Introduction
The medical field also includes specialists in sterile processing, who collaborate with other technicians to sterilize, package and dispense medications. They ensure that medications and other sterile substances are stored correctly and packaged before being dispensed safely by ensuring that proper procedures are adhered to at each stage. According to Indeed.com, a tech-in sterile processing technician can earn upwards of $43K per year and an average of $33K per year.
What is a Sterile Processing Technician?
A Sterile processor technician is a medical technician who prepares medical equipment for medical surgical procedures.
Sterile processing technicians are accountable for maintaining the stabilizability of surgical instruments like scalpels and scalpels by cleansing them with disinfectant solutions before sterilization. They also are responsible for ensuring that the prepared materials are not infected by viruses or bacteria.
How Much Do Sterile Processing Technicians Make?
According to Indeed.com, the average salary for technicians in sterile processing is $19.69 an hour. This means that you can earn between $27K and $31K per year, depending on your experience level and the number of hours you work in a week.
If you’re looking to increase your earnings as a sterile processing technician, you should consider working for a bigger company with more customers and training opportunities available; this increases your odds of being promoted within your organization or getting promoted to other departments where there are many opportunities to grow than in a single department (such as customer service).
How to Become a Sterile Processing Technician: Training and Education Requirements
To be a sterile processing technician, you’ll need to comply with the training and education requirements of the health facilities in your state.
- Training: Most states require applicants to complete an approved training course before being certified as a sterilized processing technician. These programs usually last one year and consist of classroom instruction on medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and many other subjects related to the field.
- Education Candidates must pass written exams covering subjects covered in the classroom portion of their education to be certified as sterile processing technicians in each state.
The Sterile Processing Technician’s Certifications and Licensures
A wide range of certifications is for sterile processing technicians. There are numerous certifications offered by the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, including:
- Certified Professional surgical technician (CPSC–SCT)
- Certified Operating Room Assistant (COOR)
- Certified Operating Room Specialist (CORS).
Every certification requires you to attend an educational session and pass written and practical tests. It is also possible to obtain your certified status when you pass both exams on the first attempt. No retakes are allowed; however, failing either exam more than twice within five years will be taken permanently! This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It just means there is pressure to achieve this goal before it’s taken away!
Sterile Processing Technician Career Outlook
The field of sterile processing technicians is growing. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of sterile processing technicians will increase to an additional 17,600 sterile process technicians in 2026 (an increase of 76 percent). According to the BLS, these positions will pay around $36 per hour based on your location and degree of education. However, this can depend on which location you work from and what firm you are employed by.
There are many options to become a sterilized processing technician.
- Take classes at an accredited school like [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C4t-4YV7wQ. Plus, you could earn money while you are in your classes!
- When you are an apprentice, you will work alongside someone who has been trained or knows the intricacies of the process. This will enable you to show them the process before they depart. It means that more money will be coming into your pocket every month and not going to rent.
A sterile processing technique is an excellent way to enter into medical practice.
You will work in a hospital environment as a technologist for sterile processing. You can use your skills in various environments and interact with different types of people. So long as you’ve completed the right training and certification, there’s no telling what kind of job security you’ll have!
Conclusion
Being a technician for sterile processing can be a great way to begin your journey into medicine. With all the education you need and certification requirements, as well as a fantastic option, to earn money while studying.
Martinson College was established to be a vital element of the industry’s ongoing struggle to improve the standards of Central Services and Sterile Processing Departments (CS/SPD) in healthcare institutions across the globe, particularly in the United States. Our objective is to educate the community about the necessity of reusable medical device sterilization, decontamination, and reprocessing.
Read More: Biometric Technology: a brief history (Infographic)