Overview
Offered at the Piedmont Summerville.
| Entrance Dates: |
Fall and Spring |
| Length of Program: |
One Term |
| Credit Hours Required for Graduation: |
13 |
Program Description: The Central Sterile Supply Processing Technician (Basic) TCC program is designed to equip students with the foundational knowledge and practical skills necessary to ensure the proper sterilization and distribution of medical equipment in healthcare facilities. This comprehensive program introduces students to infection control, sterilization techniques, decontamination procedures, and equipment management, emphasizing the critical role of sterile processing in maintaining patient safety. Through a combination of classroom instruction, hands-on lab experience, and clinical rotations, students will learn about surgical instrumentation, sterilization methods, aseptic techniques, and inventory management. Additionally, they will be trained in safety protocols, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance, preparing them to meet industry standards. Upon successful completion, graduates will be prepared to work in hospitals, outpatient centers, and other healthcare settings as entry-level sterile processing technicians.
Employment Opportunities: There is a high demand today for the central service technician in the hospital and clinical settings. Employment of central service technicians is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2030 as the volume of surgery increases. The number of surgical procedures is expected to rise as the population grows and ages. Technological advances, such as fiber optics, laser technology, robotics and interventional radiology will also introduce new surgical procedures and equipment. Hospitals will continue as the primary employer of central service technicians, although some employment growth is expected in offices and clinics of physicians, including ambulatory surgical centers, as well as nursing homes and assisted living facilities. With additional training, some technicians advance to senior central service technicians, who provide technical and functional supervision to other central service personnel.
Credentialing (Optional): Satisfactory completion of all program courses entitles students to sit for the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) certification board's Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) credential or The Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD)'s Certified Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician (CSPDT) credential.