How to Become a Sterile Processing Technician in Maryland

The medical industry is going strong and provides job stability.

One of the lesser-known jobs you can take is that of a sterile processing assistant.

If you never heard of this job, you should first learn more about it.

You will have to sterilize, decontaminate and store medical equipment, among other tasks.

This provides a lot of help to medical staff and keeps the patients of the facility safe.

Take a look at the requirements if you plan to become a sterile processing assistant in Maryland.

Sterile Processing Technician Job Duties and Skills in Maryland

There are some rules and regulations in the state of Maryland, however nothing too complicated.

You do not need to get a certification, which is a plus.

But, you may not be able to get a job as fast if you don’t have one.

Employers are mostly looking for certified sterile processing techs with experience on the job.

The daily job duties of a sterile processing technician are:

• Performing inventory checks
• Managing and keeping track of the spread of illness and infection
• Cleaning, sterilizing, packaging, and storing medical tools
• Maintaining and fixing medical equipment
• Following protocol and specific methods for suitable disinfection and sterilization of medical tools and equipment

You might want to develop other additional skills, like:

• Good organizational skills
• An ability to find and solve common problems related to the position
• Knowledge of the medical terminology
• A good understanding of aseptic techniques

The job duties and needed skills can be a bit different based on the employer.

How to Become a Sterile Processing Technician in Maryland

So, you may be wondering how you can get a certification.

The easiest method of achieving this is by taking and passing a 3-hour certification exam.

There are different ways you can become a sterile processing technician in Maryland.

For instance, The International Association of Healthcare Central Service Management (IAHCSMM) provides no less than 5 licensing levels.

Another method is getting licensed through the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD).

To get certified, you need to pass not only the exam but also a year of experience or around 400 hours.

You also need to:

• Submit a fee
• Obtain a high school diploma or a GED
• Pass a background check
• Pass some drug tests
• Pass the licensing exam

Remember that your certification has to be renewed annually once you become certified.

You might have to take some extra classes and workshops in the meanwhile.

These will keep you up to date with any changes and prepare you to renew your certification.

Training Programs for Sterile Processing Technicians in Maryland

You will get the best results if you first enroll in a school that offers a sterile processing technician program.

Such a program will give you the knowledge and experience needed to get certified.

In Maryland, there are a few schools providing sterile processing technician programs.

You can learn more about them below:

Carroll Community College

The school offers a 96-hour program that you can finish in about 3 or 4 months.

It is also flexible and allows you to work in the meanwhile.

You will get to attend theory classes, but also interactive lab hours.

The college is located in Westminster.

Some of the topics you will learn in class are:

• Medical terminology
• Sterilization processes
• Packaging and storing of sterile medical tools
• Disinfection
• Surgical instrumentation
• Patient care equipment management

Anne Arundel Community College

Located in Arnold, this college offers lectures and externships.

Furthermore, you can choose between 2 programs.

These are the Central Sterile Processing Technician course and the Workforce Success Skills course.

No matter which one you choose, you will still be ready to pass the IAHCSMM test.

Frederick Community College

This school provides a Sterile Processing Technician Workforce Training Certificate.

For that, you have to take 2 courses.

These courses are Sterile Processing Technician Training and Foundation for Healthcare or ADE632 Bridge to Careers: Healthcare.

Community College of Baltimore County

If you decide to enroll in this school, you can attend the Central Service Technician program offered through the Job Opportunities Task Force in Baltimore.

The good thing about this program is that it is free if you qualify.

The average time for completing it is 6 to 8 months.

Sterile Processing Technician Salaries in Maryland

The first thing to do after getting your certification is to start looking for a job.

There are many medical facilities that hire sterile processing assistants.

Some of these are:

• Hospitals
• Laboratories
• Doctors’ offices
• Clinics
• Dentist practices

Because you need to make a living, you should also know what salary to expect.

Wages for sterile processing technicians in Maryland are about $47,000 a year and $23 an hour, on average.

This also depends on your work experience, so you can actually earn more.

Furthermore, it will be easy to advance in your career in the medical field.

Regional Salary in Maryland

Sterile Processing Technician by State