Best Sterile Processing Tech Programs Near You (2026)
Sterile Processing Tech training is offered by trade schools, community colleges and career institutes nationwide, and medical Equipment Preparers earned a median of $47,700 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Use the program finder above to request information from schools that match your goals, or browse sterile processing tech programs by state and metro area below.
Key Facts
- National median wage: $47,700/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025)
- Pay range (10th-90th pct): $36,410 - $69,950 (Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025)
- Projected growth (2024-2034): +10.0%, ~10,900 openings/yr (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034)
- U.S. employment: 77,420 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025)
How to Choose a Sterile Processing Tech Program
Start with accreditation: confirm the school holds recognized institutional or programmatic accreditation, because it affects credit transfer, eligibility for some certification exams and how employers view the credential. Then compare the credential awarded, total program length and schedule, and how much of the program is hands-on.
Sterile processing programs usually award a certificate in a few months and include the supervised hours most certification bodies expect.
Look for a program with a clinical placement in a hospital sterile processing department, where you decontaminate, assemble and sterilize instrument sets. Graduates usually work in hospitals, surgery centers and instrument reprocessing services.
Most programs prepare students for the HSPA CRCST or CBSPD certification; ask which exam the curriculum targets.
Before you enroll, ask each school what the schedule looks like week to week, how much time is spent in the lab, shop or clinic, which credential exams the curriculum covers, and how the school supports graduates in their job search. Outcomes vary by program and region, so ask for the school’s own completion figures and how they were measured.
Sterile Processing Tech Programs by State
Each state link goes to the most specific sterile processing tech page we publish for that state: a statewide sterile processing tech program guide where one exists, otherwise the state’s sterile processing tech career page or trade school directory.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Top Metro Areas for Sterile Processing Tech Training
Large metros usually offer the widest choice of sterile processing tech programs and the most employers hiring graduates. These city guides list programs within driving distance and local wage data.
- Best Sterile Processing Tech Programs in New York City, New York (2026)
- Best Sterile Processing Tech Schools in New York, New York (2026)
- Best Sterile Processing Tech Schools in Los Angeles, California (2026)
- Best Sterile Processing Tech Schools in Chicago, Illinois (2026)
- Best Sterile Processing Tech Schools in Houston, Texas (2026)
- Best Sterile Processing Tech Schools in Phoenix, Arizona (2026)
- Best Sterile Processing Tech Schools in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2026)
- Best Sterile Processing Tech Schools in San Antonio, Texas (2026)
- Best Sterile Processing Tech Schools in San Diego, California (2026)
- Best Sterile Processing Tech Schools in Dallas, Texas (2026)
- Best Sterile Processing Tech Schools in San Jose, California (2026)
- Best Sterile Processing Tech Schools in Austin, Texas (2026)
- Best Sterile Processing Tech Schools in Jacksonville, Florida (2026)
- Best Sterile Processing Tech Schools in Fort Worth, Texas (2026)
- Best Sterile Processing Tech Schools in Columbus, Ohio (2026)
Related Careers and Guides
Disclaimer: Outcomes vary by location, experience, and local job market conditions. Employment or placement is not guaranteed. Program availability, admissions criteria, timelines, costs, and licensure requirements vary by school and state and may change without notice. Always verify details directly with the school and your state licensing board before enrolling.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does sterile processing tech training take?
It depends on the credential. Sterile processing programs usually award a certificate in a few months and include the supervised hours most certification bodies expect. Program length and schedule vary by school, so confirm the details with each program before you enroll.
How much do medical Equipment Preparers earn?
According to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), medical Equipment Preparers in the U.S. earned a median annual wage of about $47,700. The 10th-to-90th percentile range was about $36,410 to $69,950 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Pay varies with location, experience, certification and employer.
Do I need a license or certification?
Requirements vary by state, role and employer. Some fields require a state license earned by completing approved training and passing an exam; others rely on voluntary industry certifications. Always confirm current rules with the licensing board or credentialing body in the state where you plan to work.
What is the job outlook for medical Equipment Preparers?
The BLS projects employment of medical Equipment Preparers to change about +10.0% nationally from 2024 to 2034, with roughly 10,900 openings expected each year on average (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034). Local demand can differ from the national figure.
Can I take sterile processing tech classes online?
Some coursework may be offered online, but most programs include hands-on lab, shop or clinical components that are completed in person. Ask each school how its program is delivered and what the in-person requirements are.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |