Sterile Processing Technology
The sterile processing department is known as the heart of the hospital, as all means of sterilized equipment, medical instrumentation, and sterile supplies are under the direct responsibility of the sterile processing department team members. As a Certified Sterile Processing Technician, you will be a crucial team member for all medical departments.
Every trauma that comes through the Emergency Room, every lifesaving/altering operation in the Operating Room, and every department utilizing sterile instrumentation will depend on your expertise and bolstered technique skill sets.
This program will educate, train, and bolster students capabilities/techniques required to serve in any sterile processing department in the country. Upon completing this program, students will be able to sit for the Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) exam provided by the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) organization.
Academic support is provided through CCD's Excel Zone, which helps students succeed by offering a variety of learning opportunities. We are located on campus on the 4th floor of the Confluence building.
CCD Online offers fully online certificates and degrees, and individual online courses to help match your busy schedule.
Your first step is to see if online learning is right for you. Online and hybrid environments offer much more flexibility but require more self-direction and self-discipline. Certain work habits, learning styles and skills contribute to a successful online or hybrid learning experience.
Online Experience Questions?
303.352.6785 | TLC@ccd.edu
This program is eligible for financial aid at CCD.
Your first step is to connect with the Financial Aid office to discover how you can afford college. Our dedicated staff and support services help you wade through all the legal language and get you past the first hurdle to completing your educational goals.
In addition, CCD has $1,000,000 available in scholarships. Learn More!
CRCST (Certified Registered Central Sterile Technician)
National Estimates:
Hourly Wage: $21.61
Salary: $44,940
The application cycle is open May 1 - July 31, 2024.
Please follow the instructions below and gather the appropriate documents before you complete our online application.
If you haven’t done so, you must be a current CCD student to enroll in the Sterile Processing Program. The CCD application is free. Please select certificate, area of interest is Health Sciences and Sterile Processing Technology certificate as the option when applying.
You must attend a Sterile Processing information session. These sessions are held on the first Thursday of every month at 4pm.
Self-assessment is not accepted. You have several options to determine your placement in this program, and we must have both English and math competency levels. Review the options you have to determine your course placement by visiting the Testing Center and reading the information on how to submit these documents on that webpage link. You can use ACT/SAT scores (taken within the past five years), Accuplacer exams for math and English, or official transcripts showing previous college-level math and English classes. You will also have the opportunity to upload a copy of your unofficial transcript into the application.
CCD's Sterile Processing program requires that a background check and drug screen be completed prior to your admittance into the program.
No history of criminal offenses; please read the CCCS list of disqualifying offenses.
You may order the background check and drug screen at the Colorado Community College System’s CastleBranch website. Once your order is complete, we will collect your receipt, and CCD’s Human Resources will be in contact with us upon your approval/denial. You do not need to wait until you have the results from the background screening before you proceed with the application. You will be contacted by the program administrator upon approval/denial.
Once you have these forms completed, please scan and save the documents to your computer. Then submit your accompanying forms as attachments to our online application.
- Placement test or previous ACT/SAT scores
- Background Check and Drug Screen
- Complete medical history record
- A negative Tuberculosis (TB) skin test OR QuantiFERON (QFT) Gold test OR clear chest x-ray image;
- Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine;
- Varicella vaccine;
- Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap) vaccine;
- Flu vaccine; The seasonal flu vaccine is only required of applicants applying to the program between the months of October through March;
- Hepatitis B vaccine; You must have the initial dose of the three-dose series to begin the program;
- COVID-19 vaccine; You must have the initial dose of the two-dose series to begin the program.
Contact your primary care physician to obtain records for previous vaccinations. You can learn more about each vaccine and test requirement on the Auraria Health Center website. The Health Center can help you obtain any vaccines or tests you may need and provide the required records above.
