Introduction
Sterile processing technicians are part of the medical field. They collaborate with other technicians in sterilization and packaging, and dispensing procedures. They ensure that drugs and other sterile products are properly stored, packaged, and dispensable by following all steps. The sterile processing technician could earn up to $43K per year with an average salary of about $30k per year, as per Indeed.com (for additional information about salaries, check out the details below).
What is a Sterile Processing Technician?
A Sterile processor technician is a medical technician who makes equipment for medical surgical procedures.
The job of a sterilization processing technician involves maintaining the sterility of surgical instruments, including scalpels and pliers, when they are being prepared by washing them with a disinfectant solution 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 Make?
The average pay for technicians working in sterile processing 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 the amount you earn as a sterile processing technician, you should consider working in a larger company with more customers and training opportunities. This can increase your chance of getting promoted within the company or even being promoted to an area with numerous opportunities to develop within a single department (such as customer service).
How do you become a Sterile Processing Technician: Educational and Training Requirements
To become a sterile processor technician, you must complete the education and training requirements set by your state’s healthcare facilities.
- Training: Most states require that all candidates complete a training program before they are certified as sterile processing technicians. The courses typically last one year and include medical terminology, anatomy, microbiology, and other related subjects.
- Education: As part of their training process, to become certified as a technician for sterile processing in each state where it is required (this is different for each state), applicants must complete written tests that test the knowledge taught during the classroom portion of their education.
The certificates and the licenses are issued to Sterile Processing Technicians
A wide range of certifications is available to sterile processing technicians. 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).
Each certification requires you to attend an educational seminar and pass written and practical tests. You can also get your certification when you pass both exams on the first try, with no retakes allowed; however, failing either examination consecutively within 5 years will remove the certification permanently! This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. This is just a sign of pressure to meet this goal before it is taken away!
Sterile Processing Technician Career Outlook
Sterile processing technician is an expanding field. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be 17600 additional sterile processing technicians by 2026 (76 percent). The BLS further predicts that these jobs will pay around $36 per hour or higher based on where you work and your experience level, but it could be different according to where you are employed and what company you work for.
There are many options to become a sterile processing technician.
- Take classes at an accredited school like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C4t-4YV7wQ. It’s even better if you earn money while you are in school!
- Apprenticeship with someone who has already been trained by themself or knows how it operates inside and out, so they will be able to show you how things function before leaving their job. This means you’ll have more money coming into your pockets monthly instead of going towards rent because those homes aren’t cheap!
The profession of sterile processing technician is a fantastic way to enter the medical industry.
You will work in a hospital setting as a technologist for sterile processing. You can use your skills in various settings and with various people. You can have job security as long as you have the right training and certification.
Conclusion
The profession of sterile processing technician is a great option to get into medicine. With all the training you require and the certification requirements, It’s also a great method to earn money in school.
Read More: Tips For Choosing The Best Urgent Care Center In Lake Worth FL