Sterile Processing Technology, C.C.C.

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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 Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA). 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.

Requirements for Admission

The following requirements must be completed in order to apply to the Sterile Processing Technician program:

Achieve college-ready 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.
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.

See Application Dates and Deadlines and closely review other requirements Before You Apply.

Program Cost, Scholarships and Aid

All tuition and fees are estimated costs and subject to change without notice.

Program Costs Breakdown

Tuition for 30 Credit Hours

$3,203.10 Florida Residents
$11,487.00 Non-Florida Residents

Lab Fees: $158.28

Additional Expenses

$200.00 Uniforms
$720.39 Books
$880.00 Health Physical and Immunizations up to
$25.00 Flu Vaccination
$55.00 American Heart Association Basic Life Support/CPR
$216.50 Level 2 and Expanded National Background Screening; drug test
$300.00 Miscellaneous Clinical Expenses: Tracking Software, Database, Parking
$550.00 Laptop Computer w/Webcam

Program Cost Totals

$6,308.27 Florida Residents
$14,592.17 Non-Florida Residents

Scholarships

There are many scholarships available for Santa Fe College 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 page for more information and how to apply.

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, online and virtually. In addition, students will conduct clinical internships at local hospitals.

The program requires students be available between 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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 (16.0 credit hours)

STS1302 Intro to Perioperative Services (3.0 credit hours)
HSC1434L Central Processing Technology Lab (3.0 credit hours)
HSC1434 Central Processing Technology (4.0 credit hours)
STS1301 Microbiology and Infection Control (3.0 credit hours)
STS1000 Health Care Topics (3.0 credit hours)

Term 2 (14.0 credit hours)

STS1300 Surgical Anatomy and Physiology (3.0 credit hours)
STS1925C Endoscopy Basics (2.0 credit hours)
STS2365 Professional Skills for the OR Team (3.0 credit hours)
STS2947 Internship (6.0 credit hours)

Performance Standards

The Sterile Processing Technology (SPT) program 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 Disabilities Resource Center. Determination of reasonable and appropriate accommodation will be made on an individual basis in consultation with the Disabilities 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.

Critical Thinking

Standard: Critical thinking sufficient for clinical judgment.
Example: Handle multiple priorities in stressful situations. Exercise independent judgment. Concentrate for prolonged periods of time.

Interpersonal

Standard: Interpersonal abilities sufficient to interact with individuals from a variety of social, emotional, cultural and intellectual backgrounds.
Example: Display patience, empathy and concern for others. Deal with fear, anger and hostility in a calm manner. Work with others in stressful situations.

Communication

Standard: Communication abilities sufficient for interaction with others in verbal and written form.
Example: 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

Standard: Physical abilities sufficient to safely and effectively perform skills required of a CSPT Technologist.
Example: 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

Standard: 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.
Example: 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

Standard: Auditory ability sufficient to assess equipment and interact with medical personnel and public.
Example: 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

Standard: Visual ability sufficient to inspect fine details of equipment.
Example: 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 SF College and the Sterile Supply Program, students must abide by specific professional appearance guidelines required by our clinical affiliates. Hair must be maintained within the range of natural color and must be conservative in length and style. Clothing and footwear must comply with standards prescribed by the program. Facial hair should be kept neat and trimmed short.

Program Effectiveness

Program Effectiveness captures the quality of a program using qualitative data such as program completion, national exam pass rates and job placement.

Class of 2022
No graduating class for 2022.

Class of 2021

8 Students admitted
4 Students graduated; 50% completion rate
4 Graduates took credentialing exam; 100% participation rate
4 Graduates passed credentialing exam; 100% pass rate

Class of 2020
No graduating class for 2020.

Class of 2019

7 Students admitted
7 Students graduated; 100% completion rate

Class of 2018

8 Students admitted
8 Students graduated; 100% completion rate

Cost of Attendance

Disclosure

The Cost of Attendance (COA) is not the bill that you will receive from Santa Fe College. It is an estimate of what it costs the typical student to attend Santa Fe College for one academic year including tuition, books, course materials, living expenses, transportation, and miscellaneous personal expenses. Tuition and fees in the cost of attendance are calculated for credit hour programs, assuming enrollment in 12 credit hours in the Fall and Spring semesters. Actual tuition and fees may vary by program.

Undergraduate Lower Division Courses (A.A./A.S. Degree Courses)

	Off-Campus*	Off-Campus with Parent**
Tuition and Fees In-State: $106.77 per credit Out-Of-State: $382.90 per credit	In-State: $2,563 Out-Of-State: $9,190	In-State: $2,563 Out-Of-State: $9,190
Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment	$783	$783
Living Expenses (Food & Housing)	$9,679	$2,619
Miscellaneous Personal Expenses	$4,228	$4,228
Transportation	$1,976	$3,062
Total	In-State: $19,229 Out-Of-State: $25,856	In-State: $13,255 Out-Of-State: $19,882

Undergraduate Upper Division Courses (Bachelor Degree Courses)

	Off-Campus*	Off-Campus with Parent**
Tuition and Fees In-State: $126.33 per credit Out-Of-State: $428.83 per credit	In-State: $3,032 Out-Of-State: $10,292	In-State: $3,032 Out-Of-State: $10,292
Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment	$783	$783
Living Expenses (Food & Housing)	$9,679	$2,619
Miscellaneous Personal Expenses	$4,228	$4,228
Transportation	$1,976	$3,062
Total	In-State: $19,698 Out-Of-State: $26,958	In-State: $13,724 Out-Of-State: $20,984

*Off-Campus: you intend to live off campus, but not with your parent(s).

**Off-Campus with Parent: you intend to live with your parent(s).

Note: All costs and rates are subject to change for the upcoming year.

For more detailed information visit SF's Cost of Attendance page.

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Sterile Processing Technology, C.C.C.

Program Overview