Harper College will be closed on Wednesday, February 12 in observance of Lincoln's Day.
Prepare for immediate entry into a healthcare career as a Sterile Processing Technician with this 11-credit-hour certificate program, which will teach you the techniques, procedures and safety precautions of decontamination and sterilization of medical and surgical equipment/instruments as well as the distribution of supplies and equipment. After graduating from this program, you’ll be ready to begin a career in hospitals and surgery centers.
Training consists of a mixture of lectures, on-site student laboratories and a clinical internship at a local health care facility. Other focus areas of study include ethical and legal responsibilities, safe practices and effective communication skills.
This 11 credit-hour curriculum prepares the student for a career as a Sterile Processing Technician.
Sterile processing technicians work in the sterile processing area of a hospital, outpatient surgical center or outpatient clinic. The sterile processing area is responsible for the decontamination and sterilization of medical and surgical equipment/instruments as well as the distribution of supplies and equipment. Sterile processing technicians are integral partners of the healthcare team. They are trained in the cleaning, processing, packaging, distributing, storing of goods, instruments, surgical trays and medical equipment. Responsibilities also include inventory control.
This certificate program is designed to be completed in one and a half semesters with each required course taught in an eight-week format. The program provides the student with the fundamentals of sterile processing, supplies, services, and distribution of hospital instruments, supplies, and equipment. Students will engage in didactic instruction and the clinical practice of aseptic techniques, patient care concepts, and theories and practices of sterile processing departments. Students who successfully complete the program will be eligible to sit for the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution Certification Examination (CBSPD) or the International Association of Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) Provisional Examination.
Because of the nature of the clinical experiences, individualized instruction, and specialized technology/equipment, this program assesses a higher tuition rate for courses with the SUR prefix. Students pay 1.5 the regular rate of tuition.
| Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| HSC 112 | Medical Terminology | 2 |
Description: Emphasizes the origin and the basic structure of medical words, including prefixes, suffixes, word roots, combining forms and plurals. Offers pronunciation, spelling, and definition of medical terms based on the body systems approach. Emphasis on rendering a professional vocabulary required for work in the health care field. Lecture Hours: 1 Lab Hours: 2 Contact Hours: 3 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| SUR 108 | Core Concepts in Sterile Processing and Distribution | 4 |
Description: This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the fundamental concepts and practices in sterile processing and distribution within healthcare facilities. Students will explore critical topics such as infection control, sterilization methods, decontamination processes, surgical instrumentation, equipment maintenance, and supply chain management. Emphasis is placed on industry standards, regulatory compliance, and best practices to ensure the safe and effective handling of medical equipment. Develops the foundational skills and knowledge required to excel in sterile processing and distribution roles. Aids students in preparation for industry certification, job search and post-graduate employment. Corequisite: SUR 109 Lecture Hours: 4 Lab Hours: 0 Contact Hours: 4 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| SUR 109 | Core Concepts/Sterile Processing/Distribution Lab | 2 |
Description: Provides supervised lab training applying the primary responsibilities of a sterile processing technician. With an emphasis on surgical instrumentation identification, preparation, distribution and storage, surgical and hospital supplies and equipment; quality assurance; and inventory management. Teaches students how to minimize contagions and maintain healthy hospitals, while enforcing decontamination standards in a variety of clinical settings. Corequisite: SUR 108 Lecture Hours: 0 Lab Hours: 4 Contact Hours: 4 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| SUR 113 | Clinical Application for Sterile Processing | 3 |
Description: Applies the primary responsibilities of a sterile processing technician with supervised training in a clinical setting. Emphasizing preparation, distribution and storage of instruments, supplies and equipment; quality assurance; and inventory management. Students minimize contagions and maintain healthy hospitals, while enforcing decontamination standards in a variety of clinical settings. Prerequisite: SUR 108 and SUR 109 with grades of C or better OR SUR 110, SUR 111, and SUR 114 with grades of C or better. Lecture Hours: 0 Lab Hours: 9 Contact Hours: 9 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| Total Hours | 11 | |
| Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Elective for Surgical Technology students who seek dual certification in both Surgical Technology and Sterile Processing | ||
| SUR 114 | Surgical Tech Pathway to Sterile Processing Certificate | 2 |
Description: This course bridges the curriculum between the Surgical Technology and Sterile Processing and Distribution programs. It provides Surgical Technology students with the knowledge and skills necessary to complete the Sterile Processing Certificate Program. Students will explore advanced sterile processing techniques and workflow integration within healthcare settings. Through hands-on practice and theoretical instruction, students will learn to manage sterile processing responsibilities, align with industry standards, and support patient safety across surgical and central sterile environments. Develops the foundational skills and knowledge required to excel in sterile processing and distribution roles. Aids students in preparation for industry certification, job search and post-graduate employment. Successful completion prepares students for clinical rotation, professional certification and equips them to excel in sterile processing roles. Prerequisite: SUR 110 and SUR 111 with a C or better. Lecture Hours: 2 Lab Hours: 0 Contact Hours: 2 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
The goal of the Harper College Sterile Processing program is to prepare competent entry-level sterile processing technicians, employing trained faculty, and state-of-the-art classrooms, equipment, and learning laboratories. Sterile Processing students will achieve program expectations through educational activities in the cognitive, psycho motor and affective learning domains. The Sterile Processing program at Harper College will produce individuals who meet the needs of employers, while ensuring safety of the public through competent practice. Upon program completion, students will assume employment as skilled and conscientious health professionals providing quality patient care in conjunction with other members of the health care team.
All health requirements will be upload to the complio website: harpercollegecompliance.com
For more information about this program, contact Admission Outreach at 847.925.6700, or submit a request information form.