How will earning an online Sterile Processing Technician Career Diploma help my career?

Our online Sterile Processing Technician Training Program is designed with job readiness in mind, covering the real-world principles and processes that professionals use in many medical settings. Whether you are just starting out or want to enhance your knowledge in the healthcare field, taking an online sterile processing course like ours—that includes the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association Certified Registered Central Service Technician Certification exam— can help you pave the way toward a rewarding healthcare career.

Will Ashworth College provide any career services for me after I complete my sterile processing technician training?

Yes, Ashworth College students and graduates have access to the Ashworth College Central Network, an online toolkit that provides step-by-step guidance through resume templates, cover letters, thank you letters, and more. As a student, you will interact with the Ashworth College Central Network throughout your lessons to make you comfortable with the tools and prepare you to make a good impression on potential employers once you've graduated!

What happens if it takes me longer than four months to complete my online Sterile Processing course?

All of our programs are entirely self-paced, so you can take the time you need to truly understand and process what you’re learning. While many students can and do finish the program within a matter of months, we allow you up to one year from the date of your enrollment to complete your program.

What does a sterile processing technician do?

Sterile processing technicians work to ensure that all medical equipment is properly sterilized and ready for use. They also clean, process, assemble, distribute, and store medical equipment and supplies used in a variety of procedures and day-to-day medical processes.

What is the salary for a sterile processing technician?

The average salary for sterile processing technicians was $44,940 per year in 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The highest paid technicians worked in outpatient care centers and earned an average salary of $51,810 per year while the lowest paid worked in dentist’s offices and earned $34,250 per year. Salary for any job can vary based on where you live, your experience, your level of education, and other factors.

Do you need to be certified to be a sterile processing technician?

It depends! Many states don’t require sterile processing techs to be certified in order to work in the field, while some do. It’s best to check on the requirements for your state before applying to jobs. However, with Ashworth’s Sterile Processing Tech Program, you’ll be prepared to sit for certification, which can help you stand out from other job applicants even in states that don’t yet require it.

Introducing: Penn Foster’s Sterile Processing Career Diploma Program

While Ashworth College is no longer Accepting enrollments in our Sterile Processing Program, we’re excited to introduce you to our partner school, Penn Foster.

Open the door to a career in the medical field with Penn Foster. In our online Sterile Processing Career Diploma Program, you’ll gain the need-to-know skills to work as a sterile processing technician, a crucial role in most healthcare facilities. At the end of the program, you’ll be ready to sit for the Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) Certification exam offered by the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA).

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Take the Next Steps Towards a Career You Want

Penn Foster’s online Sterile Processing Career Diploma Program can help you prepare to take the first steps toward the job you want. With flexible, online courses, you can learn skills and knowledge on your schedule, from home.

Why Penn Foster?

Penn Foster has been on a mission to help people like you launch, accelerate, and thrive in their careers for more than 125 years. We provide students with a quality education that fits your busy lifestyle and budget, offering over 100 self-paced, career-relevant programs across our College, Career School, and High School. The program you choose is structured to fit your learning needs so you can achieve your goals, and is designed to work with your schedule, anytime, anywhere you want to study. With a focus on relevant skills and career preparation for the job you’re after, Penn Foster can help you graduate with confidence and help provide a pathway towards your career goals.

CERTIFICATION
EXAM

Clear the way toward a professional career path.

FLEXIBLE
STUDIES

Balance your personal growth with your busy lifestyle.

AFFORDABLE
LEARNING

Quality career training that doesn’t break the bank.

CERTIFICATION
EXAM

Clear the way toward a professional career path.

FLEXIBLE
STUDIES

Balance your personal growth with your busy lifestyle.

AFFORDABLE
LEARNING

Quality career training that doesn’t break the bank.

What You'll Learn in Penn Foster’s Sterile Processing Career Program

How to recognize and apply the fundamental practices and procedures of aseptic technique.
How to identify common pathogens found in the medical setting and the precautionary measures healthcare workers take to minimize the risk of contracting diseases.
How to identify common and complex surgical instruments, industry-approved practices for decontamination and sterilization of medical supplies and equipment, and the proper ways to transport equipment.
How to apply industry regulations and best practice standards common in the sterile processing field, and identify the organizations responsible for setting the regulations and standards.

Penn Foster’s Online Sterile Processing Career Curriculum

In our Online Sterile Processing Technician Training, you'll cover the fundamental knowledge and skills to become a sterile processing technician while preparing for industry certification. Your classes include:

Allied Health Careers
Building Blocks of Sterile Processing
Sterile Processing Technology, Part 1
Sterile Processing Technology, Part 2

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Sterile Processing Technician Program FAQs

Where can I work as a sterile processing technician?

Sterile processing technicians are essential to the maintenance, storage, distribution, and sterilization of medical instruments. Many sterile processing technicians work alongside physicians and surgeons, registered nurses, and other healthcare workers at hospitals, outpatient care centers, physicians’ offices, and other medical facilities.

How do I become certified as a sterile processing technician?

Penn Foster’s program is completely self-paced, so you can finish your studies around the schedule and timeline that works best for you. From there, you’ll register and sit for your certification exam.

How long does it take to become a sterile processing technician?

Depending on your schedule and pace, you can complete our online sterile processing program in as little as a few months. From there, you’ll register and sit for your certification exam.

What is a sterile processing technician?

Sterile processing technicians are a vital part of any medical team, ensuring that instruments, exam rooms, operating rooms and more are clean, sterile environments in order to prevent contamination and infection.

State requirements

A career in this field may require you to meet certain licensing, training, and other requirements that can vary by vocation and state. You should check with your state, local government, and/or licensing board to find out which requirements may be applicable in your state. Click here for contact information on state licensing/regulatory boards and certain professional licensing information.