Introduction
Sterile processing technician is part of the medical field. They work with other technicians on sterilization, packaging, and dispensing processes. They help ensure that drugs and other sterile products are stored correctly and packaged before dispensing by ensuring that proper procedures are adhered to at each stage. The sterile processing technician could make up to $43K a year, with an average of about $30k per year, as per Indeed.com (for more information on the salary, see below).
What is a Sterile Processing Technician?
A sterile processing technician is a medical technician who creates equipment used during surgical and other medical procedures.
Sterile processing technicians ensure the stabilizability of surgical instruments like scissors and scalpels by cleaning them with disinfectant solutions before sterilization. They are also responsible for ensuring that the tools they are preparing aren’t infected with viruses or bacteria.
How Much Do Sterile Processing Technicians Earn?
The median salary for a sterile processing technician is $19.69 per hour, as per Indeed.com. This means that you can earn between $27K and $31K annually, based on your level of experience as well as the hours you’re working in a week.
If you want to increase your income as a sterile processing technician, you should consider joining a larger organization that has more clients and training opportunities available; this increases your odds of being promoted within the company or even being promoted to another department with more opportunities for growth than within one department (such for customer service).
How to become Sterile Processing Technicians: Educational and Training Requirements
To become a sterile processing technician, you’ll have to meet the educational and training requirements of your state’s healthcare facilities.
- Training: Many states require that applicants complete a training program before becoming certified technicians in sterile processing. These programs generally last one year and cover medical terminology, anatomy, microbiology, and other related subjects.
- Education is part of the certification process for becoming a sterile processing technician in every state that requires it (this varies by state). Candidates must also complete written tests that test the knowledge taught during the classroom portion of their coursework.
The certificates and the licenses are issued to Sterile Processing Technicians
A variety of certifications are accessible to technicians in sterile processing. The Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) offers various certifications, 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 seminar and pass written and practical tests. The best way to get certified is to pass the written and practical tests in one sitting. However, you’ll lose your certification forever when you fail any of these tests twice within five years. This isn’t necessarily a negative thing–it just means that there’s some pressure on achieving this goal before it’s taken away from us!
Sterile Processing Technician Career Outlook
The field of sterile processors is growing. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates that there will be a requirement for around 17,600 additional sterile processing technicians by 2026 (a 76% increase). The BLS also predicts that these positions will earn around $36/hour or more depending on area and experience; however, this can vary following where and what company you work for.
There are several ways to become a sterile processing technician:
- Take classes at an accredited school like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C4t-4YV7wQ. Plus, you could get paid while in school!
- As an apprentice, you’ll work alongside someone who has been taught or has a thorough understanding of how it works. This allows you to demonstrate how the system works before they depart. It also means that more money is entering your wallet every month and not going to rent.
The profession of sterile processing technician is a great way to enter the medical field.
You’ll work in a hospital setting as a sterilizing processor technician. You can use your expertise in many situations and work with different individuals. It is possible to have job security provided you have the proper training and certification.
Conclusion
A career as a sterile processor is an ideal option to get into the medical field. With all the education you’ll need and the requirements for certification, it’s a great method to earn money in school.
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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