Sterile Processing Technician is a Certificate program (100% Online) offered by U.S. Career Institute in Fort Collins, CO. The program takes 410 clock hours to complete, with a total tuition of $1,279.
Program Overview
U.S. Career Institute’s self-paced, online Sterile Processing Technician program is designed to prepare you for certification and a role as a Sterile Processing Technician in as little as 4 months.
Graduates of this course will learn the necessary skills to professionally perform the duties of a Sterile Processing Technician. Students learn to decontaminate, inspect, assemble, disassemble, package, and sterilize reusable surgical instruments or devices for healthcare facilities.
What sets this Program apart
- 5-day money-back commitment
- DEAC Accredited
- 100% online, self-paced classes, on your phone or computer
- Complete in 4-9 months, part-time
- One-on-one career coaching and instructor support
- Start learning today - no waiting period!
- A+ BBB Rating, 45 years in distance education, and 97% of students would recommend U.S. Career Institute to a friend.
- The DEAC is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency.
Lead instructor/course expert. Teresa Rufi is a Sterile Processing Technician Program Instructor at U.S. Career Institute -WDL Distance Learning. Teresa has worked in Sterile Processing for thirty years and maintains both CRCST and CHL certifications. She graduated in 2020 from Idaho State University with her bachelor’s in health science degree.
Admission Requirements and Process
To qualify for enrollment in the Sterile Processing Technician Program, an applicant must:
- Certify that she/he is a high school graduate, holds a state-approved Graduate Equivalency Diploma (GED) or its equivalent, or has completed college-level coursework; or otherwise demonstrate ability to perform postsecondary-level coursework (including test evidence).
- Submit a completed enrollment application with the required payment.
- Be at least 16 years of age.
U.S. Career Institute is an open enrollment school: as long as the applicant meets the admissions requirements for minimum education and age, they will be accepted into the school. Students must be able to read, write and speak English fluently. Students aged 16 and 17 may be admitted provided their parent or guardian signs the enrollment agreement; students under the age of 16 cannot be admitted. Applicants who do not meet the high school diploma or equivalent requirement are allowed to use test evidence to show they can benefit from the program: the first five grades the student receives serve as the basis for test evidence, and a “C” GPA meets the minimum education requirement. Most professional certification agencies have minimum age requirements (typically 18) to sit for a certification exam.
General Requirements
- Minimum ageYou must be at least 16 years old; students aged 16 and 17 need a parent or guardian to sign the enrollment agreement.
- High school diploma or GEDYou need a high school diploma or GED, or college-level coursework; otherwise you may use test evidence to show you can benefit from the program.
- EnglishYou must be able to read, write and speak English fluently.
- Basic informationThe enrollment form asks for your name, email, phone, date of birth and education level.
- Enrollment agreementYou must submit a completed enrollment application or agreement with the required payment.
Application Process
- 1Ask your questionsRequest information online or call U.S. Career Institute toll-free at 866-250-6851 to learn more.
- 2Provide basic informationThe form asks for your name, email, phone, date of birth and education level.
- 3Pay for your tuitionYou can pay in full or choose the monthly payment plan.
- 4Sign the enrollment agreement and disclosuresEnrollment takes about 5 minutes; the school accepts enrollments 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- 5Start your first lessonUpon enrollment, students have immediate access to their program online, with 12 months to complete it.
Program Schedule
The Sterile Processing Technician program is 410 clock hours, delivered in 23 lessons with 23 quizzes. Students can complete it in 4-9 months, studying part-time. Classes are 100% online and self-paced, on your phone or computer, with no due dates or deadlines.
The program is designed for guided independent study through distance learning, and is self-paced. Each program is designed to be completed in 12 months or less; the student has 12 months after enrollment to complete the program, and a student who needs more time should follow the leave of absence procedure. The school accepts enrollments 24 hours per day, seven days per week, and upon enrollment students have immediate access to their program online. All quizzes are open book.
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
U.S. Career Institute is committed to making your Sterile Processing Technician education affordable and inclusive. Start a new career that you’ll love and find fulfilling without a mountain of debt!
- Option 1, pay in full: $979 (save $300); the application charge is waived.
- Option 2, monthly auto payments: $1,279 in total at $69 a month, with a first payment of $69, plus a one-time $29 application charge.
First payment includes $40 down payment and $29 application charge. Application charge is non-refundable.
5-day money-back commitment. After you receive your first lesson, you have 5 full days to decide if our program is the best route for you.
Funding. U.S. Career Institute participates in military education benefit programs and the MyCAA spouse support tuition program; specific questions regarding eligibility should be directed to the Veterans Administration by calling 1-888-GIBILL1. U.S. Career Institute also participates in various employer-paid and Vocational Rehabilitation programs. U.S. Career Institute does not participate in other financial aid programs.
All enrollments are assessed a one-time $29 application charge (2026 catalog price list). Students who wish to purchase textbooks or manuals may do so for an additional charge.
Required Courses
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Career Outcomes
U.S. Career Institute's Sterile Processing Technician program will prepare you to sit for the Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) exam, through the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA). Included with our course, we cover the cost of your CRCST certification exam fees – a $140 value!
CRCST certification from HSPA requires that you pass the certification exam and complete 400 hours of hands-on experience in a Central Service department. These hours can be completed before testing or within 6 months of passing the exam. Please note that you are responsible for obtaining the 400 hours of hands-on experience once you finish our Sterile Processing Technician course, USCI will not provide this training. Job growth for sterile processing techs is nearly 2x greater than all other jobs by 2034. The certification process is straightforward, and no prior experience is required to become a Sterile Processing Technician. People transition into sterile processing tech jobs because it offers a comfortable wage, flexibility, a sense of fulfillment, job security, it’s a growing field, and you’ll play a key role on a medical team! Sterile processing technicians will have consistent job opportunities, as they are essential to surgical centers and operating rooms. Surgical procedures that treat a vast number of health conditions are more prominent than ever.
What to expect as a U.S. Career Institute student
Beginner-Friendly Lessons. Classes are designed for anyone to easily learn, and are broken up into digestible sections that build as you progress through our program. No due dates or deadlines.
Engaging Curriculum. Reading lessons, supplemental videos, interactive exercises, note taking, read-aloud and disability features, and open note multiple choice quizzes with no time limit.
Student support and coaching. Your tuition includes access to instructors via phone and email, student services, tutoring, resume and job interview support, and one-on-one career coaching (a $400 value).
Learning materials included. Your tuition includes e-books, study guides, supplemental videos, and interactive exercises. Hard copy books are also available for under $50. Everything is included - no hidden fees after enrollment.
Grading and graduation. To graduate, students must submit all quizzes, attain a final average of 70% or higher, have a signed enrollment agreement on file and have paid tuition in full; U.S. Career Institute then releases the Certificate of Completion. Students with a grade point average of 93 or higher are awarded a seat on the Dean’s List.
Graduate support. U.S. Career Institute provides continuing employment instruction and advice, including training in job-search techniques, résumé and letter writing, interviewing and presentation skills, available to all graduates whenever they request it. The school cannot promise or guarantee employment and does not provide job placement services.
Campus Location
Why Accreditation Is Important
U.S. Career Institute is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency. It is approved and regulated by the Colorado Department of Higher Education, Private Occupational School Board.
Curriculum
The Sterile Processing Technician program totals 410 clock hours, taught in 4 instruction packs, listed below as the course outline.
U.S. Career Institute’s curriculum is developed specifically for the distance education learner by instructional designers who specialize in how to develop content for adults and well-qualified subject matter experts that include a registered nurse and a certified registered central service technician to ensure quality content. The current subject matter expert is the co-founder and president of a company focused on clinical education for sterile processing. In addition, USCI works with a program advisory council of non-USCI employee who is a certified registered central service technician and a sterile processing educator working in the field to review content annually to ensure students receive content that is up-to-date, relevant and accurate.
As the healthcare field continues to grow, so does the need for sterile processing technicians who provide the clean, sterile, functioning instruments used daily. Students learn to decontaminate, inspect, assemble, disassemble, package and sterilize reusable surgical instruments or devices for healthcare facilities. The coursework trains students to:
- Apply strict rules to minimize the risk of infection using the aseptic technique.
- Discover how to decontaminate and prepare a clean work area and explore the high-level disinfection process and its components.
- Prepare and package instruments and supplies, including labeling and handling instruments.
- Examine sterilization processes, from loading and unloading to sterilizer tests, methods, cycles and sterile storage.
- Understand safety awareness related to patient care equipment and how to prepare the equipment, receive items and inspect work areas.
- Adhere to compliance for documentation, record maintenance and inventory management procedures.
- Understand the importance of effective communication, customer relations and teamwork in the healthcare field. Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) certification from HSPA requires that you pass the certification exam and complete 400 hours of hands-on experience in a Central Service department. These hours can be completed before testing or within 6 months of passing the exam. Please note that you are responsible for obtaining 400 hours of hands-on experience once you finish the program if you want to complete CRCST certification.
Required Courses
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Frequently Asked Questions
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