Introduction
Sterile processing technicians make up a significant part of the medical industry and work with other technicians on sterilization, packaging, and dispensing procedures. They ensure that medications and other sterile products are properly stored and dispensable by ensuring that appropriate processes are followed at every stage. Sterile processing technicians can be paid up to $43K each year, and the average is about $30k per year, according to Indeed.com (for more details about pay rates, please refer to the following article).
What is a Sterile Processing Technician?
A sterilize processor technician is a medical technician who prepares equipment for surgical and other medical procedures.
Sterile processing technicians are accountable for maintaining the stabilizability of surgical instruments such as scissors and scalpels by cleansing them with disinfectant solutions before sterilization. They can also monitor the prepared materials so they’re not contaminated by bacteria or viruses that can cause infection if left exposed to air for too long.
What is the average annual salary of the Sterile Processing Technician?
The median salary for a sterile processing technician is $19.69 per hour, as per Indeed.com. This means you could make between $27k and $31K per year, based on your employed hours and the amount of experience.
If you’re looking to increase the amount you earn as a sterile processing technician, think about working for a company with more clients and more training opportunities available; this will increase your chances of being promoted within your organization or getting promoted to an area where there are numerous opportunities to develop within just one department alone (such for customer service).
How do you become Sterile Processing Technician: Educational and Training Requirements
To become a sterile processor tech, you must complete the requirements for education and training set forth by your state’s healthcare facilities.
- Training: A majority of states require that prospective applicants undergo an approved training program before becoming certified as sterilizing processing technicians. These programs generally last one year and include medical terminology, anatomy, microbiology, and other related topics.
- Education Students must pass written exams that cover material covered in the classroom portion of their studies for certification as sterile processing technicians in every state.
The Sterile Processing Technician’s Certifications and Licensures
There are a variety of certifications available for technicians in the field of sterile processing. The Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) provides different certifications. These include:
- Certified Professional Surgical Technician (CPSC-SCT)
- Certified Operating Room Assistant (COOR)
- Certified Operating Room Specialist (CORS)
You must attend an educational seminar and take written and practical tests to earn your certification. You can also get your certification after passing both tests on the first try, with no retakes allowed; however, if you fail either exam more than twice within five years, it will be taken from you forever! This isn’t necessarily a good thing. It simply means you’ll be under pressure to accomplish this goal before taking it away!
Sterile Processing Technician Career Outlook
The field of sterile processors is expanding. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that there will be a need for nearly 17,600 additional Sterile processing technicians by 2026 (a 76% growth). The BLS also predicts that these positions will earn around $36/hour or more based on your location and level of experience; However, this could vary according to where you work and the company you work for.
There are several methods to become a sterile processing technician.
- Take classes at an accredited school like [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C4t-4YV7wQ&feature=youtu.be YouTube!](https://www.). You can also earn money while you are in school!
- Train as an apprentice, someone who is already trained by themselves or by someone who knows how the system functions inside out. They can show you how things work before they leave their job. This means more money in your monthly account than rent because those homes aren’t cheap!
Becoming a sterile processing technician is an excellent way to enter the medical industry.
As a sterile processing technician, you’ll be able to work in a medical facility. Your abilities can be applied in various settings and to many individuals. You can have job security if you have the appropriate training and certification.
Conclusion
A sterile processing technician could be a fantastic option to get into the field of medicine. It’s an excellent way to earn money while still at school as it includes all the necessary training and certification requirements.
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