Online Sterile Processing Technician Training Program - MedCerts

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SP 3000

Sterile Processing Technician

Online Certification Training

Gain industry certification as a Sterile Processing Technician and ultimately work in hospitals, surgery centers, clinics and other healthcare facilities. Watch our program sneak peek below!

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14  Weeks
Program Length
CRCST 
Certification
$33,821
Avg. Starting Salary*
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Issuing Authority

This program is NOT available to residents of the following states: AR, LA, ND, NV, RI, WI.

Students residing in NY, NJ, CT, TN, PA – these states require that Central Service Technicians become certified within a state-mandated time period after employment (range from 1.5 - 3 years). This is NOT a barrier to enrollment for students but should be reviewed with an Education Consultant at time of enrollment.

Please review our State Restriction page to view what restrictions there may be in your state/region of residence or employment and ensure you are eligible for enrollment. These restrictions may not apply to students taking programs through an employer, academic or government-sponsored model - including MyCAA and Army, Air Force or Coast Guard Credentialing Assistance. To determine eligibility, please confirm with your sponsor or review our military spouse MyCAA-approved or Military Credentialing Assistance-approved programs.

Watch our Sterile Processing Technician Program Sneak Peek!

MedCerts programs are developed with collaboration from our in-house production team, industry-recognized subject matter experts and our education technology design team. From interactive simulations, interviews with real world experts, game based learning and more, our Instructional Design education model is created to meet the needs of every type of learner.

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Sterile Processing Technician Training Online

MedCerts Tuition Advantage

We believe everyone should have access to higher education. With the option to pay in full, break down payments or utilize government grant funding, we help expand that access.

Monthly Payment Options as low as $346 Payment Plans for Every Student

Talk with an Education Consultant to pick the perfect payment plan, from paying in full to installments with interest rates from 0-12%.

Total Tuition $4,000 Pay in Full

The total tuition can be paid immediately or through a number of grant-funded or monthly payment plan options.

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The pricing listed above for a monthly payment plan is an estimate for the cost of an 12-month payment plan including down payment. Final pricing is given at time of purchase and may vary from both pricing examples above.

MyCAA, Department of Defense Credentialing Assistance/COOL and Workforce Grants

MedCerts offers financial aid options through these government grant-funded programs – MyCAA, Workforce Funding (including WIOA), and Department of Defense Credentialing Assistance or COOL funding for the Army, Air Force and Coast Guard. Those eligible include Military Spouses; active duty Army, Reserves, and National Guard members; active duty Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Air Force National Guard, and US Space Force; active duty Coast Guard and SELRES members (enlisted and officers); or workforce-funded qualifying job seekers. Speak to an Education Consultant to see if you qualify.

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What Does a Sterile Processing Technician Do?

A typical hospital uses (and reuses) tens of thousands of medical instruments every month. Although some supplies are disposable, many are not. The reusable supplies come with their own special instructions for proper cleaning and maintenance. Sterile Processing Technicians (SPTs) prepare surgical instruments and devices. They clean, inspect, test, sterilize, store and deliver devices needed for surgery in a healthcare facility. Other job duties may include, verifying and accurately documenting missing instruments, recording sterilizer test results, ensuring each instrument is in good working order prior to placing in-tray for use, operating and maintaining steam autoclaves, keeping records of loads complete, items in loads, and maintenance procedures performed, make recommendations to management for possible improvement, and effectively communicate with operating room personnel and others.

39,398
Entry Level Jobs in the US
Sterile Processing Technicians will see available jobs grow 6.3% over the next ten years.
All available job and salary information is from Burning Glass Labor Insights and is updated annually to reflect industry changes.

What You’ll Learn
SP 3000
Sterile Processing Technician

The MedCerts online Sterile Processing program prepares students to gain industry certification and ultimately to work in hospitals, surgery centers, clinics and other healthcare facilities.

This program includes three courses – Intro to Human Anatomy and Medical Terminology, Professionalism in Allied Health, and Sterile Processing – to prepare students to become well-rounded Sterile Processing Technicians. Because graduates will be working in a healthcare facility, it is imperative that they be able to speak and understand the language of medicine and have a fundamental understanding of basic human anatomy and physiology. Additionally, any role in healthcare requires the ability to work with a variety of personalities, including patients, doctors and medical staff. Our Professionalism in Allied Health program prepares you to handle any of these interactions. Because sterile processing tasks, by nature, typically involve hands-on interaction, it’s important for MedCerts to place increased focus on immersion and a high level of interactivity. Our students will feel as though they are part of the process, and that their physical actions are playing a vital role in their learning.

Upon completion of this program, the student will be eligible to sit for the provisional certification exam for Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) sponsored by the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA, formerly IAHCSMM). Full certification is obtained after acquiring 400 hours of hands-on sterile processing experience within six months of provisional certification.

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  1. Identify central service workflows processes from cleaning, decontamination, preparation and packaging to sterilization and storage of surgical instruments and equipment
  2. Describe the importance of manufacturer’s instructions for use (IFU), infection control and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) throughout central service areas and their impact on personnel and patient safety
  3. Differentiate methods for quality control and assurance and the necessity of central service process documentation
  4. Discuss compliance standards and the role of HIPAA, OSHA, CDC, FDA, ANSI, AAMI and other regulating agencies
SP 3000

Enrollment Requirements

  1. High School Diploma or GED
  2. Web browser with internet connection
  3. Course registration & payment

MedCerts-Covered Materials*

  1. Expert-led video based training
  2. Textbook: Central Service Technician Manual
  3. Competency assessments
  4. National Certification exam fee

Student Services

  1. Dedicated Student Success Advisors
  2. Tailored support based on performance & behavior
  3. Exam preparation process
  4. 1 yr. post-program access to Career Center & Career Coaches

Clinical Requirements

  1. Must complete 400 hours of hands-on experience in a CS (Central Services) department.

*The cost of all materials needed for this program are covered by MedCerts. They are not included in the tuition costs and the student is not liable for any costs or fees related to the above materials.

Required Courses
PS 1011

Professionalism in Allied Health

32 hours
Length
2 Weeks
Duration

This course will benefit anyone considering a career in allied health, as well as those already working in the field. Allied Health Professionals must be committed to the key attributes of professionalism and strive to reflect this within the delivery of patient-centered safe and effective care. “Professionalism” is a broad term that reflects many different skills and abilities. For an individual to exhibit professionalism, he/she must be armed with specific skills and abilities that do not always show up within certification requirements, or even within a career training curriculum. Soft skills are hard to measure and are typically less well-defined than hard skills. However, soft skills are what set many job candidates apart. Professionalism is not just what one knows, it is how one does their job, how one behaves and how one comes across as they interact with others.

The purpose of this course is to provide students with soft skills training that will provide the tools needed to demonstrate a higher level of professionalism on the job. Key components of the course focus on patient interaction, proper office behavior, medical ethics, diversity and cultural bias, emotional strength, professional appearance and communication. The course maintains a focus on the key attributes that are true markers of professionalism.

This course was created with input from healthcare professionals working in the field, healthcare employers that hire our graduates, professional educators and even former MedCerts students. The end result is a collection of modules that touch on the soft skills that are TRULY important in the real world of allied healthcare. In this course, students are engaged through scenario-based learning that allows for real interaction with virtual co-workers and patients. Additionally, game-based activities keep students engaged and entertained throughout their learning journey.

    • Gain an understanding of the expectations of an allied healthcare professional in the workplace
    • Develop and exercise emotional intelligence, self-management and interpersonal skills
    • Build and improve internal and external communication skills with all exchanges
    • Enhance the patient care experience with successful interactions and patient satisfaction
    • Maintain solution-oriented conversations, manage conflict and build self-confidence
HI 1014

Introduction to Human Anatomy and Medical Terminology

96 hours
Length
6 Weeks
Duration

This course is designed to familiarize the student with the language of medicine, through the study of prefixes, suffixes, root words, abbreviation, and pronunciation of words. The curriculum also includes an anatomy and physiology app that enables students to explore, visualize, interact, and experience the anatomy of the human body in 3D and augmented reality (AR). Students will examine the organization of the integumentary, musculoskeletal, hematic, lymphatic and immune, and cardiovascular systems in the human body. They will become familiar with the medical terms that relate to the respiratory, digestive, nervous, endocrine, reproductive, and excretory systems. Students will also examine terms related to the sensory organs, with a concentration on the organs for hearing, sight, and smell. This immersive experience will trigger thought processes and enhance learning outcomes in their Anatomy and Physiology program. The app has about 50 simulations across different topics.

    • Recognize the structure and function of the 11 body systems and their organs
    • Understand the medical language that is used to describe those systems
    • Analyze and understand medical terms by breaking down their word components
    • Appreciate the major diseases and conditions related to the human body
    • Apply your knowledge within the healthcare setting
HI 6014

Sterile Processing

96 hours
Length
6 Weeks
Duration

Sterile Processing is a comprehensive course with insight into the role of the professional central service technician as a member of the healthcare team. Video-based lessons include topics of infection control with performance of cleaning, decontamination, disinfection, inspection, packaging and sterilization tasks for reusable basic and complex surgical instruments or devices. The central service department’s role in ancillary department support, customer service, teamwork and task priorities will be a key focus. Inventory management, recordkeeping and quality control will be addressed in relationship to the responsibilities of the successful central service technician.

In this course, students are exposed to a variety of eLearning elements that allow for hands-on interaction with the screen for an engaging education. An immersive environment and interactivities will provide the student opportunities to practice key skills performed as a central service technician. In addition to video-based instruction and 3D environments, a variety of other learning methods are utilized for engagement, entertainment and inspiration throughout training.

    • Accumulate basic knowledge and skills required of the effective Central Service Technician
    • Adhere to OSHA, patient safety, infection control and bloodborne pathogen standard requirements
    • Demonstrate cleaning, decontamination, disinfection, preparation, packaging and sterilization tasks
    • Identify inventory management, sterile storage, and transport procedures with quality control and assurance
    • Discuss accuracy and completeness of data entry, incident reporting and records management
    • Explain effective customer service, teamwork, work groups and task priorities for the Central Service Department
Code Course Duration
PS 1011 2 Weeks
HI 1014 6 Weeks
HI 6014 6 Weeks
Total Program Duration 14 Weeks

Eligible Certifications

CRCST Certified Registered Central Service Technician Certification

Sterile Processing Technician

Job Opportunities

Central Service Technician

$26,000 – $45,000*
Estimated Salary
Entry Level

Sterile Processing Technician

$26,000 – $45,000*
Estimated Salary

Central Sterile Supply Technician

$26,000 – $45,000*
Estimated Salary
  1. Students residing in the states of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Tennessee and Pennsylvania – these states require that Central Service Technicians become certified within a state-mandated period of time after employment (range from 1.5 - 3 years). This is NOT a barrier to enrollment for students but should be reviewed with Education Consultant at time of enrollment.
  2. While MedCerts training and related target certifications may be accepted and/or approved by your state of residency, employers reserve the right to dictate prerequisite education, experience, or certification/licensure requirements for their positions. We strongly advise students to research target job posts from area employers and relevant state requirements, barriers, or restrictions prior to enrollment to ensure eligibility upon graduation.
  3. This program is NOT available to residents of the following states: AR, LA, ND, NV, RI, WI.

Sterile Processing Technician

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