Sterile Processing Technician: Academic overview
Learning outcomes
The Sterile Processing Technician program is a 3-month non-credit certificate program offered twice a year in fall and spring. Upon successful completion, students are equipped with essential information, techniques, and procedures for roles in busy central sterile/sterile processing departments. Graduates are qualified to work in most Portland metropolitan area hospitals. After gaining employment and accumulating on-the-job hours, students are eligible to sit for the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) certification exams, which can elevate their position and earning potential within hospitals. Hands-on training at local hospitals during the training allows students to demonstrate professionalism and skills to potential employers.
Curriculum
PCC’s Sterile Processing Technician program lasts?one term?and includes 42 hours of self-directed study and hands-on training in a hospital setting. In the program, students will learn the basics of sterile processing, including:
- Roles and responsibilities of a sterile processing technician
- Human anatomy and physiology
- Microbiology
- Infection control
- Decontamination
- Disinfection processes
- Processing patient care equipment
- Preparation and packaging of instruments and special specialty devices
- Types of surgical instruments and specialty devices
- Sterilization
- Inventory control, storage, and distribution
- Sterile storage
Grading
The Sterile Processing Technician program is a non-credit CEU course graded on a pass/no-pass basis. Students must achieve at least 70% of total possible points to be considered fully successful and receive a “pass” grade. Students who do not achieve at least 70% of total possible points will be considered not fully successful and receive a “no pass” grade. The points breakdown is estimated as follows, and will change as term progresses and /or assignment updates occur:
- Attendance: 100
- Quizzes (50 points each approx.) 3 total: 150
- Standard operating procedures (5 total assignments @ 50 points each): 250
- Mid-term exam: 200
- Final exam: 300
- Total possible points: 1,000
Exams
For information about applying for and preparing work towards obtaining provisional certification see the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) webpage.
Advising and counseling
The Sterile Processing Technician program does not require students to meet with a faculty advisor. However, students seeking guidance can contact the program coordinator and lead faculty member for support.
Learning support
Students seeking learning support can contact the program coordinator and lead faculty member.
Withdrawal and re-entry
Once students agree and sign the enrollment agreement, tuition becomes non-refundable due to limitations in class size and instructor-student ratio. However, under special circumstances such as health issues or situations beyond their control, students needing to withdraw from the program should contact the program coordinator. Requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Re-entry and readmission procedures
Since the Sterile Processing Technician program is term-based, students who have withdrawn or failed must re-apply. Readmission is assessed on a case-by-case basis and depends on factors including program capacity and student admission criteria.
Academic resources
The following are commonly used links that are helpful for the academic journey.
- Find these on the top bar of every college webpage:
- Academic Advising
- Bookstore
- Catalog
- Enrollment Services: Contact information to get help with registration.
- Register for classes: A guide on how to register.
- General Education/Discipline Studies
- Grading guidelines: Refer to this and the Catalog Grades and Transcripts guidelines. Note that in some programs, the grading standards are different from PCC’s guidelines. Certain programs must comply with standards set forth by national board exam and regional testing agencies.
- Student Records: Update your contact information, request transcripts, and get help with tasks such as:
- Advanced Placement
- Credit for prior learning
- Transfer credits to PCC: Students who are transferring coursework to Portland Community College must complete the following steps:
- Follow the instructions on the Transfer Credits to PCC page.
- Work with program admissions, program advisor, program director, or faculty department chair to submit requests for course substitutions as appropriate.
- University Transfer
- Transfer articulation agreements – check to see if there is an arrangement with your program of study and your transfer college.
- Steps to graduation: Includes information about accessing GRAD Plan.