Introduction
Sterile processing technician is a part of the medical field and collaborates with other technicians in sterilization packaging, dispensing, and packaging processes. They ensure that medicines and other sterile items are stored properly and packaged before dispensing by ensuring that appropriate processes are followed at every step. The sterile processing technician could be paid up to $43K each year, and the average is around $30K per year, according to Indeed.com (for more information on salaries, see below).
What is a Sterile Processing Technician?
A sterile processing technician is a medical technician that prepares equipment to be used in surgeries and other procedures.
Sterile processing technicians are accountable for ensuring the sterilizability of surgical instruments, such as scissors and scalpels, by cleansing them with disinfectant solutions before sterilization. They are also responsible for ensuring that the prepared instruments are not infected by bacteria or viruses.
What is the annual wage of the Sterile Processing Technician?
According to Indeed.com According to Indeed.com, the median salary for technicians who process sterile materials is $19.69 an hour. That means that you could earn between $27K and $31K annually, based on your experience level and how many hours you’re working during the week.
To increase your earnings as a sterile processing technician, you should consider joining a larger organization with more clients and training opportunities. This will increase your chances of being promoted within the company or even being promoted to another department where there are numerous opportunities to develop within a single department (such as customer service).
How to become Sterile Processing Technicians for Training and Education
To become a sterile processing technician, you’ll have to meet the education and training requirements of the health facilities in your state.
- Training: Most states require applicants to undergo an instruction program before being certified as sterile processing technicians. The training programs generally last 1 year and provide the classroom teaching of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and other topics related to the field.
- Education Candidates must take written tests covering material covered in the classroom portion of their education for certification as sterile processing technicians in every state.
Certificates and licenses for Sterile Processing Technicians
There is a wide range of certifications for technicians working in sterile processes. There are numerous certifications offered by the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, which include:
- Certified Professional Surgical Technician (CPSC–SCT)
- Certified Operating Room Assistant (COOR)
- Certified Operating Room Specialist (CORS).
Each certification requires you to attend an educational seminar and pass the written and practical tests. The most effective way to become certified is to pass the practical and written exams in one go. But you’ll lose your certification status forever if you fail any exam twice in five years. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. This is just a sign of pressure to meet this goal before it’s taken away!
Sterile Processing Technician Career Outlook
Sterile processing technician is a booming field. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be 17600 additional sterile processing technicians in 2026 (76%). According to the BLS, these positions will pay around $36 an hour, depending on your location and level of expertise. However, this can differ based on where and what firm you work for.
There are many ways to become a sterile processing technician:
- Take classes at an accredited school like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C4t-4YV7wQ. You could also earn money while in school!
- Work as an apprentice with someone already trained by themself or someone else who knows how it is done inside and out. This way, they can teach you how things function before leaving their job, which means more money in your account every month rather than rent because those homes aren’t cheap!
Being a sterile processing technician is an excellent way to begin your journey into the medical field.
You’ll work in a hospital setting as a sterilizing processor technician. You can use your skills in various situations and work with different individuals. You’ll be able to secure your job with the proper training and certification.
Conclusion
A sterile processing technician is a fantastic way to enter the medical field. It’s a fantastic way to earn money while still in school, including all the necessary training and certification requirements.
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.
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