MyCAA-APPROVED HEALTHCARE PROGRAM
STERILE PROCESSING TECHNICIAN
The Sterile Processing Technician program is designed to prepare students to function as a sterile processing professional in multiple healthcare settings. Sterile Processing technicians perform and participate in decontamination, cleaning, assembling, packaging, scanning, sterilization, storage, and distribution of reusable surgical instrumentation and equipment.
CERTIFICATION: HSPA-CRCST
PROGRAM COSTS: Varies
COURSE CONTACT HOURS: 375
PROGRAM DURATION: 6 Months
EXTERNSHIP AVAILABLE: Yes
The Sterile Processing Technician
The Sterile Processing Technician program is designed to prepare students to function as a sterile processing professional in multiple healthcare settings. Sterile Processing technicians perform and participate in decontamination, cleaning, assembling, packaging, scanning, sterilization, storage, and distribution of reusable surgical instrumentation and equipment.
Sterile Processing Technician Program
This comprehensive course will prepare students to enter the healthcare field and take the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) exam. Course content includes medical terminology and anatomy and physiology foundations, understanding central service processing in healthcare facilities, microbiology and infection protection, instrument and equipment transport, cleaning, and decontamination and much more!
Program also includes a 400 hours clinical externship at a local healthcare provider!
This program will prepare students to enter the healthcare field and to pursue certification including the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) national certification exam. This course covers the following key areas and topics:
- SPD functions and safety precautions
- Health and safety regulations, standards, and guidelines that apply to the processing of medical devices and instrumentation
- Anatomy and physiology relate to the work performed in the sterile processing department
- Basic factors in disease transmission and defenses against infection
- Regulated medical waste and non-infectious waste
- Bloodborne pathogens
- Quality decontamination processes
- Personal protective equipment (PPE) as it relates to OSHA regulations and employee safety and health
- Chemical disinfection functions
- Disinfecting agents used in the decontamination process
- Disassembly, cleaning, disinfecting, inspecting, reassembling, testing, storing, and distributing movable patient care equipment
- Instruments sets, preparating basins and textile packs
Certification Opportunities
- Sterlie Processing Technicians should have or be pursuing a high school diploma or GED.
- Students who complete this course are prepared for national certification:
Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) national certification exam
Detailed Course Information
400 Hour Clinical Externship
– Decontamination (120 hours)
– Preparing & Packaging Instruments (120 hours)
– Sterilization & Disinfection (96 hours)
– Storage & Distribution (24 hours)
– Quality Assurance Processes (24 hours)
– Equipment (16 hours)
- Describe various functions of SPD
- Identify the health and safety regulations, standards, and guidelines that apply to the processing of medical devices and instrumentation
- Define anatomy and physiology, explain how they are related, and understand how anatomy and physiology relate to the work performed in the sterile processing department
- Understand the basic factors in disease transmission
- Describe the body’s defenses against infection and the factors that affect the body’s susceptibility to disease
- Distinguish between regulated medical waste and non-infectious waste
- Explain bloodborne pathogens and the safety precautions necessary in SPD
- Outline the standards required for a quality decontamination process
- Understand the appropriate dress code and the role of personal protective equipment (PPE) as it relates to OSHA regulations and employee safety and health
- Describe functions performed during chemical disinfection
- Describe the procedures that must be followed and the precautions that must be observed during the preparation and use of the variety of disinfecting agents used in the decontamination process
- Identify the processes needed to effectively disassemble, clean, disinfect, inspect, reassemble, test, store, and distribute movable patient care equipment
- Understand the organization of instruments sets and the preparation of basins and textile packs
Education and Certifications
- Sterlie Processing Technicians should have or be pursuing a high school diploma or GED.
- Students who complete this course are prepared for national certification:
Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) national certification exam
Technical Requirements
- Windows 7, XP or Vista
- 56K modem or higher
- Soundcard & Speakers
- Firefox, Chrome or Microsoft Internet Explorer
MAC OS USERS
- Mac OS X or higher (in classic mode)
- 56K modem or higher
- Soundcard & Speakers
- Apple Safari
System will support the two latest releases of each browser. When using older versions of a browser, users risk running into problems with the course software.
- Windows Users: Firefox, Chrome, Explorer
- Mac OS Users: Safari, Chrome, Firefox
We recommend setting your screen resolution to 1024 x 768 pixels.
SUGGESTED PLUGINS
- Flash Player
- Real Player
- Adobe Reader
- Java
U.S. Department of Labor
Career Information
The information below provides helpful job information, statistics and projections for this program’s related career tracts.
| Career | Median Salary | Job Openings | Growth Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $38,390 | 186,600 | -1% to 1% | |
Description |
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| Compute, classify, and record numerical data to keep financial records complete. Perform any combination of routine calculating, posting, and verifying duties to obtain primary financial data for use in maintaining accounting records. May also check the accuracy of figures, calculations, and postings pertaining to business transactions recorded by other workers. | ||||
| Job Titles Include | ||||
| Account Clerk, Accounting Assistant, Accounting Associate, Accounting Clerk, Accounting Specialist, Accounting Technician, Accounts Payable Clerk, Accounts Payable Specialist, Accounts Payables Clerk, Accounts Receivable Clerk | ||||
Wages |
Bottom 15% | Median Salary | Top 10% | |
| United States | $23,880 | $38,390 | $59,630 | |
Employment |
current employment 2016 | projected job openings 2016 - 2026 | projected growth 2016 - 2026 | |
| United States | 1,731,000 | 186,600 | -1% to 1% | |
typical tasks |
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| New Accounts Clerks | $34,990 | 4,000 | -2% or lower | |
Description |
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| Interview persons desiring to open accounts in financial institutions. Explain account services available to prospective customers and assist them in preparing applications. | ||||
| Job Titles Include | ||||
| Administrative Assistant, Customer Service Representative, Financial Services Representative, Loan Processor, Member Service Representative, New Accounts Representative, Personal Banker, Relationship Manager, Retail Banker, Retail Service Representative | ||||
Wages |
Bottom 15% | Median Salary | Top 10% | |
| United States | $25,990 | $34,990 | $50,010 | |
Employment |
current employment 2016 | projected job openings 2016 - 2026 | projected growth 2016 - 2026 | |
| United States | 42,000 | 4,000 | -2% or lower | |
typical tasks |
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