Sterile Processing Technician is a Diploma program (Hybrid) offered by Fortis College in Houston, TX. The program takes 36 weeks to complete, with a total tuition of $18,063.
Program Overview
The sterile processing technician ensures the instruments and equipment used by medical personnel are clean, sterile, and contaminant-free. The Sterile Processing Technician program prepares students to seek entry-level positions in hospitals, medical centers, and other centralized sterile-processing facilities.
Students learn proper techniques for cleaning, decontaminating, and sterilizing medical instruments; infection-control methods; and how to identify, handle, transfer, store, inventory, and distribute instruments, equipment, and supplies. The program combines classroom study, lab practice, and hands-on externship experience.
What sets this Program apart
- Earn a Sterile Processing Technician diploma in 36 weeks.
- Hands-on training in decontamination, disinfection, sterilization, and surgical-instrument handling.
- Includes three supervised externships in real healthcare settings.
- Prepares graduates to sit for the HSPA Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) exam.
- Accredited by ACCSC.
General Requirements
- A high school diploma or its recognized equivalent, with documentation. Foreign credentials must be translated into English and evaluated as equivalent or higher by a NACES-member…
- You must be at least 17 years old when your program of study starts.
- Complete an applicant information form and interview with an admissions advisor or other administrative staff.
- Achieve the minimum required score on the Wonderlic Scholastic Level Exam (SLE). A passing score is valid for three years.
- Meet all financial obligations and complete the tuition payment requirements.
- Sign the Fortis enrollment agreement once accepted.
Application Process
- 1Speak to an admissions advisorEvery applicant is assigned an admissions advisor who explains the curriculum and policies and books the interviews you need.
- 2Submit your documentationProvide proof of high school completion and complete the applicant information form. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure Fortis receives every required document.
- 3Sit the Wonderlic SLETake the Scholastic Level Exam and reach this program’s published minimum. Accommodations must be requested under the catalog’s policy — campus staff cannot approve them.
- 4Financial aidFortis participates in federal student aid including Pell Grants, Direct Loans, PLUS Loans and Federal Work-Study. File the FAFSA and meet the campus financial aid office.FAFSA Code for Fortis College - Houston North: E01408Complete FAFSA Application
- 5Sign the enrollment agreementAdmission decisions weigh your fulfilment of the requirements, your previous educational records and your career interests.
Program Schedule
Classes are offered mornings, 8:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m., or evenings, 5:50 p.m.–10:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Required externship hours may be scheduled outside of typical class sessions.
The program is 48 quarter credits (900 contact hours), completed in 36 weeks, in a hybrid format — some coursework is online; labs and externships are on-campus and at clinical sites.
Three externships are included so students apply their skills in real healthcare settings. Required externship hours must be completed before graduation. Students are not paid for work performed at the externship site.
- December 14th, 2026
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AHP105 | Medical Terminology | 4 |
| AHP106 | Medical Anatomy and Physiology | 4 |
| SPT105 | Instrumentation | 4 |
| SPT110 | Introduction to Sterile Processing | 4 |
| SPT115 | Decontamination and Disinfection | 4 |
| SPT120 | Sterilization Procedures | 4 |
| SPT125 | Complex Processing and Inventory Management | 4 |
| SPT130 | Certification Review and Career Development | 4 |
| SPT180 | Externship I | 5 |
| SPT185 | Externship II | 6 |
| SPT190 | Externship III | 5 |
| Totals | 48 |
Location
Why Accreditation Is Important
Attending an accredited program means your education has met independently reviewed quality standards designed to protect students.
The Sterile Processing Technician program at Fortis College – Houston North is offered at a campus accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).
- A reliable indicator of educational quality
- Eligible for federal Title IV financial aid
- Independently reviewed against published standards
- Recognised by employers in the field
Accreditations
Student Demographics
These are demographics for all students at the Fortis College - Houston North Campus (IPEDS, 2024).
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
The total program cost of $19,727 covers tuition plus the required fees and materials below:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $18,063 |
| Administrative & technology fee | $178 |
| Certification / licensure exam | $140 |
| Background check | $66 |
| Drug screen | $40 |
| Laptop computer | $941 |
| Books & materials | $299 |
| Total program cost | $19,727 |
Financial aid is available to those who qualify. Fortis participates in federal student aid programs including Pell Grants, Federal Direct Loans, Direct PLUS Loans for parents, and Federal Work-Study. Complete the FAFSA and speak with the campus financial aid office to learn what you are eligible for.
Curriculum
| Course Code | Course Title | Clock Hours | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| AHP105 | Medical Terminology | 60 | 4 |
| AHP106 | Medical Anatomy and Physiology | 60 | 4 |
| SPT105 | Instrumentation | 60 | 4 |
| SPT110 | Introduction to Sterile Processing | 60 | 4 |
| SPT115 | Decontamination and Disinfection | 60 | 4 |
| SPT120 | Sterilization Procedures | 60 | 4 |
| SPT125 | Complex Processing and Inventory Management | 60 | 4 |
| SPT130 | Certification Review and Career Development | 60 | 4 |
| SPT180 | Externship I | 120 | 5 |
| SPT185 | Externship II | 180 | 6 |
| SPT190 | Externship III | 120 | 5 |
| Total | 900 | 48 |
Career Outcomes
Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment as sterile processing technicians in hospitals, medical centers, outpatient surgery centers, and physicians' or dentists' offices where surgery is performed.
Students in their final quarter are required to sit for the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) provisional certification exam.
What to expect as a Fortis student
Fortis is a career-focused college. The Sterile Processing Technician program follows a set, sequenced schedule combining classroom instruction, hands-on lab practice, and supervised externships.
Concentration and prerequisite science courses require a minimum grade of C+.