Completing a Michigan sterile processing technician program allows students who have an interest in healthcare but who do not want to spend several years in school to start working in a short time.
Obtaining a certification provides additional opportunities for sterile processing program graduates.
Sterile processing technicians work in hospitals, outpatient care facilities, and surgical centers.
They also work in physician’s and dentist’s offices.
Michigan sterile processing technicians learn the principles of sterile processing, sterilization, and decontamination.
Steps to Becoming a Sterile Processing Technician in Michigan
Follow the steps to become a sterile processing technician in Michigan, to stand out among peers, and to have advancement opportunities.
Completing the steps demonstrates the commitment that applicants have to their careers.
Step 1: Earn a High School Diploma
Earning a high school diploma or a GED is the first step for people who want to work as a Michigan sterile processing technician.
Employers require job applicants to have a high school education.
Step 2: Develop the Traits and Characteristics of a Sterile Processing Technician
Sterile processing technicians need to have traits beyond technical skills.
They must have excellent communication skills, and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
Michigan sterile processing technicians need organizational skills, problem-solving skills, and multitasking skills.
They often stand for long periods or walk a lot during their workday.
Step 3: Complete a Michigan Sterile Processing Technician Program
Completing a Michigan sterile processing technician program is an important step for people who want to work in the profession.
Employers want job applicants to have the knowledge and skills to perform their duties.
Michigan sterile processing technician programs prepare students to perform duties that include cleaning, decontaminating, and sterilizing medical and surgical instruments and equipment.
They learn about inventory management, and organizing and maintaining surgical instruments and equipment.
Step 4: Obtain Certification as a Sterile Processing Technician
The sterile processing technician programs at some schools meet the requirements for students to sit for a certification exam.
Some schools cover the cost of the exam.
The Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) explains that the Certified Instrument Specialist (CIS) exam is for sterile processing technicians who have the knowledge, skills, and experience to provide advanced instrument specialist services.
Earning the additional certification will likely lead to a higher salary.
Step 5: Gain Experience
Gaining experience gives Michigan sterile processing technicians, sometimes called central service technicians, the opportunity for career advancement.
The experience can lead to getting a supervisory position or training new sterile processing technicians.
Licensing Requirements to Become a Sterile Processing Technician in Michigan
The state of Michigan does not have licensing requirements for sterile processing technicians.
Employers establish their requirements for their sterile processing technicians.
Applicants who want to work as a sterile processing technician in Michigan need to read the requirements for each employer where they plan to apply for a job.
Sterile Processing Technician Programs in Michigan
Michigan offers several sterile processing technician programs that prepare students for entry-level jobs.
Reviewing the program requirements helps students to pick the program that best meets their educational and career goals.
Delta College
The Delta College Sterile Processing Technician program is an advanced certificate program.
The school prepares students to work as sterile processing technicians through coursework and hands-on learning in a state-of-the-art health professions lab.
Students take courses that include Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology, Medical Terminology, Fundamentals of Sterile Processing, and Basic Medical Emergencies during their first term. They take the 13-credit Sterile Processing Externship during their second term.
Completing the program qualifies students to sit for the Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) exam.
Washtenaw Community College
Washtenaw Community College indicates that seats fill very fast for their Sterile Processing Certificate program.
The school accepts students into the program on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Students attend an orientation before taking courses.
Some courses in the 16-credit program include Critical Thinking and Reading, Introduction to Sterile Processing, and Introduction to Sterile Processing Equipment.
Students also complete the Sterile Processing Clinical.
The school bases tuition on residency.
The in-district tuition is $99 per credit hour.
The out-of-district tuition is $181 per credit hour.
Lansing Community College
The Lansing Community College Sterile Processing Technician Certificate program is a one-semester program.
Students complete the requirements in an in-person format.
Students complete the Foundations of Sterile Processing course.
They also complete an eight-week externship.
The program prepares students to take the National Certification Exam for Sterile Processing and Distribution.
Tuition for the Sterile Processing Technician Certificate program for the January 2025 term is $120 per billable hour.
Dorsey College
Dorsey College offers its Sterile Processing Technician program at four Dorsey College locations.
The locations that offer the program include the Madison Heights campus, the Roseville campus, the Wood Haven campus, and the Grand Rapids campus.
The program focuses on giving students the knowledge and skills needed to learn decontamination, cleaning, and sterilization techniques.
Students learn the assembly and packaging of instruments and equipment.
They learn about the storage and distribution of medical and surgical instruments and supplies.
Some courses include Anatomy and Physiology with Medical Terminology, Introduction to Central Processes, and Surgical Instrumentation.
Dorsey College provides students who complete the program with a one-time payment that covers the cost of taking a certification exam.
The $12,420 tuition includes the cost of 24 weeks of contact time, e-textbooks, one medical scrub uniform, and an electronic device.
It also includes the graduate’s cap and gown.
The cost of each course is $75.
Oakland Community College
Oakland Community College offers a Sterile Processing Technician program that gives students the knowledge, skills, and experience that is needed to obtain an entry-level job as a sterile processing technician.
The program, offered at the Southfield campus, includes coursework and 96 clinical hours of onsite experience.
The program prepares students to sit for the Certification Board of Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD) exam.
The tuition for the program is $2,000.
Michigan Healthcare Academy
The Central Sterile Processing Technician program at Michigan Healthcare Academy is a 12-week program.
Students attend classes two days per week.
The school also offers a five-week Accelerated Sterile Processing Technician program.
Students attend classes four days per week.
Students complete courses that include Infection Control, Surgical Instrumentation Processing, Sterilization, and Complex Surgical Instruments.
Completing the program prepares students to sit for the Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) exam.
The school has a 99 percent first-time exam pass rate for students taking the exam.
The tuition is $2,000.
6 Sterile Processing Technician Schools in Michigan
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| The Delta College | 1961 Delta Road University Center, MI 48710 |
| Washtenaw Community College | 4800 E Huron River Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, United States |
| Lansing Community College | 600 N Grand Ave, Lansing, MI 48933, United States |
| Dorsey College | 31739 John R Rd, Madison Heights, MI 48071, United States |
| Oakland Community College | 739 S Washington Ave, Royal Oak, MI 48067, United States |
| Michigan Healthcare Academy | 33 N River Rd, Mt Clemens, MI 48043, USA |
Salary
Salary.com indicates that the salary for Michigan sterile processing technicians is $39,125.
Some sterile processing technicians earn as much as $48,628.
The salary earned by Michigan sterile processing technicians depends on things like their experience.
The location where sterile processing technicians work affects their salary.
Sterile processing technicians who work in Ann Arbor earn an average salary of $40,671.
Sterile processing technicians who work in Lansing earn an average salary of $38,372.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Sterile Processing Technicians in Michigan
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Akron | $36,866 |
| Cedar Springs | $38,293 |
| Auburn | $37,064 |
| Augusta | $39,125 |
| Concord | $38,649 |
| Farmington | $39,799 |
| Fremont | $37,222 |
| Portland | $38,174 |
| Newport | $39,323 |
| Riverside | $38,332 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor, MI | 240 | $44,810 | $21.54 | $49,170 | $37,830 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 1,100 | $45,070 | $21.67 | $54,430 | $36,850 |
| Flint, MI | 80 | $46,270 | $22.25 | $53,600 | $37,370 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI | 270 | $43,210 | $20.78 | $49,310 | $37,210 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | 100 | - NA - | - NA - | - NA - | - NA - |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 110 | $43,920 | $21.12 | $56,850 | $32,440 |
| Niles-Benton Harbor, MI | 50 | $39,590 | $19.04 | $45,120 | $31,390 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some admission requirements for Michigan sterile processing technician programs?
Schools have their requirements.
Students may need to get some vaccines.
Schools often require students to get a criminal background check.
How do I earn a higher-than-average sterile processing technician salary?
Sit for a certification exam.
Compare the salary offered by employers.
Gain experience and become a supervisor.
What Michigan cities offer the highest average salary for sterile processing technicians?
Some cities that offer the highest average salary include Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor, Saline, and Salem.
