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Program Details
Average starting salary is $37,440*
*Salary information provided by Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Academic Advisor
healthsciences.advising@sfcollege.edu
Program Overview
The Sterile Processing Technology (SPT) Program prepares students with experience, knowledge and skills necessary to earn a nationally recognized industry credential and become a vital part of the surgical team. A sterile processing technologist’s primary responsibility is to ensure that medical equipment and devices are sterilized, operational, and packaged for procedures. Their work ensures that patients avoid infections and that doctors, nurses and allied health professionals are able to access the instrumentation and equipment needed to conduct procedures.
The SPT Program is a 30 credit hour certificate program designed to prepare students for employment as central supply workers, ambulatory surgery processors, surgical instrument processors, gastrointestinal (GI) flexible endoscope reprocessors, case cart technicians, inventory technicians, processing technicians, and stock clerks.
Licensure and Certification:
Successful completion of all certificate requirements may provide you eligibility to take the Certified Registered Central Service Technician exam by the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management. You may also qualify to take the exam for Sterile Processing Technicians offered by the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution, Inc. (CBSPD). If you are a student who resides outside of Florida, Santa Fe College has not made a determination that its degree program or curriculum meets educational requirements for professional licensure in your state. Please locate and contact the Licensure Board in your state in order to determine whether this degree program will meet their licensure requirements.
If you have additional questions, please contact the Health Sciences Advising Office at 352-395-5650 or healthsciences.advising@sfcollege.edu.
Requirements for Admission
The following requirements must be completed in order to apply to the Sterile Processing Technician Program:
- Achieve college-level scores in reading, writing, and basic arithmetic at least one week before the application deadline. Requests for testing accommodations must be made in advance, prior to testing, with the Disabilities Resource Center.
- Have a minimum GPA of 2.0 or higher.
- Arrange for official transcripts from high school and each post-secondary institution attended to be sent to the Office of Records at least one month prior to the program application due date.
- Submit online application via your eSantaFe account by the posted application due date.
Program Cost, Scholarships and Aid
All tuition and fees are estimated costs and subject to change without notice.
| Program Costs: | |
| In-state tuition | $3,203.10 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $11,487.00 |
| Lab Fees | $158.28 |
| Uniforms | $200.00 |
| Books | $400.00 |
| Health Physical and Immunizations | up to $450.00 |
| Flu Vaccination | $20.00 |
| American Heart Association Basic Life Support/CPR | $55.00 |
| Level 2 and Expanded National Background Screening; drug test | $208.00 |
| Total In-state: | $4,694.38 |
| Total Out-of-state: | $12,978.28 |
| Scholarships |
| There are many scholarships available for Santa Fe students to apply to. Please visit the Scholarships webpage for more information and how to apply. |
| Financial Aid |
| There are many options to finance your education. You may be eligible for Federal Grants, Work Study, State Grants, Federal Loans, and Institutional Scholarships. Please visit the Financial Aid "Ways to Pay" webpage for more information and how to apply. |
Selection Criteria / Points System
Individuals meeting all application requirements will be selected to the Sterile Processing Technology (SPT) program on a first-come, first-served basis. The SPT program will admit up to 10 students per admission cycle. Individuals not selected to enter the program must reapply in order to be considered for the next admission cycle.
Program Goals and Outcomes
Goal 1: Students will be clinically competent
Student learning outcomes:
- Students will inspect instruments effectively.
- Students will demonstrate proper packaging of instrument trays.
Goal 2: Students will apply critical thinking skills.
Student learning outcomes:
- Students will prepare instruments for non-routine procedures.
Goal 3: Students will exhibit professionalism.
Student learning outcomes:
- Students will demonstrate appropriate oral communication skills.
Program Length, Format, and Curriculum
The Sterile Processing Technology program spans two semesters with courses meeting in a variety of formats to include: on-campus, on-line, and virtually. In addition, students will conduct clinical internships at local hospitals.
The program is a total of 30.0 credit hours.
The Technical courses must be taken as a cohort in the order indicated below.
| TERM 1 Fall (15 credit hours) | ||
| STS1000 | Health Care Topics | 3.0 |
| STS1300 | surgical Anatomy and Physiology | 4.0 |
| STS1301 | Microbiology and Infection Control | 3.0 |
| STS1302 | Intro to Perioperative Services | 3.0 |
| STS1302L | Intro to Perioperative Services Lab | 1.0 |
| STS2361 | Art of Teamwork in Surgery | 1.0 |
| TERM 2 Spring (15 credit hours) | ||
| HSC1434 | Central Processing Technology | 6.0 |
| HSC1434L | Central Processing Technology Lab and Internship | 5.0 |
| STS1925C | Endoscopy Basics | 2.0 |
| STS2365 | Professional Skills for the OR Team | 2.0 |
Performance Standards
The Sterile Processing Technology Program (SPT) is a practice discipline with cognitive, sensory, affective and psychomotor performance requirements. Based on these requirements, the following list of Program Performance Standards has been developed. Each standard has an example of activities which a student will be required to perform, with or without an accommodation, while enrolled in the SPT program. The Program Performance Standards should be used as a guide to assist applicants in determining whether or not accommodations or modifications are necessary in order to meet program participation requirements. Applicants who identify potential difficulties with meeting the Program Performance Standards should communicate their concerns to the Academic Chair for Allied Health Programs. If the concern is related to a documented disability, applicants are responsible for contacting the Disability Resource Center. Determination of reasonable and appropriate accommodation will be made on an individual basis in consultation with the Disability Resource Center. Additionally, applicants should assess their aptitude and ability to perform professional duties by reviewing the Program Performance Standards below and discussing them with their healthcare provider.
Issue | Standard | Examples |
Critical Thinking | Critical thinking sufficient for clinical judgment. | Handle multiple priorities in stressful situations. Exercise independent judgment. Concentrate for prolonged periods of time. |
Interpersonal | Interpersonal abilities sufficient to interact with individuals from a variety of social, emotional, cultural and intellectual backgrounds. | Display patience, empathy and concern for others. Deal with fear, anger and hostility in a calm manner. Work with others in stressful situations. |
Communication | Communication abilities sufficient for interaction with others in verbal and written form. | Communicate needs in a prompt, clear and concise manner. Able to communicate the identity of items such as supplies, tools, or equipment. Accurately record/document pertinent information. Interact with general public, supply and equipment representatives, patients and health care providers in a professional manner. |
Mobility | Physical abilities sufficient to safely and effectively perform skills required of a CSPT Technologist. | Walk to and from departments. Maneuver nimbly in small spaces. Manipulate equipment, lift a minimum of 30lbs, exert a sustained force of 20lbs, push/pull mobile equipment weighing up to 300lbs; stand for prolonged periods of time Walk an equivalent of 5 miles per day. Must be able to reach 18" above head. |
Tactile and Motor Skills | Gross and fine motor abilities sufficient to safely and effectively perform detail-oriented tasks. Must have good manual dexterity. Must possess tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment and handling of supplies and equipment. | Ability to grasp, hold, grip, seize, turn or otherwise work with hands. Perceive attributes of an object via touch. Must have good hand-eye-coordination. |
Hearing | Auditory ability sufficient to assess equipment and interact with medical personnel and public. | Detect and evaluate the sounds of advanced surgical equipment such as gas, video and cardiac monitors, power driven tools, fire alarms, etc. Able to follow verbal instructions. |
Visual | Visual ability sufficient to inspect fine details of equipment. | Observe and monitor supplies and equipment; work in full and dimmed light. Possess vision near acuity of 20 inches or less with clarity. Distinguish depth, color and spatial attributes of objects or images. |
Professional Appearance | As a representative of Santa Fe College and the SPT program, students must abide by specific professional appearance guidelines required by our clinical affiliates. Prospective students must be aware that these requirements have been agreed upon by Santa Fe College's SPT program and its clinical partners. Hair must be maintained within the range of natural color and must be conservative in length and style. Completely shaved or bald styles are acceptable; however, no partially shaved or one-sided haircuts are permitted. Visible tattoos must be covered by garments at all times. Visible body piercings are not allowed and earlobe gauges must be covered. Earrings are limited to one stud-style pair per ear. Clothing and footwear must comply with standards prescribed by the program. Facial hair should be kept neat and trimmed short. Artificial nails, nail polish, jewelry, watches and perfume are not permitted. | |
Program Effectiveness
To view the program's effectiveness data, please go to the Health Sciences Program Effectiveness page.
Contact the Health Sciences Counseling Office for more information regarding the qualifications necessary for obtaining a program-specific application.