How long does sterile processing technician training take in District of Columbia?

Most people become a Sterile Processing Technician in District of Columbia through a sterile-processing program or on-the-job training plus CRCST; some states register the role.

How to Become a Sterile Processing Technician in District of Columbia (2026)

Q: How much do sterile processing technicians earn in District of Columbia?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), sterile processing technicians in District of Columbia earned a median annual wage of approximately $48,670. Employment concentration in District of Columbia is roughly 0.89 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for sterile processing technicians in District of Columbia?

District of Columbia currently employs approximately 310 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 10.0% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

District of Columbia employs about 310 sterile processing technicians earning a median $48,670 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Sterile Processing Technician here means completing a sterile-processing program or on-the-job training plus CRCST; some states register the role. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

Compare Sterile Processing Technician Schools in District of Columbia

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition (published, per year)	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Frederick Community College	71.1	$3,849 in-state / $10,042 out-of-state	$54,058	37%	Yes*	42 mi
2	Martinsburg College	63.8	Contact school for pricing	$32,883	60%	Yes*	62 mi
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3	Montgomery College	59.0	$5,394 in-state / $14,250 out-of-state	$55,199	32%	Yes*	14 mi
4	J Sargeant Reynolds Community College	52.7	$5,280 in-state / $11,718 out-of-state	$54,140	32%	Yes*	98 mi
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5	Community College of Philadelphia	36.8	$4,632 in-state / $12,744 out-of-state	$50,788	24%	Yes*	123 mi
6	Chester Career College	33.9	Contact school for pricing	$41,883	63%	—	110 mi
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7	Philadelphia Technician Training	19.7	Contact school for pricing	$33,267	50%	—	128 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

District of Columbia employs approximately 310 sterile processing technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $48,670 ¹. Nationally, sterile processing technician employment is projected to grow 10.0% from 2024 to 2034, with about 10,900 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Sterile Processing Technician in District of Columbia, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: sterile-processing program or OJT (find programs)
Typical timeline: a sterile-processing program or on-the-job training plus CRCST; some states register the role
Exam: HSPA CRCST
Median wage (District of Columbia): $48,670 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Sterile Processing Technician in District of Columbia

How to become a Sterile Processing Technician in District of Columbia? Complete a sterile-processing program or on-the-job training plus CRCST; some states register the role. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish a sterile-processing program or on-the-job training plus CRCST; some states register the role. Confirm current hour totals with the program and employer.

Do I need a license in District of Columbia? Licensing varies. Confirm with the program and employer. See the licensing section below.

What do sterile processing technicians earn in District of Columbia? The median annual wage for sterile processing technicians in District of Columbia is $48,670 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $39,190 and experienced professionals can earn $77,820 or more ¹.

How to Become a Sterile Processing Technician in District of Columbia

Complete a sterile-processing program or OJT. Finish a program or documented on-the-job training. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
Earn CRCST. Pass the HSPA CRCST exam. Confirm any state registration with the employer.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Sterile Processing Technician License Requirements in District of Columbia

Sterile-processing technicians typically earn CRCST. Some states add registration.

Typical path

Complete training.
Earn CRCST.
Register if the state requires it.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the employer before you enroll.

Sterile Processing Technician Wages by Metro Area in District of Columbia

Medical Equipment Preparers Wages by Metro Area in District of Columbia

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), medical equipment preparers wages in District of Columbia vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	1,070	$50,600	$54,410	$39,110	$76,890

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for sterile processing technicians in District of Columbia? District of Columbia currently employs approximately 310 sterile processing technicians ¹. Nationally, sterile processing technician employment is projected to grow 10.0% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a sterile processing technician in District of Columbia with an out-of-state license? Confirm reciprocity rules with the program and employer.

What training programs are available in District of Columbia? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in District of Columbia.

How much do sterile processing technicians earn in District of Columbia compared to the national average? The median annual wage for sterile processing technicians in District of Columbia is $48,670, which is $2,180 above the national median of $46,490 according to BLS data ¹.

In District of Columbia

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Citations

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/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

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)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)