Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician (SPD) is a Certificate program (Hybrid) offered by Altamont Healthcare in Stockton, CA. The program takes 8–12 weeks to complete, with a total tuition of $5,310.
Application Process
- 1Submit ApplicationComplete the online application form with your personal information and educational background.Apply Now
- 2Submit TranscriptsProvide official high school transcripts or GED certificate. Some programs may require additional documentation.
- 3Financial AidComplete the FAFSA to determine eligibility for federal financial aid. Meet with a financial aid advisor to review your options.Complete FAFSA Application
- 4EnrollmentOnce accepted, complete enrollment paperwork, register for classes, and attend orientation.
Program Overview
The Sterile Processing & Distribution (SPD) Technician program is an 8–12 week program that prepares students for careers in sterile processing and endoscope reprocessing. Sterile processing technicians clean, sterilize, store, and distribute medical equipment, playing a critical role in infection control and patient safety across surgical and clinical settings.
The program includes GI scope classes and labs and prepares graduates for the CBSPD Tech II exam, with eligibility for the GI Scope exam after six months of work experience. No prior healthcare experience is required to enroll.
What Sets This Program Apart
Delivered as a blended program (80% live online classes, 20% in-person labs), the SPD program offers weekday, night, and weekend cohorts and includes dedicated endoscope-reprocessing training. Every student receives a textbook and uniform, a comprehensive exam review guide with practice questions, one free BLS/CPR certification from Zenith Career Services, and eligibility for Altamont Healthcare's externship program.
If you do not pass, you may retake the course as many times as you need at no extra cost.
Admission Requirements & Process
To enroll, you must:
- Be at least 18 years or older at the time of enrollment
- Have a valid government-issued photo ID
- Have at least a high-school diploma or GED
No prior healthcare experience is required. To reserve a spot, complete the online application and pay the non-refundable $250 application fee; applications are not processed until the fee is paid. Once accepted, you will be emailed your student portal login to complete your enrollment documents.
School Information
Location
Accreditation & Approvals
Altamont Healthcare is a private institution approved to operate by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE). Approval to operate means the institution meets the standards set forth in the California Education Code and Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations.
Altamont Healthcare is a certificate-granting institution and does not award degrees. It is not accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, and does not participate in federal Title IV student aid. Its programs meet the standards of the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and prepare graduates to sit for nationally recognized certification exams administered by the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) and the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD).
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
Program tuition is $5,310, billed separately from the registration fee, books, lab materials, and uniform.
Program Schedule
The program runs 135 hours over 8–12 weeks in a blended format (80% live online, 20% in-person labs) and includes two weeks of GI scope classes and labs. Weekday, night, and weekend cohorts are available.
Curriculum
The board-exam curriculum is organized into four modules:
- Module 1: Ethics & Life Sciences
- Module 2: Decontamination & Preparation and Packaging
- Module 3: Sterilization, Storage & Distribution
- Module 4: Endoscope Reprocessing
Graduates who pass the board exam are eligible for an optional externship of 240–400 hours in a partner medical facility.
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
Tuition for the SPD program is $5,310. The total program cost, including required fees and materials, is $6,110, with $800 due upon enrollment:
- Registration Fee (non-refundable): $250.00
- Textbook & Manuals: $300.00
- Lab Materials: $200.00
- Uniform & PPE: $50.00
- Tuition: $5,310.00
- Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF): $0.00
- Total: $6,110.00
Payment plans (tuition):
- Pay in full and receive a 15% discount ($4,513.50)
- Two installments with a 10% discount ($2,389.50 each)
- Four installments with a 5% discount ($1,261.13 each)
Financing and third-party funding: Altamont Healthcare partners with Climb Credit for student loans (36-month terms for SPD; interest rates range from 7.99%–20.45%). The school also accepts funding from the California Department of Rehabilitation, the California Employment Development Department, the U.S. Department of Labor (WIOA), and the Workers' Compensation Supplemental Job Displacement Voucher Program. It does not accept FAFSA or GI Bill benefits and does not participate in federal Title IV aid. A $20 late fee applies to payments more than seven days past due.
Career Outcomes
Sterile processing technicians can expect to earn about $50,000 per year, with top earners making over $73,000. Positions are available as full-time, part-time, per-diem, and traveling roles across hospitals and healthcare facilities.
The program prepares graduates for the CBSPD Tech II certification exam, with GI Scope exam eligibility after six months of work experience. Altamont Healthcare is not required to assist with job placement, but its Externship Team researches opportunities weekly to help connect graduates with employers.
What to Expect as an Altamont Healthcare Student
Altamont Healthcare uses a blended-learning approach — classes are split 80/20 between online lectures delivered via Zoom and hands-on, in-person labs. Programs are built on four values: comprehensiveness, growth, community, and accessibility.
Completing the program prepares you for the certification exam; certification is awarded upon passing the exam, not upon course completion. If you do not pass, you may retake the course at no additional cost. Under FERPA, Altamont Healthcare cannot share your progress with family members or funders without your explicit consent.
Career Outcomes
Graduates are prepared to sit for the CBSPD Tech II certification exam and pursue roles cleaning, sterilizing, and distributing medical equipment in surgical and clinical settings (median ~$50,000/yr, top earners $73,000+).
School Information
Location
Accreditation & Approvals
Altamont Healthcare is a private institution approved to operate by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE). Approval to operate means the institution meets the standards set forth in the California Education Code and Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations.
Altamont Healthcare is a certificate-granting institution and does not award degrees. It is not accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, and does not participate in federal Title IV student aid. Its programs meet the standards of the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and prepare graduates to sit for nationally recognized certification exams administered by the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) and the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD).
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
Program tuition is $5,310, billed separately from the registration fee, books, lab materials, and uniform.