A sterile processing technician is the professional who carries out the process of cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilizing surgical and medical instruments, as well as storing, managing, and prepping them for future use. Also sometimes called central service technicians or sterile processing and distribution (SPD) techs, sterile processing technicians play a critical role in ensuring the safety of patients and clinical staff.
What are the duties and responsibilities of a sterile processing technician?
The duties and responsibilities of a sterile processing technician can be divided into five components: cleaning, tray assembly, decontamination, inventory management, and quality control. Let’s take a closer look at each.
Cleaning, Decontamination & Disposal
Sterile processing technicians oversee the removal of each item of used medical equipment from the clinical setting. They’re also responsible for the disposal of those items, or, more often, cleaning them to ensure decontamination before packaging and clinical sterilization.
Carried out as promptly as possible after each medical procedure, cleaning is done with a mix of water and detergent or enzymatic cleaner, and usually (but not always) via a cleaning machine.
Each item has its own unique cleaning protocols that must be followed strictly. For instance, surgical instruments are usually soaked or rinsed before cleaning to remove blood or tissue. Many items must be disassembled before cleaning and then carefully reassembled, while delicate equipment may need to be carefully hand-cleaned.
Tray Assembly and Packaging Techniques
Next, items are dried and carefully inspected to ensure cleanliness, not only visually but sometimes with microscopic examination. Technicians then sort, re-assemble, and package cleaned items. This is called tray assembly, in which technicians not only prepare items for reuse, but also lay out the surgical gloves and gowns that must be used along with them.
Sterilization Processes and Methods
Safe reuse of medical equipment doesn’t just require cleaning but also sterilization, where the assembled tray is loaded into a sterilizing machine. Specific sterile processing methods, as well as equipment used, will vary depending on the size and shape of each item, by instructions for use (IFUs) from the device manufacturer, and on each organization’s own standards and processes.
For instance, surgical instruments are sterilized depending on how they’re packaged, which can range from hard containers to pouches, reels, or wraps. Technicians must not only understand and adhere to the requirements specific for each type of tray, but be intimately knowledgeable about them, as well as how to operate any associated equipment.
Inventory Management
During tray assembly, it’s important that broken or missing items are identified to ensure that a replacement can be promptly obtained. This corresponds with a technician’s duty to help inventory management of the medical items they clean, sterilize and store.
The goal is to help make sure that any needed items or accessories are reordered in time to prevent shortages — especially in critical settings like the operating room. To this end, technicians must also maintain strict records of the procedures they’ve carried out, as well as the equipment and supplies they work with — everything from maintenance records to expiration dates to current location.
Quality Control
Quality control is critical in sterile processing, and is usually carried out according to each facility’s guidelines. Technicians aren’t just responsible for following those processes, but reporting any issues or errors they detect in the process.
Sterile processing technicians should expect to help maintain and troubleshoot the sterilization instruments and supplies they work with. They’ll also be tasked with closely monitoring that equipment, promptly reporting any problems or breakages to minimize disruption.
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What is the Work Environment of a Sterile Processing Technician?
Sterile processing technicians often work in clinical settings, or anywhere medical equipment is regularly used, regularly moving from contaminated to de-contaminated areas. They also work largely behind the scenes, with little to no interaction with patients, while they must also work in close collaboration with fellow SPD professionals.
Where Do Sterile Processing Technicians Work?
Sterile processing technicians work not just in clinical settings, but anywhere that medical equipment is used. The most common settings are within hospitals, health centers, clinics, and physician offices. They may also work in dental offices, nursing homes, or research laboratories.
Is the Work Environment Fast Paced?
Exactly where sterile processing technicians work determines how fast-paced their day is. For instance, in a busy hospital or urgent care center, an entire team of technicians must work quickly and collaboratively to ensure that all equipment is ready when needed, even during times of high utilization.
On the other hand, technicians who work in settings like a research laboratory may have a more predictable and routine workday, as with those who work in places that perform limited medical procedures — like a long-term care (LTC) facility.
Are SPD Techs Required to Work Long or Irregular Hours?
Sterile processing technicians usually work a fixed schedule, typically eight-hour shifts that begin either in the morning, afternoon, or night (i.e., the overnight shift). Those working in busy settings may have the opportunity — or requirement — to work overtime, if necessary.
Because each facility will have its own safety protocols in place to protect against hazardous materials, SLP techs must also be ready to wear gloves, gowns, face masks, goggles or face-shields, or other gear to protect themselves and their colleagues from contamination.
Who Collaborates with Sterile Processing Technicians?
For the most part, sterile processing technicians work independently or as part of a larger team of technicians. Interaction with clinicians or healthcare professionals is minimum. Instead, technicians should be ready to collaborate closely with their fellow techs — not only those working the same shift, but those who come before and after, to ensure safe and efficient changeovers.
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What Qualifications and Skills Does a Sterile Processing Technician Need?
Sterile processing technicians usually need a high school diploma (or equivalent), along with some specialized training. The best SPD tech jobs are generally available to professionals with certifications and those who pursue continuing education (CE).
Educational Requirements/Certifications for a Sterile Processing Technician
Sterile processing technicians must usually have a high school diploma or equivalent. In addition, many employers also require the completion of a sterile processing program from a local community college, trade school, or online provider. These programs usually require a few dozen hours of training, which can include on-site work at a hospital.
Most jobs (and certainly the higher-paying opportunities) also require certification from either the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD), or Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST).
Encouraged for entry-level technicians, the CRCST requires putting in 400 hours of hands-on experience and passing an exam. Often pursued for career advancement, the CBSPD can be earned in a number of different ways — for instance, by putting in about six months of work as a technician, by completing a sterile processing technician program, by working in a related field for 12 months (including sterile processing service or sales).
Skills Needed to Become a Sterile Processing Technician
To pass the certification exams, technicians will need to demonstrate skills in core competencies like sterilization techniques and the best way to disassemble, reassemble, and store certain medical equipment. In addition, programs may also emphasize skills with quality assurance, disease control, infection prevention, microbiology, and other health-centered topics.
Desired Qualities and Traits of an SPD Tech
On top of skills and knowledge inherent to the job, technicians should also be highly organized, and have the ability to work diligently and patiently. They must have tremendous attention to detail to ensure that procedures are not only carried out perfectly, but also spot and report any issues or problems at their earliest stage. Technicians should also be diligent in the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and cautious in the handling of delicate items or unsafe materials.
What Opportunities for Professional Development Do SPD Techs Have?
Professional development is built into the SPD tech career, with both certifications requiring renewal — every year for the CRCST; every five years for the CBSPD. These certifications require earning continuing education units (CEU), or, in the case of the CBSPD, actual work experience.
And they also provide built-in educational pathways for gaining that education, including online training courses, webinars, and many others — all of which contribute to skill development and the chance for techs to constantly advance their qualifications.
Can SPD Techs Transition into Other Areas of Healthcare?
For those who seek to transition into other healthcare careers, the training, skills, and even the CEU credits gained as an SPD tech will not only improve their chances of landing those jobs, but could also boost their pay by bringing a richer clinical background to their employers.
For instance, SPD techs can readily transition into other technician jobs, like surgical techs and medical laboratory techs. They may also be well positioned to work as allied healthcare professionals or specialized nurses. Additional education is required for all of these positions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is sterile processing a stressful job?
Like any important job, sterile processing can sometimes be stressful. However, it’s also considered to be less stressful than many other clinical jobs, while offering a more fixed and reliable schedule.
Is a sterile processing technician the same as a surgical tech?
No. A sterile processing technician cleans, sterilizes and packages used medical equipment, while a surgical tech assists clinical teams in carrying out surgical procedures.
What comes after being a sterile processing technician?
While many people are content to work as a sterile processing technician for their entire career, some others may transition to other roles in the healthcare industry, such as surgical technicians, medical laboratory technicians, or surgical aides.
How hard is it to pass the sterile processing exam?
Neither of the two major sterile processing exams — the Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) or the SPD Technician Certification Exam (CSPDT) — areis considered to be overly difficult, although both self-study and some on-the-job experience are helpful.
Can you self-study for sterile processing?
Yes, there are a number of ways to self-study for sterile processing, including a variety of online options and even online programs, such as the CEU credits available at Censis.com. Aspiring SPD techs may want to make sure that any online program they choose can also help arrange hands-on work experience.
Additional Resources
- Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA): https://myhspa.org/
- The Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD): https://www.cbspd.net/
- CDC Sterilization Practices: https://www.cdc.gov/infection-control/hcp/disinfection-sterilization/sterilizing-practices.html
- BMJ Quality & Safety: ‘Work systems analysis of sterile processing: assembly’: https://qualitysafety.bmj.com/content/30/4/271
- Improving the Quality of Surgical Trays by Stephen M. Kovach: https://www.hmark.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/ImprovingtheQualityofSurgicalTrays.pdf
