Sterile Processing Technician


Course number : SUR501    ID : 765    Section Number : X01

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Verify your state licensure requirements in the Licensure Disclosure Licensure Disclosures | Greenville Technical College.

The sterile processing program is a 154 contact hour course completed over 14 weeks.

The sterile processing (SP) professionals are vital in maintaining the cleanliness, functionality, and inventory of health care instrumentation and equipment, including sterilizing instrumentation and equipment through a series of critical steps. When you complete this course, you will have a strong understanding of microbiology and infection control, the principles and practices of sterile processing and decontamination procedures.
Every surgical procedure relies on the attention to detail of the technicians in the Sterile Processing Department.

Purpose of Course:
The course will train students to prepare instruments/packages for reprocessing, decontamination, disinfection, sterilization, and distribution. This course will also prepare the student to take the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (CRCST) exam.

Essential Job Functions:
*Decontaminates and sterilizes instruments

*Assembles wraps and sterilizes individual instruments

*Demonstrates knowledge of the steam, ETO, and gas sterilizers

*Performs and monitors chemical and biological testing

*Orders, restocks, labels, and maintains inventory

Physical Requirements:
ACTIVITY:
Lift and Carry up to 25 lbs.
Push and Pull up to 50lbs
Sitting 5%
Walking 20%
Standing 75%
Some stoop, kneel, crawl, climb, balance
Manual Dexterity
Shift Work
ON call
Maneuver weight of patient
Hear alarms
Reach above shoulders
Repetitive arm/hand movement
Finger Dexterity
Color Vision - Acuity Far and Near and Depth perception

Hazard Potential:
Use of Latex
Exposure to toxic chemicals
Exposure to dust/fumes/electrical shock/electromagnetic energy/gaseous substances
Exposure to high-pitched Nosie

Career Pathways: CRCST (Certified Registered Central Service Technician), Surgical Technician, Team Leader, Supervisor, High Level Disinfection

Lecture and Lab:
There will be costs associated with preparing the student for clinical externship placement.

The student must have completed before enrollment and submitted to the program manager:
Comprehensive background check and drug screen through the company, Premier BioTech                              
2 STEP 2 placements and 2 readings PPD or the QuantiFERON Blood Test
Verification of two MMR and Varicella vaccinations or positive titers
TDaP within 10 years
Hepatitis B positive titer or verification of three series of vaccination, or a declination waiver signed

Completion of Pre-Clinical Learning Hub modules is required for the field trip and the clinical externship.
Classroom, skills lab, online exams, research: 92 hours
Clinical hours: 62 hours
Total Number of Hours: 154

The theory portion will be delivered as a hybrid class including online, virtual, and "in-person lab" on designated Tuesday and Thursday evenings at the Barton Campus, Greenville, SC. Weekly testing will be offered online using Respondus. The student must have computer access that includes audio and webcam.
Clinical Externship 60 will be offered in two consecutive week blocks of time.
Clinical Dates are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.  The window of time to complete the 60 hours of the externship is two weeks. Students are encouraged to sit for the HSPA exam upon completion of this course. The exam is scheduled through the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association for $ 150.00
https://myhspa.org/certification/certification-overview/

Required Courses or Prerequisites:

1. Students must have a High School Diploma or GED.

2. Must be at least 18 years of age.

3. Hold a valid state driver's license.

a. A valid state ID will be accepted, however due to the nature of this program and the necessity for transportation to and from clinical externships, students that cannot maintain reasonable transportation to their clinical externship site will be subject to dismissal based on the attendance policy set forth.

4. Students must have a valid email address and Internet access.

5. College-level Math and English, a 100-level course completion, within the last 5 years, or a college entrance test                                              ALTERNATIVELY,
ACT WorkKeys Career Readiness Assessment. Must achieve level 3 in applied math, level 4 in graphic literacy, and Workplace Documents.
https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/workkeys-for-employers/assessments.html
 
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Class Details

46 Session(s)
Days of the Week :Multiple Days of the Week :
  Weekly - Tue, Thu.  
  Weekly - Mon.  
  Weekly - Wed.  
  Weekly - Sat.  
  Weekly - Mon.  
  Weekly - Thu, Fri, Mon, Tue, Wed.  
  Weekly - Thu, Fri.  

Location : Multiple Location : 
  Barton Campus, Student Success Center, Bldg 102. 
  Barton Campus, Nursing, Bldg 117. 
  Off Campus.

Instructor : Multiple

CEUs : 15.4

 

Notice

Please read:  See Notes for Pre-Requisites Background check and Immunization History required

Registration:  $2,503.75

Registration Closes On
Thursday, August 27, 2026 @ 5:00 PM

Schedule Information

Skip dates: (No class on 11/26/2026)

Date(s) Class Days Times Location Instructor(s) Instructional Method
9/1/2026 - 11/17/2026 Weekly - Tue, Thu 06:00 PM - 09:00 PM Greenville, Barton Campus, Nursing, Bldg 117  Map Sherry Wandtke  Face-to-Face
9/14/2026 - 11/2/2026 Weekly - Mon 06:00 PM - 07:00 PM N/A - Online Sherry Wandtke  ; Cynthia Barksdale  ; Moneta Thompson  Online
10/7/2026 - 10/7/2026 Weekly - Wed 09:00 AM - 02:00 PM x, Off Campus  Map Sherry Wandtke  Face-to-Face
11/7/2026 - 11/7/2026 Weekly - Sat 04:00 PM - 09:00 PM N/A - Online Sherry Wandtke  Online
11/16/2026 - 11/16/2026 Weekly - Mon 08:00 AM - 06:00 PM Greenville, Barton Campus, Student Success Center, Bldg 102  Map Sherry Wandtke  Face-to-Face
12/3/2026 - 12/16/2026 Weekly - Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri 08:00 AM - 02:30 PM x, Off Campus  Map Sherry Wandtke  Clinical
12/17/2026 - 12/18/2026 Weekly - Thu, Fri 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM x, Off Campus  Map Sherry Wandtke  Face-to-Face