you can go to pharmacy tech vacational program or you can work for a compounding pharmacy and they will pay for you to get your license, diploma and certificate/diploma of completion. If they have a sterile department, they will give you a book to read, and train you to become a sterile tech.
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Konstantine’s Answer

Imagine how your work affects every surgery. Through PeriAnesthesia, I've learned how important Sterile Processing Technicians are in preparing and sterilizing surgical equipment. Your labor keeps everything clean, safe, and ready for surgery, making you vital to healthcare.
Most Sterile Processing Technicians must finish a certification program, which can take months to a year. These programs teach sterilization, infection control, and surgical equipment management at community colleges and vocational schools. The CRCST (Certified Registered Central Service Technician) exam from IAHCSMM is usually required after the training.
Skill requires attention to detail to ensure all surgical equipment are sterile. Working in a fast-paced atmosphere requires time management. Understanding medical equipment and dealing with surgical teams are also important. If you follow precise protocols and like supporting patient care behind the scenes, this could be a wonderful fit!

-Konstantine, RN
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Michelle’s Answer

This is a great inquiry.

I have never done this work, but when I was a social service case manager, one of the client success stories was of a client who went for this training and successfully obtained a career position in a hospital doing this work.

The client and I had an awesome rapport, so she shared a lot about it with me, showing me photos of various instruments that she had to learn as well as sharing her experience. She really enjoyed her training and did very well.

There's no information about what I will mention online, but one of the things I remember most in her conversations with me is The Blood Room. This may be at all or some hospitals, I do not know, but she said that as a technician, one must be in the blood room while working on certain things (it's the place where all blood goes from surgeries, etc.). She said that the odor is overwhelming, the worst odor ever, but she was able to tolerate it and she said some students couldn't. So I guess that there is an expectation that this career can have challenges and based on a person's tolerance threshold, can have a very successful career as my client did. The training can take from months to a year and my client took a county funded training for nine months. Her training made it possible for her to have a career as well as obtain an apartment on her own with no program or subsidy. Very much a success story !

A student can find out where to take training and certification by doing a search online for their town or city. Some colleges through Continuing Education programs offer this. Some colleges offer a four month diploma program in it. I would highly advise not doing this remotely online, even though it is offered remotely, because you really need to deal with tangible objects and be trained by an experienced person who can observe your progress and give the student feedback.

The student will learn many things. They will learn instrument identification and handling, sterilization methods, instrument assembly and disassembly, packaging and storage, quality control and assurance, infection control and prevention, medical terminology and communication skills. This is why I believe it is best done in person on site and for the longer duration trainings.

I wish anyone going into this field the best as it can be a very satisfying and rewarding career !
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