How to Become a Sterile Processing Technician in North Carolina

Sterile processing technicians don’t work directly with patients and are more of a behind-the-scenes member of the medical team, but that doesn’t mean they don’t play an essential role in patient care – because they do.

It’s a career that comes with flexibility, stability, growth opportunities, and competitive pay, which is why so many people are interested in a career as a sterile processing technician today.

How to Become a Sterile Processing Technician – Step by Step

Are you considering a career as a sterile processing technician?

If so, I have good news, bad news, and encouraging news.

The good news is you won’t need to obtain a state-issued license to work as an SPT.

The bad news is you must complete 1-3 years of training and internships before getting a certification.

With that said, the encouraging news is that those 1-3 years will teach you everything you need to know to get hired as an SPT in North Carolina and succeed in an industry that’s always welcoming new talent.

Don’t worry; we’ll break down how to become an SPT in North Carolina – step by step!

Secondary Education

Before you can even begin to think about pursuing a career as a sterile processing technician, you must first earn a high school diploma or pass the GED exam.

This ensures all aspiring SPTs have the basic skills and knowledge needed to start learning the trade – though it won’t give you any technical skills.

If you don’t have a high school diploma, the GED exam can be taken online – so long as you’re at least 18 years old.

There are three GED prep centers in North Carolina – the Durham Technical Community College, Alamance Community College, and Central Carolina Community College (Lee County).

Postsecondary Training

Completing a postsecondary training program isn’t necessarily required to pursue a career as an SPT in North Carolina, but it gives you all the technical skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the industry.

By the time you start your internship, you’ll already have the experience and confidence of a veteran.

Here are the most prominent SPT training programs in North Carolina: 

• Wake Technical Community College
• Durham Technical Community College
• Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
• Piedmont Community College
• Coastal Carolina Community College

Most training programs take 1-2 years to complete and will either result in a Certificate of Completion or Associate’s degree.

As a sterile processing tech, you’ll undergo a combination of in-classroom learning and hands-on experience to simulate some of the challenges and obstacles you’ll face in the real world.

Clinical Internship

Clinical internships are usually included as part of your coursework, but they’re offered by just about every hospital, medical facility, research laboratory, and surgery center.

Most students are required to complete at least 400 hours (10 weeks) of an internship before being eligible to obtain a national certification.

While you’ll gain some hands-on experience in your postsecondary training, all those skills are tested in a clinical internship – it’s your first real taste of what working as a sterile processing technician is like.

This is also an invaluable opportunity to build professional relationships with like-minded people.

National Certification

There’s no statewide licensing program for sterile processing technicians in North Carolina. Still, most employers require SPTs to obtain a national certification – which means passing the national certification exam – from one of the two accrediting bodies in the United States today:

• Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA)
• Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD)

The HSPA offers two certifications.

A full CRCST certification requires at least 400 hours of hands-on experience over the past five years, while the provisional certification requires 400 hours of hands-on experience within six months of passing the exam.

The HSPA is the preferred option.

First Job

Obtaining your national certification is an exciting accomplishment that deserves a celebration, but that celebration can’t last too long because you’ve got work to do.

Now that you’re certified, you can start looking for work in the field and officially begin your career as a sterile processing technician.

The first place you should start looking for work is through your network of like-minded individuals – think back to your educators, teachers, and SPT professionals you’ve met on this journey so far.

If you’re still struggling to find the right opportunity, try an online job search engine or apply the old-fashioned way.

Sterile Processing Technician Schools in North Carolina

There’s no better way to learn the ins and outs of the trade than by enrolling in a postsecondary SPT program – offered by several colleges, universities, and other accredited organizations across North Carolina.

You’ll gain all the skills, knowledge, and experience necessary to succeed.

If you’ve recently graduated high school or passed your GED exam and want to get started in the SPT field, here are some of the schools and programs you should consider:

Wake Technical Community College

• Location: 9101 Fayetteville Rd, Raleigh, NC 27603
• Program: Central Sterile Processing Technician
• Course Length: 3 months or less (112 hours)
• Tuition Cost: n/a

Located just 10 miles south of Raleigh, NC, and 50 miles north of Fayetteville, NC, Wake Technical Community College offers a Central Sterile Processing Technician program that can be completed in less than three months.

Students must have a 90% attendance rate and at least an 80% average on all tests.

Durham Technical Community College

• Location: 1637 E Lawson St, Durham, NC 27703
• Program: Sterile Processing Technician
• Course Length: 170 contact hours
• Tuition Cost: $387.25 (non-credit) or $6,200 (AAS degree)

Located in the heart of Durham, NC – just 25 miles northwest of Raleigh, NC – Durham Technical Community College offers a Sterile Processing Technician program with two options.

Students can complete the non-credit class (which takes less than 12 months) or the AAS degree (1-2 years).

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College

• Location: 340 Victoria Rd, Asheville, NC 28801
• Program: Surgical Technology (AAS)
• Course Length: 2 years (68 credit hours)
• Tuition Cost: $1,216 (16+ credit hours) per Semester OR $76/credit hour (1-15 hours) per Semester

Located roughly two hours west of Charlotte, NC, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College offers a Surgical Technology program that rewards students with an Associate of Applied Science degree.

They also offer a shortened ‘Bridge’ degree for those who are already certified, but want the AAS degree.

Piedmont Community College

• Location: 1715 College Dr, Roxboro, NC 27573
• Program: Central Sterile Processing
• Course Length: 2 months
• Tuition Cost: $600

Located just 65 miles northeast of Greensboro, NC, and 35 miles north of Durham, NC, Piedmont Community College (Roxboro campus) offers a Central Sterile Processing program that takes two months to complete (100 online hours, 20 clinical hours).

Students must have a high school diploma or GED.

Coastal Carolina Community College

• Location: 444 Western Blvd, Jacksonville, NC 28546
• Program: Central Sterile Processing Technician
• Course Length: n/a
• Tuition Cost: n/a

Located just 20 miles from the Atlantic Ocean and 60 miles northeast of Wilmington, NC, Coastal Carolina Community College offers a Central Sterile Processing Technician program that helps prepare students to take the CSPDT national exam through the NCCA.

Students must have a high school diploma or GED.

Sterile Processing Technician Salary in North Carolina

The average salary for a sterile processing technician in the United States is $45,322 (between $39,982 and $50,521) – for North Carolina residents, that average salary dips to $43,509 (between $38,383 and $48,500).

Don’t worry; it’s still one of the most rewarding careers in the medical industry, and there are several factors that influence a sterile processing technician’s salary.

Annual Salary Range: Annual Salary by Location:

Location	Avg. Annual Salary
Charlotte	$44,274
Raleigh	$44,175
Greensboro	$43,314
Durham	$43,911
Winston-Salem	$43,464
Fayetteville	$41,587
Cary	$44,175
High Point	$43,572
Wilmington	$41,746
Asheville	$41,661

Regional Salary in North Carolina

* Salary information based on the May 2023 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Medical Equipment Preparers, OCC Code 31-9093, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do sterile processing technicians usually work in North Carolina?

Most sterile processing technicians will find work in hospitals, dental practices, medical facilities, research laboratories, and surgery centers.

How many hours of hands-on experience are required to become a certified SPT in North Carolina?

To obtain a certification through the HSPA, aspiring SPTs must complete 400 hours of hands-on experience (either in the past five years or within six months of passing the exam).

Do you need a state-issued license to become an SPT in North Carolina?

Sterile processing technicians don’t need to obtain a state-issued license in North Carolina, but they do need to get a national certification through the HSPA.

Sterile Processing Technician Info by State