WHAT MAKES MY JOB HOT?

Short-term training: • Training programs are typically 2-5 months

long, including both lecture and lab/clinical practice. Programs prepare students to take a professional certification exam.

• Program graduates often receive a Certificate of Completion in Central Processing, which—along with professional certification—can get them an entry-level job as a Sterile Processing Tech.

Faster than average growth: • In Massachusetts, this job is expected to

grow 10% from 2008-2018.

Good pay (Boston 2010 figures): • Typical entry-level wage: $13.73/hr. • Median wage: $18.31/hr. • Experienced-level wage: $24.96/hr. Typical job benefits include: • Medical & other insurance • 401(k) retirement savings plan • Tuition and certification fee reimbursement

Room for advancement: • A Sterile Processing Tech can move up to

become a Sterile Processing Tech II, then III, and can then advance to become a Supervisor or Manager.

My job is a good fit for someone who is: Hands on and comfortable with performing

routine tasks Organized and detail-oriented A problem solver A good communicator

For more info about this job: CareerOneStop — See the Occupation Profile for "Medical Equipment Preparers" http://www.careeronestop.org/        

Sterile Processing Technician

WHAT I DO: I am a med ica l p ro fess iona l who s ter i l i zes and se ts up suppl i es and equipmen t needed fo r su rge ry , phys i ca l exams, and o the r medica l p rocedures .

My tasks include: • Receiving used surgical instruments, supplies, and

equipment from operating rooms and other areas of a hospital/medical facility

• Disassembling, inspecting (to set aside any rejects), cleaning, reassembling, and sorting contaminated supplies and equipment

• Loading, monitoring, operating, and maintaining different kinds of cleaning and sterilization equipment

• Identifying, documenting, and reporting equipment in need of repair

• Organizing and assembling instrument trays required for specific surgical cases (for example, total knee replacement, sinus surgery, or gall bladder surgery), and filling special requests as needed

• Maintaining records of all equipment and supplies (for example, scissors, screws, and drapes) and ordering supplies as needed

Sources: CareerOneStop; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Survey; Massachusetts Wage Information; MA Department of Workforce Development; America’s Career InfoNet (O*NET OnLine) • Photo Credits: The Bay State Banner, Oct. 14, 2010, Vol. 46, No. 10 (leftmost photo); World photos by Don Seabrook (middle photos); Healthcare Purchasing News (rightmost photo).

   Getting a Foot in the Door: What Employers are Looking For

         

 

Typical Job Application Requirements include:  

Academic/training credentials

• High School Diploma or GED  • Short-term training—Coursework in Sterile Processing (often through a community college) to achieve a

Certificate of Completion in Sterile Processing or on-the-job training directly through a hospital program. Training program clinicals may require a criminal background and sex offender check.

Work experience • For an entry-level Sterile Processing Tech I position, some employers hire new graduates, but others prefer or require that job applicants have a few months to 1 year of work experience in a health care setting. TIP: If you are a new graduate, find out if an employer would count clinical practice (for a training program) as work experience.

Other employer requirements/ preferences may include:

• Criminal background and sex offender check • Professional certification in Sterile Processing (or working towards it). See the following Web sites for • organizations that offer professional certification exams:

Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD) http://www.sterileprocessing.org/

International Association of Healthcare Central Service Material Management (IAHCSMM) http://www.iahcsmm.org/

• Night, weekend, &/or holiday shifts—Technicians new to the job may get these shifts at first.

Typical work settings include: Hospitals, physician and dental offices, surgery centers, biotech and veterinary hospitals  

Employers may also refer to me as a(n): • Central Processing & Distribution Technician (CPD Tech) • Central Processing Technician (CPT) • Central Sterile Processing Technician • Central Sterile Supply Technician (CSS Tech) • Instrument Technician • Sterile Processing & Distribution Technician (SPD Tech) Employers in the Boston area include: • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center • Brigham & Women's Hospital • Children's Hospital • Faulkner Hospital • Massachusetts General Hospital • Tufts Medical Center

   

Hard and Soft Skills Employers Typically Seek (in addition to the job's main duties): • Reading, writing, and basic arithmetic skills • Basic computer skills • Ability to follow detailed instructions and organizational skills • Problem solving skills • Communication and customer service skills • Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-

paced environment • Patience to perform routine tasks • Skill to work with small parts • Physical stamina to stand and walk for extended periods of

time, and strength to frequently move 20+ lbs. of equipment

Photo Credits: Photo of Sterile Processing Technician at St. Mary's of Michigan by Jeff Schrier, The Saginaw News, Nov. 29, 2010 (top photo); Photo of Sterile Processing Technician from Western Technical College Web site (bottom photo).

   

Getting a Credential that Can Land You a Job

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM IN CENTRAL PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY

Fictional Community College Jane Doe, Program Coordinator

Office A, Room 123, 123.456.7890, abcdef@college.edu STEP 1: Learn about the program and make sure it's a good fit for your interests, goals, needs, and schedule.

• XYZ's Central Processing Technology Program is a 16-week course offered every semester. This one-semester course consists of 4 hours of theory each week, and 24 hours of clinical practice each week. Clinical is graded Pass/Fail.

• Students who successfully complete the program receive a Certificate in Central Processing Technology. Wait List Attendance Options Classes Are Offered

£ Yes No £ Full Time Part Time Day Evening Summer

STEP 2: Find the cost of the program and make sure it's a good fit for your wallet.

• Tuition and Fees: $2,579 (based on the cost the college charges a student for completing the program within normal time) • Books and Supplies: $800 per semester • Median Loan Debt: $1,650 (based on those students who complete the program)

STEP 3: Apply to the college and complete all college admissions requirements (ALL requirements MUST be completed before applying to the program).

• Submit an application and proof of a High School Diploma or GED • Complete additional enrollment requirements including submitting a Financial Aid Application and an Immunization Form • Register--and it is strongly recommended that you attend the college's orientation session

STEP 4: Complete prerequisite courses (if applicable) and other program admissions requirements.

• No prerequisite courses, but a mandatory health program information session

CONGRATULATIONS—YOU'VE BEEN ACCEPTED INTO THE  PROGRAM!

STEP 5: Complete successfully all courses and other program requirements. • The Central Processing Technology Program consists of the following course:

Course Sequence Program Length: 16 weeks total (1 semester only)

Number of Courses: 1 Course No. Course Title Credits Minimum grade needed to

pass the course? CP 101 Central Processing Technology 4 C

This course introduces students to the field of Central Service. It focuses on: Decontamination; Disinfection; Sterilization; Instrumentation; Sterile Packaging and Storage; Regulations and Standards; Quality Assurance and Inventory Management and Tracking; and more. Course content also includes: History of Central Service Technology; Legal, Ethical, and Moral Issues; Communication Skills; Introduction to Microbiology; Infection Control; Medical and Surgical Terminology; and Anatomy and Physiology.

• Prior to starting the required clinical component of this course, you must submit a Report of Medical History and other forms, and you must clear a criminal background and sex offender check (results are confidential). Some clinical facilities may require additional screening such as drug testing.

CONGRATULATIONS—YOU NOW HAVE A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION IN CENTRAL PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY!

STEP 6 (Strongly recommended): Take a professional certification exam. • The program prepares students to take the international professional certification exam, which is offered by the International

Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management (IAHCSMM). • It is recommended that you become professionally certified (by passing the exam) prior to applying for a job. Many employers

require/prefer professional certification or expect that you work towards it once hired. STEP 7: Use your certificate to start working or continue your studies. Land a job as a Sterile Processing Technician 1 or pursue a Certificate in Central Services and Materials Management through the community college (3 semesters over 1 yr., including summer).

Moving on Up!: Grow Your Career and Your Paycheck

Sterile Processing Tech II 1-2 yrs. experience as a Tech I Professional certification preferred Typical starting wage: ~$15/hr.

Sterile Processing Tech III 2-3 yrs. experience as a Tech I/II Professional certification preferred Typical starting wage: ~$18/hr

Supervisor Some college credits or Associate's degree not required

but preferred (e.g., in a health care-related field) Professional certification required 3+ yrs. experience preferred Typical starting wage: ~$25/hr.

Manager Bachelor's degree preferred (e.g., BSN,

bachelor's in another health care-related field or in business)

Professional certification required 5+ yrs. experience Typical starting wage: $35+/hr.

Sterile Processing Tech I High School Diploma or GED Completion of Sterile Processing training, plus a few months to 1 year

experience not required but preferred Professional certification preferred (generally within 1 year of hiring) Typical starting wage: $13+/hr.

STEP 1

Or, after some experience as a Sterile Processing Technician, consider pursuing training to become a: • Surgical Technologist, $14+/hr. (starting wage); or • Radiologic Technologist, $23/hr. (starting wage); or • Registered Nursing, $28/hr. (starting wage)

STEP 2

STEP 3

STEP 4

STEP 5

The sample career ladder below shows how a Sterile Processing Tech I can move up into higher positions in Sterile Processing. It illustrates how you can progress from entry-level positions in the field to higher levels of pay, skill, and responsibility. Each step contains position-specific information on the typical level of education/training and/or work experience regional employers require/prefer; professional certification; and a typical starting wage in the Greater Boston area. The orange box shows options for transferring some of the skills you've acquired in Sterile Processing to pursue training in other well-paying careers. Regardless of the path you take, it really pays to move up! Note: The starting wage figure in the orange box below are based on BLS figures (for the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division, May 2009). The wage figure in each step of the career ladder is based on conversations with regional employers about a typical starting wage for the position in 2010.

Sample Career Ladder in Sterile Processing