How to Become a Sterile Processing Technician in Tennessee (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Tennessee employs about 1,590 sterile processing technicians earning a median $46,990 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 Tennessee

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.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)Tuition (published, per year)Median grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
166.6Contact school for pricing$50,87976%—50 mi
261.1$13,450$58,575Not reportedYes*41 mi
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353.6$3,300 in-state / $5,868 out-of-state$44,49043%Yes*160 mi
452.1$3,540 in-state / $6,108 out-of-state$45,20938%Yes*200 mi
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551.3$3,980 in-state / $7,190 out-of-state$44,75434%Yes*222 mi
651.0$3,410 in-state / $5,978 out-of-state$43,83535%Yes*186 mi
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749.8$3,330 in-state / $5,898 out-of-state$47,26539%Yes*227 mi
848.2$7,126 in-state / $16,858 out-of-state$54,33339%Yes*204 mi
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944.5$3,386 in-state / $5,954 out-of-state$46,60144%Yes*219 mi
1039.5$4,730 in-state / $17,714 out-of-state$48,59218%Yes*36 mi
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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.

Tennessee employs approximately 1,590 sterile processing technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $46,990 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 Tennessee, 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 (Tennessee): $46,990 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Sterile Processing Technician in Tennessee

How to become a Sterile Processing Technician in Tennessee? 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 Tennessee? Licensing varies. Confirm with the program and employer. See the licensing section below.

What do sterile processing technicians earn in Tennessee? The median annual wage for sterile processing technicians in Tennessee is $46,990 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $35,090 and experienced professionals can earn $60,360 or more 1.

How to Become a Sterile Processing Technician in Tennessee

  1. Complete a sterile-processing program or OJT. Finish a program or documented on-the-job training. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
  2. 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 Tennessee

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

Typical path

  1. Complete training.

  2. Earn CRCST.

  3. 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 Tennessee

Medical Equipment Preparers Wages by Metro Area in Tennessee

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin540$49,260$50,880$37,260$61,880
Memphis280$45,480$47,170$36,720$60,300
Chattanooga220$45,860$45,400$33,570$58,720
Knoxville210$46,250$46,670$33,920$58,720
Kingsport-Bristol80$48,050$47,920$33,730$62,570
Johnson City60$45,470$46,430$32,980$58,480
Jackson50$38,740$41,140$34,040$52,250

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 Tennessee? Tennessee currently employs approximately 1,590 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 Tennessee with an out-of-state license? Confirm reciprocity rules with the program and employer.

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

How much do sterile processing technicians earn in Tennessee compared to the national average? The median annual wage for sterile processing technicians in Tennessee is $46,990, which is $500 above the national median of $46,490 according to BLS data 1.

In Tennessee

Top local programs

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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

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

  2. 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.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / 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)