Prepare for a Health Care Field Faster than you imagined
Sterile processing technicians are an essential part of the medical team. Hospitals, clinics, dental offices, and surgical centers rely on them to help prevent the spread of infection by preparing tools that are properly sanitized. Learn the knowledge and skills that can lead to a career that helps ensure patient safety across the health care system.
Sterile Processing Technician Career Overview
Sterile processing technicians help keep medical and surgical procedures safe. They examine, sterilize and package surgical instruments for use in medical and dental clinics, operating rooms and more. Their work helps reduce the risk of infection or cross-contamination during life-saving procedures.
Memphis Sterile Processing Technician Diploma Program Overview
You can learn the knowledge and skills a sterile processing technician needs in as few as 5-months with Concorde in Memphis. Our program combines online learning with a hands-on externship to prepare you for new career opportunities.
Now Enrolling in Memphis
Concorde's Memphis campus is seeking dedicated students who want to:
- Learn to help hospitals and clinics deliver quality care
- Prepare for career opportunities in hospitals, clinics, acute care, long-term care, hospice, and more
- Complete the diploma in as few as 5-months of study
Get started by scheduling an in-person or virtual Career Planning Session to explore if the sterile processing technician diploma program is right for you!
Externships are a non-paid in-person learning experience, who's length and location may be subject to change. Concorde does not guarantee externship placement, graduation, post-externship employment or salary outcomes.
Curriculum
Sterile Processing Technician Diploma Curriculum
Sterile processing technicians help keep medical and surgical procedures safe. They examine, sterilize, and package surgical instruments for use in medical and dental clinics, operating rooms, and more. Their work helps reduce the risk from infection and cross-contamination during life-saving procedures.
Concorde's sterile processing technician diploma program teaches essential health science concepts along with practical and technical skills for examining, sterilizing, and tracking medical equipment inventory.
In this program, you have the opportunity to learn to:
- Identify medical instruments and describe their uses
- Inspect instruments for functionality and cleanliness
- Keep medical instrument inventory records
- Perform device sterilization using solvents and equipment such as autoclaves
- Prepare instrument trays for procedures
- Transport instruments to and from procedure rooms
- Help ensure procedure rooms maintain a sterile field
- Effectively communicate with other members of the health care team
- Understand the healthcare system
Academic & Career Pathways
You're organized, methodical and now have a basic understanding about the health care system; you may be ready for more!
After completing your Sterile Processing Technician diploma program, go on to pursue your associate degree in Surgical Technology. As a Concorde graduate we will apply the tuition paid for the Sterile Processing Tech diploma toward you Surgical Technology degree tuition at Concorde.
Certification Exams and Next Steps
The knowledge and skills this program teaches can prepare you for the the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) examination and become provisionally certified as a Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST).
Enrollment into this program is not a guarantee of employment and or admittance into other Concorde programs of study. Admissions requirements must be met for all programs. See catalog for details.
Career Outlook
Demand for Sterile Processing Technicians
As more people seek health care services and the ongoing risk from pandemics continues; hospitals continue to place infection control as a priority. To address this need, hospitals and clinics should need more medical equipment preparers a role served by sterile processing technicians in their central services departments.
Different Job Titles of a Sterile Processing Technician
Depending on the healthcare system, sterile processing technicians may hold different job titles such as:
- Central Services Technicians
- Certified Registered Central Service Technicians (CRCST)
- Central Sterile Supply Technicians (CSST)
- Sterile Preparation Technicians
- Medical Equipment Preparers.
Responsibilities of a Sterile Processing Technician
Sterile processing technicians provide an important service in ensuring patient safety across the healthcare system.
- Cleaning and sterilizing equipment
- Packaging and preparing equipment for use
- Inspecting medical equipment for functionality and sterilization
- Maintaining inventory and organizing medical equipment
- Ensuring medical procedure rooms are sterile
- Transporting prepared equipment
- Recording test results for sterilization
Where Sterile Processing Professionals Work
Health care systems and providers rely on sterile processing professionals to help prevent the spread of infection by preparing tools that are properly sanitized. Sterile processing technicians are an essential part of the medical team in:
- Hospitals
- Clinics
- Rehab & Acute Care
- Dental Offices
- Surgical Centers
Note: Concorde does not guarantee outcomes including employment, responsibilities, or subsequent salary.
Address and Hours
Memphis Campus
5100 Poplar Ave.
Suite 132
Memphis, Tennessee 38137
FX: (901) 761-3293
Campus Hours of Operation
- Monday - Thursday 8 am - 7 pm
- Friday 8 am - 5 pm
- Saturday By Appointment
- Sunday Closed
Financial Aid
The Sterile Processing Diploma program at Concorde Memphis is not eligible for Federal Financial Aid or Military/ Veteran funding options. Every student is unique, and are encouraged to meet and discuss their financial circumstances.
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