Each day, U.S. medical facilities rely on correctly decontaminated surgical equipment and related supplies to provide treatment properly.
Multiple steps are required to ensure proper sterilization to confirm all items are ready for prearranged and emergency surgery.
The personnel who maintain this equipment are called sterile processing technicians.
While these professionals don’t directly deal with patients, they greatly assist with treatment and sometimes save lives.
If you want to become a sterile processing technician in Connecticut, keep reading to learn more about the steps, schooling, and salary involved!
Page Navigation
- Steps to Become a Sterile Processing Technician in Connecticut
- Sterile Processing Technician Schools in Connecticut
- Sterile Processing Technician Schools in Connecticut – Summary Table
- Salary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What types of facilities are sterile processing technicians employed in?
- What are the skills required to become a sterile processing technician?
- What other positions do sterile processing technicians advance to in Connecticut?
- Is school accreditation required to become a sterile processing technician in Connecticut?
Steps to Become a Sterile Processing Technician in Connecticut
Educational training is required to become a sterile processing engineer in Connecticut.
Therefore, the process surrounds completing a training program.
One: Complete High School
All sterile processing training programs in Connecticut require a high school degree.
If you know this is your career path early enough, take high school biology, chemistry, and medicine courses to get a foundation.
Also, experts recommend researching programs and discussing them with advisers in high school, so you can immediately start the training after graduation and enter the working world quickly.
Two: Research Programs and Talk to an Adviser
Trade schools and community colleges around Connecticut have sterile processing technician training programs.
Completing the curriculum ranges from a few months to up to two years, depending on the coursework.
To learn more about the program and the school, it’s important to discuss your goals with an adviser.
In addition, it’s best to create a list of questions about the curriculum to determine if this is the best school to meet your career needs.
Three: Enroll in a Program
Once you’ve decided on a school and program, enrolling is the next step.
At some schools, you must complete an entrance exam and provide references.
Once accepted, essential curriculum topics include cleaning and disinfecting, infection control, microbiology, inventory management and equipment storage, anatomy, and medical terminology.
Four: Complete an Internship
Many schools require an internship to give you real-world experience.
This is the difference between a longer program and a short training program.
Clinical internships are critical for students to apply the knowledge learned in the classroom.
Many interns are given permanent employment after graduation.
Five: Pass the Certification Exam
In Connecticut, sterile processing technicians are required to be certified in by:
- Earning a certification through the IAHCSMM (International Association of Healthcare Central Service Material Management) or
- Obtaining certification through the CBSPD (Central Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution.
Luckily, entry-level technicians can be certified after a period of time.
Instead, Connecticut law offers a two-year grace period to study and prepare for the examination.
Once the two-year period ends, technicians must provide proof of certification or stop working.
Sterile Processing Technician Schools in Connecticut
Asnuntuck Community College
Located in Enfield, Asnuntuck Community College offers a sterile processing technician program that covers on-the-job observation and training with current professionals and classroom lectures.
Career development training is a requirement as part of the curriculum, so graduates are well-prepared to sit for the CBSPD examination.
Middlesex Community College
Middlesex Community College meets the CBSPD examination requirements as well.
The program comprises 60 classroom and lab hours, and students must complete a 20-hour clinical internship with a local medical facility.
Naugatuck Valley Community College
Naugatuck Valley Community College’s sterile processing technician program alternates between Waterbury and Danbury semesters.
The program delivers 40 hours of classroom and firsthand training, preparing students for the CBSPD examination.
Sterile Processing Technician Schools in Connecticut – Summary Table
Top 3 Schools in Connecticut
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Asnuntuck Community College | 170 Elm St, Enfield, CT 06082, USA |
| Middlesex Community College | 100 Training Hill Rd, Middletown, CT 06457, USA |
| Naugatuck Valley Community College | 750 Chase Pkwy, Waterbury, CT 06708 |
Salary
A sterile processing technician’s median annual U.S. income is $46,000, with pay ranging from $36,200 to $60,000.
Connecticut-based sterile processing technicians make $49,700 annually, with pay ranging from 39,200 to $64,900.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Sterile Processing Technicians in Connecticut
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Bridgeport | $43,360 |
| New Haven | $41,360 |
| Hartford | $41,330 |
| Stamford | $43,920 |
| Waterbury | $41,140 |
| Norwalk | $43,920 |
| Danbury | $42,370 |
| New Britain | $41,220 |
| West Hartford | $41,330 |
| Greenwich | $43,920 |
Regional Salary in Connecticut
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Danbury, CT | 30 | $45,000 | $21.63 | $56,640 | $32,920 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 270 | $46,430 | $22.32 | $61,170 | $36,730 |
| Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI | 70 | $44,740 | $21.51 | $63,890 | $33,280 |
| Waterbury, CT | ** | $45,050 | $21.66 | $55,510 | $37,790 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of facilities are sterile processing technicians employed in?
Sterile processing technicians can be employed in any medical facility that performs invasive surgeries.
This includes cosmetic surgery facilities, hospital or non-emergency surgery areas, and dentist offices.
What are the skills required to become a sterile processing technician?
Sterile processing technicians require technical and soft skills since they manage specialized equipment while interacting with various medical personnel.
Therefore, the most important skills include the following:
- Attention to detail – possessing great attention to detail is one of the most critical skills a sterile processing technician can hold. The job requires adherence to strict sterilization processes and guidelines to ensure safe equipment for use. Additionally, preventative maintenance and equipment repair are needed, so knowing the fine details to ensure the is well-maintaining is necessary.
- Basic healthcare – employers commonly require sterile processing technicians to be CPR certified and be able to administer essential life support.
- Communication – like in any position that requires cross-functional engagement, having excellent communication skills leads to success. This means effectively and efficiently communicating equipment challenges, shortages, or time to completion ensures seamless surgeries.
- Problem-solving – sterile processing technicians must constantly allocate equipment for emergency surgeries over scheduled surgeries. Therefore, being decisive and solving problems quickly is a required skill. Also, since equipment degrades over time, it’s important to promptly repair problems so the equipment can be used.
- Team player – since sterile processing technicians work with numerous medical professionals, they must collaborate. These teams rely on technicians to ensure equipment is sterilized and readily available for emergency and scheduled surgeries.
What other positions do sterile processing technicians advance to in Connecticut?
Many sterile processing technicians use the training to enter the medical industry.
From here, they earn additional education to become one of the following:
- Licensed practical nurse
- Medical assistant
- Surgical technologist
- Sterile processing supervisor
- Registered nurse
- Sterile processing technologist
Is school accreditation required to become a sterile processing technician in Connecticut?
No, the state does not require a school to be accredited.
However, accreditation ensures the curriculum meets the highest educational standards and that students are well-prepared for the working world.
This doesn’t mean you can’t find a job when attending an unaccredited school, but employers prefer accreditation.
