Education

A Guide to Becoming a Sterile Processing Technician

Pursuing a career in the medical field will show you a variety of roles in different departments. Amongst those options, you’ve decided to choose to become a sterile processing technician. It’s an exciting career, but you need to take several steps before you land a role in the SPT department.

Undergoing sterile processing department training is a long and arduous process. It takes several weeks or months to accomplish and doesn’t end there. After SPT training, you’ll need to take the certification exam before finally gaining the title of CRCST.

Though the path to becoming a certified sterile processing technician is tedious, your future role will be worth it. SPTs are essential healthcare workers since they are responsible for preventing the spread of infection in medical settings.

You’ll need to prepare diligently. Here is a guide on how to become a sterile processing technician.

Understand the role of an SPT

You ought to know what SPTs do in hospitals. Their primary tasks include sterilizing, cleaning, assembling, packaging, and distributing medical supplies, devices, and equipment. SPTs are keen on detail and strictly follow the processes of sterilizing hospital instruments. You won’t work directly with patients; instead, you’ll assist other healthcare professionals, such as surgeons.

Look for and Enroll in the Best SPT Training and Certification Program

There are plenty of institutions offering programs for SPTs you can choose from. You can search within your area for any nearby opportunities that can cater to your needs. Some training programs offer courses you can take while working part-time. Be sure to take advantage of every resource they can provide you, such as talks with teachers and campus tours.

Enrollment may require you to attend in-person interviews or take an entrance exam.

Earn your Sterile Processing Diploma

Once enrolled in the program, you will take several course works. They’ll teach you the basics of medical terms, physiology, anatomy, and microbiology. A high-level overview of infection control and proper sanitization of medical instruments and supplies are included in the curriculum. The training program will also teach you how to sterilize equipment effectively, the different medical tools you’ll encounter, and inspect them properly.

Complete your Clinical Internship

After completing your courseworks, you’ll need to take and complete an internship at a hospital or other medical institutions. An internship provides you insight into the daily work of a sterile processing technician and will give you hands-on experience in your future tasks. Remember, this hands-on training is imperative to the learning process, so be sure to maximize the opportunity.

Take and Pass Certification Exams

The last step to becoming a sterile processing technician is to take the  Certified Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician (CSPDT), the Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST), or the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Material Management (IAHCSMM) certification examination. Passing your exams will give you a major competitive edge when applying for hospital SPT roles.

Looking for reliable sterile processing training programs? Visit Martinson College at their website https://www.martinsoncollege.com/ to enroll now.

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