How to Become a Sterile Processing Technician in Colorado

Colorado’s healthcare facilities need to be clean and have sterile tools and equipment at all times, just like anywhere else in the country or the world.

General cleaning is not really the job of a medical professional, however ensuring the tools used on patients are sterile is an actual position in the institution.

Those who do this job are called “sterile processing technicians.”

Let’s see what this occupation is all about!

Sterile Processing Technician Job Duties and Skills in Colorado

Getting hired for a position for which you have little to no skills is nearly impossible.

Here’s a list of the most common skills for a future sterile processing tech:

• Strong organizational skills
• Good conversation skills
• Critical thinking
• Being respectful
• Able to stand for a longer time than others
• Identifying and troubleshooting common sterilization and storage problems
• A good understanding of medical terminology and aseptic techniques
• Accountability and personal responsibility

Many of these abilities are good for a wide variety of jobs not just this one.

Most of the needed skills are usually learned in a training program or through an apprenticeship, and I’ll talk about these later on.

What sterile processing techs in Colorado are supposed to do, is listed below:

• Clean, sterilize, decontaminate, package, and store medical equipment
• Maintain and repair medical tools and equipment
• Control and monitor the spread of disease and infection
• Follow protocol and techniques for proper disinfection and sterilization of equipment
• Perform inventory checks
• Work in a fast-paced environment

There are instances where these techs might have additional tasks given to them or cases where other types of medical personnel will perform these duties on top of their regular ones.

Employing sterile processing technicians is more important in large medical facilities such as hospitals or specific clinics.

By doing this, the staff won’t be overworked and certain tasks will be taken care of to the highest of standards.

How to Become a Sterile Processing Technician in Colorado

Many professions require workers to become certified before getting employed, but this is not the case for sterile processing technicians in Colorado.

The Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) is the body overseeing these professionals in Colorado through its chapter in this state.

While having a high school or GED is technically enough to be accepted for this position, the majority of employers will seek candidates who completed their training and got certified.

If you decide to earn the correct certificate for this job, you’ll need to meet these requirements:

• Finish high school or get a GED
• Pass a background check
• Pass a drug test
• Apply for the certification exam
• Pay the required fees
• Register with the testing center
• Obtain a passing score on the certification exam

You might say that you can’t pass a test without studying first, and you’re right.

Many of those who want to become certified choose to attend a training program at one of the schools that have such classes.

If you become certified, you’ll have to renew your credentials by paying a renewal fee.

Learn more about these schools and programs in the next part of this presentation!

Sterile Processing Technician Schools in Colorado

There are currently 3 educational institutions offering training programs for future sterile processing techs in Colorado.

Like most other courses for this occupation, in either school, the students will be taught:

• Sterilization
• Infection control
• Decontamination
• Surgical instrumentation processing
• Storage and inventory management
• Documentation and record maintenance

It is mandatory to complete an apprenticeship as well.

The schools usually facilitate the process of finding an appropriate place for the apprenticeship.

Those who are lucky enough to get hired for this position will receive the mandatory training on the job.

Aims Community College

This college offers both an Associate’s Degree and a certificate for those who want to work as sterile processing technicians.

Through this program, you’ll also learn:

• Medical terminology
• Anatomy and physiology
• Microbiology
• Preparing a surgical suite and equipment
• Dressing wounds
• Gowning and gloving yourself and others

Another program available at this community college has a duration of 5 months though it offers the most important subjects other students learn in 2 years.

Community College of Denver

This college helps its students earn the sterile processing technician diploma by offering the possibility of attending at least a part or all of the classes online.

You might choose this course knowing that you could attend it for free if you won the Care Forward Colorado grant.

The apprenticeship lasts for 10 weeks and you’ll receive help from the school in finding one.

Front Range Community College

One of the reasons you might be interested in the course offered by this school is the Care Forward Colorado grant program through which you can have the tuition fully covered.

Other benefits include:

• Transportation scholarships
• Childcare reimbursement
• Supplies needed for on-the-job learning

This college also helps students with completing their apprenticeships through partnerships with Centura Health and UCHealth.

This class offers a certificate upon completing it.

Sterile Processing Technician Salaries in Colorado

One of the first things people want to know about the job they’ll have is how much they’ll earn.

In Colorado, salaries may not be as high as in other states, however, this is the medical field we’re talking about.

Those working in this industry earn a bit better than in other industries.

As such, the lowest median salary for this occupation is around $36,587 per year, while the highest average annual income in this state is about $60,590.

However, the majority of sterile processing techs receive on average $46,364 annually.

Annual Salary Range:

Regional Salary in Colorado

Sterile Processing Technician by State