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Complete a 5-7 minute application, where we'll confirm that you meet eligibility criteria.
Certified Sterile Processing Technician Program
With 1-on-1 career coaching & live instruction
How the program works
Apply by September 16. Limited seats available.
Complete online curriculum
In 4 months, complete the core curriculum online, dedicating 10–15 hours per week while working in your current role.
Pass the ExCPT exam
Sit for the ExCPT exam, a 3-hour, 150-question computer-based test. Exam voucher included.
80-150 hour externship
We help you find an externship site to complete your hands-on clinical hours and get fully certified.
Land a full-time job
You'll train with an experienced career coach to help you land a full-time job.
Transform your career with a team behind you
Our flexible, human-guided format means that although you’ll be learning online, you’ll never be learning alone.
Springboard’s proven human-centric approach means you have a team behind you from day one.
Support from your student advisor
Stay on track and achieve your goals. Your student advisor keeps you moving to graduation.
Mastery from your live instructor
Weekly live interactions with industry experts help you gain a deeper understanding of the content and show you how to apply it to your clinical practice.
Counsel from your 1-on-1 career coach
Your career coach will help you create a strategy, teach you to network, and practice your interview skills, so you can land the sterile technician job you want.
Prepare for CRCST Certification
We provide dedicated exam prep resources and a voucher to cover the CRCST exam application cost. You're officially certified once you've passed the exam and completed 400 hands-on training hours.
Why choose a career as a Sterile Processing Technician?
Sterile processing is one of the fastest, most reliable ways to enter the healthcare field — with clear job stability and room to grow.
Fast entry into healthcare
Complete training and start a full-time hospital career in as little as four months
High-impact work, done behind the scenes
Play a direct role in patient safety by preparing sterile instruments used in surgery.
Stable & in-demand
Hospitals nationwide rely on certified Sterile Processing Technicians. The BLS expects employment of medical equipment preparers to grow 13% between 2024 to 2034, much faster than the 3% average across all U.S. occupations.
Clear career pathways
Sterile processing can be a stepping stone into other allied health positions like surgical technologist or specialized operating room positions.
Career pathways for Sterile Techs
Sterile Processing Tech
Sterile Processing Technicians earn $20-$22/hour starting out—but that's just the beginning of an exciting career.
Source: BLS
Sterile Processing Manager
Lead the sterile processing department, overseeing staff, workflow, compliance, and quality standards to ensure safe and efficient hospital operations.
(Additional certification required.)
Pay Scale: $55-$57/hour or more.
Source: BLS
Surgical Technologist
Assists surgeons in the operating room by preparing sterile instruments, maintaining the surgical field, and supporting procedures in real time. (Additional certification required.)
Pay Scale: $28-$30/hour or more.
Source: BLS
Nursing Careers
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)
Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN)
Registered Nurses (RNs)
(all require add'l certification)
Pay Scale: $29–$45/hour or more.
Source: BLS
A day in the life as a Sterile Tech
This role is physical and detail-oriented. You’ll work on your feet in a team-based, structured environment. It’s not patient-facing — instead, you support patient safety behind the scenes.
Start behind the scenes
Begin your shift in the sterile processing department — the engine that keeps surgeries running safely and on schedule.
Decontaminate & clean
Decontaminate used surgical instruments, amd clean instruments manually and with automated washers. Inspect tools for cracks, rust, or malfunction under magnification.
Inspect & assemble
Examine instruments for cleanliness and function, assemble surgical trays, and prepare them for surgery.
Sterilize & quality check
Operate sterilization equipment and monitor safety indicators to ensure every tray meets strict standards.
Support the OR Team
Deliver sterile instruments to surgical teams, helping ensure safe, efficient patient care.
What you’ll learn
Over 4 months, you'll learn the skills needed to succeed as a Certified Sterile Processing Technician (CRCST). The Core Curriculum includes 10-15 hours per week of online learning, including live sessions with CRCST experts.
SAMPLE UNITS
Introduction & Foundations
Introduction to Allied Health & SPD
Introduction to Allied Health careers
Overview of the Sterile Processing Technician roles and responsibilities
Review of the workflow within the sterile processing department
Foundational Science
Medical Terminology; Anatomy and Physiology
Microbiology: pathogens, viruses, and the role of the Central Services Department
SAMPLE UNITS
How to apply and enroll
Apply by September 16. Classes begin September 21. Limited seats available.
Chat with admissions
Chat with an Admissions Manager about your goals for the program, preferred start date and ask any questions.
Enroll
If accepted, an enrollment link will be emailed to you from Springboard, where you can sign up and create your course profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to become a Certified Sterile Processing Technician? Apply now
Spots are limited, and we accept qualified applicants on a first-come, first-served basis. Application takes just 2 minutes to complete. Apply today to get early bird pricing and scholarships.