How to Become a Sterile Processing Technician in Delaware

What is one of the things you kind of take for granted and don’t even think about when you think of any medical procedure in Delaware?

Was it the team performing the procedure or the tools and equipment used to be sterile?

If you thought of the latter one, then you’re on the right track for I was thinking of the same thing!

Through this article, you’ll learn more about the personnel making sure the tools and equipment for any intervention are not just clean, but sterile and their job title is “Sterile Processing Technician.”

Sterile Processing Technician Job Duties and Skills in Delaware

Sterile processing technicians have more job tasks to complete than you might imagine.

Here are the most important job duties of a sterile processing tech:

• Cleaning, sterilizing, decontaminating, packaging, and storing medical equipment
• Maintaining and repairing medical tools and equipment
• Controlling and monitoring the spread of disease and infection
• Following the protocol and techniques for proper disinfection and sterilization of equipment
• Performing inventory checks
• Working in a fast-paced environment

Being able to complete these duties requires a specific set of skills.

If you have the following abilities then you can consider this occupation as your next or first job:

• 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

One should remember that there are employers that ask for more from their employees, and as such additional job tasks might be assigned to the latter.

How to Become a Sterile Processing Technician in Delaware

Delaware doesn’t have any licensing requirements for future sterile processing techs.

This is good news for those who want a medical career right after high school.

While you can get hired with a high school diploma, a GED is also accepted.

Many employers will seek those who completed a training program and earned a certification.

Additional requirements are also to be expected, and they usually are:

• Pass a background check
• Pass a drug test
• Apply for the certification exam
• Pay the required fees
• Register with the testing center
• Passing the certification exam

The certification can be obtained either from the:

• Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD)
• International Association of Healthcare Central Service Management (IAHCSMM).

Sterile Processing Technician Schools in Delaware

While you may get hired directly with no certification, you may receive the proper training on the job.

If you choose to enroll in a class for sterile processing tech, there are just 2 of them offered in Delaware, but this is to be expected from a small state.

Some of the most important topics to learn in all programs are listed below:

• Medical terminology
• Sterile processing regulations
• Wrapping of uncontained items
• Infection control
• Medical equipment packaging
• The sterile processing cycle
• Implement infection control practices

A surgical technology program offers similar training and as such it’s an alternative option to consider.

Be Instrumental, LLC

The course offered here has a duration of about 17 weeks followed by 400 hours of clinical practice.

All the classes take place in the evening, from Monday through Thursday.

Those who want to enroll will have to pay $400 from the course fee in advance.

The course tuition will cover almost everything you need in order to attend classes and graduate.

Those accepted will attend both online and in-person classes.

Delaware Technical Community College

This college offers an Associate’s Degree in surgical technology and the program lasts for two years.

There will be additional subjects taught in this course, such as:

• Pharmacology
• Anatomy
• Microbiology
• Surgical technology

You’ll find this training program only at the Dover campus.

Clinical practice hours are also included in this program.

These hours are very important as you will get easier accustomed to the tasks you must perform as well as to the work environment.

To graduate, you’ll have to accumulate 71 credits.

These credits can be used by those who want to continue their studies for better job opportunities.

Below you can see how you can contact these schools.

Sterile Processing Technician Salaries in Delaware

After learning these many facts about the profession, you may want to learn how much a person can earn after getting hired.

For instance, you can earn more in cities than outside of cities.

The median salary for this occupation in Delaware is about $47,000 per year.

The lowest and highest salaries in this state gravitate around $37,000 and $61,000 a year, respectively.

Of course, your income will depend on how much experience you have, your credentials, and other aspects.

Another aspect that will influence your income is the size of the medical facility hiring you.

The urban areas with the highest median salary for sterile processing techs can be seen in the table below.

Annual Salary Range:

Sterile Processing Technician by State