Sterile Processing Technician

The Sterile Processing Technician program is designed to prepare students to function as a sterile processing professional in multiple healthcare settings. Sterile Processing technicians perform and participate in decontamination, cleaning, assembling, packaging, scanning, sterilization, storage, and distribution of reusable surgical instrumentation and equipment.

Program Objectives

• Describe various functions of the Sterile Processing Department (SPD)
• Identify the health and safety regulations, standards, and guidelines that apply to the processing of medical devices and instrumentation
• Define anatomy and physiology, explain how they are related, and understand how anatomy and physiology relate to the work performed in the sterile processing department
• Understand the basic factors in disease transmission
• Describe the body’s defenses against infection and the factors that affect the body’s susceptibility to disease
• Distinguish between regulated medical waste and non-infectious waste
• Explain bloodborne pathogens and the safety precautions necessary in SPD
• Outline the standards required for a quality decontamination process
• Understand the appropriate dress code and the role of personal protective equipment (PPE) as it relates to OSHA regulations and employee safety and health
• Describe functions performed during chemical disinfection
• Describe the procedures that must be followed and the precautions that must be observed during the preparation and use of the variety of disinfecting agents used in the decontamination process
• Identify the processes needed to effectively disassemble, clean, disinfect, inspect, reassemble, test, store, and distribute movable patient care equipment
• Understand specialty devices, the organization of instruments sets and the preparation of basins and textile packs
• Explain the processes of packaging and sterilization of surgical instrumentation
• Describe basic inventory, cost recovery, proper storage, handling, and distribution of sterile surgical instrumentation and devices

Certification Opportunities

Students who successfully complete this University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Sterile Processing Technician Certificate Program may be eligible to sit for the Healthcare Sterile Processing Technician (HSPA) and the National Workforce Career Association (NWCA) national certification exams, provided they meet certain requirements which may include hands on practical experience through either a Clinical Externship and/or Employment Experience. In addition to successfully completing the certification exam, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to maintain certification.

	CRCST - Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA)
	National Workforce Career Association (NWCA) Sterile Processing Technician (SPTC)

Prospective students are advised that University of Texas Rio Grande Valley cannot guarantee that any particular employer will require or accept any certification for employment purposes. Prior to enrolling, students should determine whether certification is needed or sufficient for the type of employment they are seeking.

Job and Externship Placement Services

Regardless if you elect to pursue national certification or not, if you enroll and successfully complete this program, assuming you pass a background check and drug screen, you will have guaranteed access to our Ready to Work (RTW) Job and Externship Placement services. All students who successfully complete this program (and pass a background check and drug screen) will have access to the RTW Externship or Job placement services at no additional cost.