Sterile Processing Technician Schools (2024 Rankings)

Preppy is an amazing online education platform that has partnered with Auburn University, a nonprofit institution, to provide the top recommended online program for becoming a sterile processing technician.

But why Preppy?

When you choose Preppy for your training, you get a bunch of benefits that make it stand out as the best option in the market – and here’s why we believe that:

• Learn Anywhere, Anytime: Preppy offers a fully online training program. That means no more boring textbooks, set class times, or complicated schedules. With Preppy, you’re free to learn whenever and wherever suits you best.
• Hands-On Experience: Learning isn’t just about reading. Preppy gets it. They give you real-world experience through hands-on training, including externships. Once you finish the course, you’ll be ready to put what you’ve learned into action in the actual field.
• Quick Course Completion: You can wrap up your course in just 4 months with Preppy. Sounds good, right? You’ll be all set to start your career much sooner compared to traditional schooling, which sometimes takes years.
• Certification from the Experts: Once you complete your course, you’ll get a certificate from Auburn University. It’s like a special badge you can proudly show off at work or home.
• National Certification:  Getting certified is really important if you want to start your career as a Sterile Processing Technician. It’s a standard that most employers look for across the country. It shows that you meet the important requirement of taking care of patients properly. Preppy’s training program will get you ready to pass these national certifications easily!
• FREE Laptop: Enroll with Preppy, and they’ll throw in a free laptop just for you. And guess what? It’s yours to keep even after you’re done with the course!
• Affordable Learning: Now, here’s the best part. Preppy won’t break the bank. Tuition costs are super reasonable, so you won’t have to worry about piling up student debts.

Preppy’s sterile processing technician program also gives you a deep and thorough understanding of your job as a technician. This covers topics like medical terminology, infection control, microbiology, and much more.

>>Find Out More About Preppy’s Sterile Processing Tech Program

Berkeley College is a privately-owned, for-profit educational institution that operates campuses in both New York and New Jersey, as well as offering online programs.

In this program, students acquire skills in managing medical instruments and equipment that need decontamination, processing, sterilization, and distribution in hospitals and surgical centers.

Berkeley offers its sterile processing tech program in both online and in-person modes, however, it is always recommended to choose online classes simply due to the convenience and flexibility it offers.

After course completion, graduates possess comprehensive expertise in infection control concerning sterile processing and decontamination protocols, surgical instruments for operating rooms, and techniques for sterilizing and packaging surgical instruments.

This is a certificate program, which can be completed in under a year.

One major disadvantage of enrolling in this program is that it is highly expensive, where the tuition fee is around $23,200, which is excluding textbooks and other supplies.

This can be a hassle for students, and they might have to take on the burden of financial aid such as educational loans, which might take years to pay off.

Another disadvantage is the lack of hands-on experience offered in this program, as there are no externship opportunities given to students after they complete their program.

Pima Medical Institute (PMI) is a privately owned medical career college that operates across the western United States. It specializes in training students to become allied healthcare professionals in various medical fields.

The SPT program is available through a combination of in-person and hybrid learning approaches at Pima.

The certificate program, which can be completed in 9 months, is delivered on both the two campuses, Arizona and Denver, through scheduled in-person classes. Even if you opt for online classes, you will need to attend practical classes that are scheduled, which can be a hassle.

Pima Medical Institute offers courses that delve into crucial subjects including familiarity with surgical instruments, microbiology, medical devices, surgical terminology, as well as storage and distribution processes. Additionally, students will cultivate skills in sterilization and decontamination, which means it offers a thorough curriculum.

There is one disadvantage to this program though, and that is the high tuition costs involved. The tuition fee for the SPT is around $16,500, which does include textbooks and lab supplies, which is a relief.

Miami Dade College is a public college that is based in Miami, Florida.

They offer a certificate program in Sterile Processing Tech, which can be completed in 8 months and is divided into 2 semesters.

This college offers in-person classes on its Miami campus. Courses are offered mainly in the evening; there may also be a few morning offerings.

The Central Sterile Processing Technology Program offered by this college provides learning experiences that enable the student to acquire and assimilate the essential skills to become integral members of a surgical team.

One of the main advantages of this certificate program is that there is an option of choosing a fully online mode of study, however, it is important to note that you may need to still visit the campus for lab work, and so on.

The main disadvantage is the scheduled in-person classes offered by this program, which can be a cause for inconvenience for students, since they will need to constantly travel back and forth, and missing and rescheduling classes can be another hassle.

Another con is the lack of externship opportunities offered by this program. Externships are extremely important for sterile processing technicians as they provide a real-world experience wherein you can put your learned knowledge and skills to use.

This SPT does offer a lower tuition fee, however, it is not the lowest in the carousel. The tuition fee for the Sterile Processing Tech Certificate Program is $4,830, excluding supplies and books.

Contra Costa Medical Career College is a higher education institute that is based in Contra Costa County, California.

They offer a Sterile Processing Tech certificate course program, which can be completed in 5 months, and includes a thorough curriculum involving both theoretical and practical knowledge.

The best part about this program is the externship opportunities it provides after you complete the course, and a minimum of 256 hours of externship is necessary to be completed.

The two major drawbacks of this program are:

• High tuition fees- The SPT program costs around $10,200, excluding registration fees, supplies, and laboratory fees, which is on the higher end and can cause students to take financial aid.
• In-person scheduled classes- The college offers day and evening shifts, which are scheduled by the college. This can be problematic for students who have other obligations, or who have to travel back and forth each day.