Sterile Processing Technician Schools In Missouri – Find Programs
Sterile Processing Technicians sterilize, clean, decontaminate, sort, and keep stock of medical and surgical equipment and tools. As such, they are vital parts of ensuring patient safety. It is their duty to reduce infection risks in healthcare environments.
If you’re looking to forge a career as a sterile processing technician, there are schools in Missouri that offer programs to assist you with enhancing your knowledge in this important healthcare position. Alternatively, you may already be a member of the employment pool looking for a refresher course.
In this article, we will present a couple of options you can use to advance your knowledge in the sterile processing technician sector.
Sterile Processing Technician Schools In Missouri
You don’t need to be licensed or have certification to be a sterile processing technician in Missouri. However, most employers won’t hire you if you don’t have some type of formal training. So, let’s take a look at some programs that will get you up to speed.
University of Central Missouri Sterile Processing Technician certificate program
Students enrolled in this certificate program will enhance their knowledge and technical skills. Communication, problem-solving, and teamwork also get covered. Those who complete the course will be comfortable sitting for the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) national certification exam.
Another valuable addition to the program is the course’s clinical section. It affords participants practical experience which counts towards the 400 hours needed to achieve CRCST certification.
Topics covered
- Employment skills
- Terminology of medicine
- Anatomy basics
- Basic microbiology
- Infection prevention and control
- Disinfection, decontamination, and cleaning
- Medical and surgical instrumentation
Duration
The program takes place three days per week in four-hour increments, for a period of almost five months.
Requirements
The basic requirements to qualify for the sterile processing technician program are a high school diploma or equivalent. In other words, a GED will count. You have to be at least 18 years old to take part.
Accreditation
Graduating from the course and completing the clinical experience offered means you are prepared to sit for the HSPA national exam. Passing this will make you a certified sterile processing technician.
By successfully completing the program, students receive industry-standard certification and further education units. These, however, aren’t applicable to a degree program.
Cost
The program costs $2,895. Further details are available via the UCMO program webpage.
Concorde Career College Sterile Processing Technology program
Concorde Career College in Kansas City offers a comprehensive training program equipping aspiring students with the abilities and knowledge required to become skilled SPTs within only three months. This program uses both online instruction and hands-on lab practice which culminates in an externship to provide greater practical application of the knowledge they acquire.
This program affords candidates the experience to write the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) examination and secure sterile processing technician jobs in the interim or thereafter.
Concorde’s sterile processing technician diploma program places emphasis on essential health science concepts and skills. It affords students technical training in sterilization, inventory management, and examination of medical equipment. By undergoing it, students are educated in critical skills necessary to ensure the efficacy and safety of medical equipment in healthcare facilities across Missouri and beyond.
Duration
Three months online, with 8 hours of lab training at surgical centers in Kansas City.
Requirements
This diploma program requires online access to the program, with the necessary computer hardware and software infrastructure, and a valid personal email address. For successful selection to the program, applicants may be required to undergo a criminal record check and drug screening.
More information on the Concorde sterile processing technician, or medical equipment preparers, program is available by calling 1-800-693-7010 or visiting the Concorde website.
Accreditation
The program affords successful candidates the opportunity to become sterile processing technician grads by passing the certification exam through the HSPA.
Cost
Costs for the Concorde Career College Sterile Processing Technician program is $689, which includes the HSPA examination prep and cost.
FAQs
Are there sterile processing technician jobs in Missouri?
Yes, there is no shortage of jobs in the field in Missouri. According to Projections Central, a website sponsored by the US Department of Labor, employment opportunities in the field should improve by over 7% over the current decade. Sterile processing technician grads should see even higher percentages in employment options.
What is the MO median salary for sterile processing technicians?
The latest figures available state that the MO median salary for sterile processing technicians fell below the typical salary nationally by approximately $6,000 per annum. At over $35,000 a year in 2021 however, it remained a workable salary, especially when taking lower costs of living into account.
The typical salary for Missouri’s most compensated sterile processing technicians is more than $45,000 annually. Certified employees can view this figure as closer to what their typical salary compensation would be.
Sources
https://www.frontrange.edu/programs-and-courses/a-z-program-list/sterile-processing-technology
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes319093.htm
https://www.concorde.edu/allied-health-programs/sterile-processing/kansas-city