The Sterile Processing Program is an 18 credit certificate offered in two formats:
- as a U.S. Department of Labor registered apprenticeship program in partnership with Centura Health Systems and
- as a traditional program.
In the apprenticeship model, students are chosen and hired by Centura. They work full time in the Sterile Processing Department at a Centura facility while attending class on Sundays. The apprenticeship program is completed in 20 weeks. For more information about the Apprenticeship model, join the Healthcare Apprenticeship information session.
The traditional program is a 2 semester program where students in the first semester take classes at a Centura facility one day per week and online. In the second semester, the traditional program completes 400 hours of internship a Sterile Processing Department and takes an online test prep course
The two cohort start dates per year are in January and August for both programs. Both programs prepare the student to sit for the CRCST exam.
See Program Overview
Sterile Processing Program Requirements:
- Must be at least 18 years of age
- Must pass background check and drug screen with FRCC ($63 cost)
- Must have BLS for providers CPR Certification
- Must show proof of the following immunizations- prior to registration. Please attend an info session to learn how to submit your immunization documentation
- Varicella (Chicken Pox) x 2
- MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) x 2
- Hepatitis B (3 series vaccination; first two have to be completed and the third has to be scheduled by time the program begins)
- Tetanus (Tdap; Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis; must be repeated if current one is older than 10 years)
- Two step Negative TB Test Results done in last year or Blood test - QuantiFERON Gold
- Seasonal Flu Shot (Influenza; done between October 1 and March 31)
- COVID-19 vaccine series
Students must meet current FRCC COVID-19 vaccination and testing requirements to participate in the program and/or in certain class activities. This may include providing documentation of COVID-19 vaccination or negative COVID-19 PCR test results.