Sterile Processing Technology

Program Description

Sterile Processing is a certificate program designed to train students as Sterile Processing Technicians to support the surgical team in a healthcare setting.

The program is a 20 credit hour Certificate of Technical Studies (CTS) program that prepares students for employment in the medical field as Sterile Processing Technicians.

Upon successful completion of the program, students receive a Certificate of Technical Studies (CTS) in Sterile Processing Technology and will have met the requirements to sit for the national Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) certification exam given through the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA).

This certificate program equips a sterile processing technician to decontaminate, disinfect, inspect, assemble, sterilize, and store sterile supplies and reusable patient care equipment. Training is broad-based to ensure transferability of knowledge and skills to multiple healthcare settings. Please note, this program is housed on the Jennings Instructional site with clinical sites spanning throughout Southwest Louisiana: https://www.sowela.edu/about/locations/jennings/.

What Opportunities Are Available for Sterile Processing Technicians?

Sterile Processing jobs can lead to incredible opportunities. For example, the potential to earn a good salary, travel across the country, and advance your career as you gain experience are all benefits that you could enjoy as a Sterile Processing Technician. By completing a short program, you can join a group of respected Allied Health Professionals who get to carry out important work behind the scenes. Your skills will likely be in demand now and in the future since you will be responsible for completing some of the most critical tasks within medical organizations.

People with Sterile Processing positions carry out essential work that helps keep hospitals and other medical facilities running safely and efficiently. After all, a Sterile Processing Technician's primary responsibility is to ensure that medical equipment and instrumentation are in stock, sterilized, and ready to use. Just think: In less than a year from now, you could be ready to take on a job that helps keep patients safe and healthy.

Program Admission Requirements

OPEN ADMISSIONS: SOWELA is an open enrollment college eligible for Title IV funding. Please read the policies at https://www.sowela.edu/policies/ and https://www.sowela.edu/title-ix/ for more information.

• Apply to SOWELA Technical Community College (you must be registered and meet all admission requirements to be a student at SOWELA Technical and Community College before applying to the sterile processing program).
• All students must complete a paper Sterile Processing Program application and submit it with all required documentation and health records to the SOWELA Morgan Smith campus in Jennings. Currently, the application is not available electronically.
• New applicants are accepted into the Sterile Processing Program to begin STPR courses once a year in the fall semester.
• A diploma or GED from an accredited high school plus any other official transcript is required of all applicants. A HiSet is also acceptable.
• An ACT Reading score of 13 or a Next Gen Accuplacer Reading score of 222 is required.
• Applicant must turn 18 years of age prior to the clinical portion of the Sterile Processing Program (November 1st).

Application Information

Applications for the Sterile Processing Technology program are available beginning each January and are due August 1st for a fall cohort start.

This application is in addition to the SOWELA enrollment application and must be submitted to the Morgan Smith campus front office upon completion. Applications are only accepted if all pertinent information accompanies it. This program only accepts 16 applicants for each cohort on a first come, first serve basis.

To request an application, please complete our Application Request Form (opens new window).

ApplyRequest Information(opens new window)

Curriculum

Contact Information