Sterile Processing Technician Schools In Connecticut – Find Programs
Central sterile processing technicians are highly-needed healthcare professionals. They are the backbone of any healthcare facility. They’re responsible for the upkeep of equipment and instrument sterilization. This is an important part of patient care and medical procedures. So technicians are invaluable in most medical settings.
With a large demand for this profession, obtaining your certification as a sterile processing technician can secure your future. In this article, we’ll explore schools that offer training in Connecticut. Plus, we’ll examine the long-term potential of this career.
Certification And Licensing Requirements
In Connecticut, individuals who work in sterilization processing are known as ‘central service technicians’. They may also be known as central sterile processing technicians.
These individuals maintain the cleanliness of surgical instruments and other medical equipment within healthcare facilities.
Although some states need individuals to have a high school diploma, Connecticut has a unique set of restrictions for this career.
To become a licensed and qualified sterile processing technician, students will first need to enroll in an accredited sterile processing technician program. Applicants will also need to hold a high school diploma and be over the age of eighteen to enroll.
Upon successful completion of this training, they will need to take a certification exam.
Graduates can work as central sterile processing technicians for two years without their certification. After this time, they will need to get their certification to continue working. They can acquire this certification in one of two ways.
Firstly, they can obtain it from the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution or CBSPD. Alternatively, students can get their certification from the IAHCSMM or the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management.
As a sterile processing technician, you will need to renew your certification every year. If you fail to do so, you will not be able to work as a central sterile processing technician until you have proof of a valid certification.
Training Options And Education Programs In Connecticut
Asnuntuck Community College
Asnuntuck Community College offers students an 80-hour training course. It includes 60 hours of theory and 20 hours of on-site training at a medical facility. This course will prepare students to sit for the SPD Technician Certification Exam.
- Program: Certificate – Certified Sterilization Technician
- Accreditation: Asnuntuck Community College is accredited by the Board of Governors for Higher Education and the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
- Learn more: ACC Certified Sterilization Technician Certificate
Middlesex Community College
Middlesex Community College offers a program that includes 60 hours of classroom time covering decontamination processes, sterilization processing, microbiology infection control, and much more. It also offers 20 hours of hands-on clinical internship experience. In total, students will need to complete 80 hours of training.
After this, they can sit for the certification exam with the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution.
- Program: Certificate – Central Sterile Processing Technician
- Accreditation: Middlesex Community College is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE)
- Learn more: MCC Central Sterile Processing Technician Training
Naugatuck Valley Community College
Naugatuck Valley offers its students an 83-hour program that focuses on theory. The theory component covers medical terminology, assembling instrument trays, anatomy, physiology, and more. The course also includes practical time spent in the sterile processing department of a local hospital.
- Program: Certificate – Central Sterile Processing Technician
- Accreditation: Like most Connecticut colleges, Naugatuck Valley is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
- Learn more: NVCC Central Sterile Processing Technician Certificate
Salary Expectations For Sterile Processing Technicians
The average salary of a central sterile processing technician in Connecticut is around $43,600 a year. This puts Connecticut technicians just below the top-earning percentile in the United States.
Of course, this is an estimated salary that may fluctuate depending on certain factors. Some central sterile processing technicians may earn more than $55,000 if they can secure work in a private practice or outpatient care facility. However, it can also take some time to earn the average annual salary.
The starting salary for a processing technician is between $25,000 – $28,000 a year. As technicians gain work experience, they can expect their salaries to increase significantly.
The future job market for sterile processing technicians
There is an overall positive upswing in jobs for central sterile processing technicians. In fact, industry statistics expect employment opportunities to increase by around 8.3% by the end of 2030. That means that there will be around 4,900 additional job openings in the coming years.
As a central sterile processing technician, this means there is better long-term job security than in many other careers.
Where to find work as a sterile processing technician in Connecticut
A certified central sterile processing technician can usually find work within a central sterile supply department, medical offices, surgical centers, or as part of a healthcare team. There are various industries where processing technicians can find work. As long as there is medical equipment needed, a facility will also need a processing technician.
References
https://myhspa.org/images/Advocacy/CT_HB5913_LAW.pdf
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes319093.htm