St. Vincent's College in Bridgeport, Connecticut, offers a 36-hour program in sterile processing and distribution. Classes are offered three times a year, in May, September and November. Common coursework includes anatomy and physiology, microbiology and infection control. St. Vincent's College offers online coursework for students working while attending school. Upon completion of the program, students will be eligible for national certification as a Central Sterile Processing Technician.
El Centro College in Dallas offers a sterile processing program as a part of their continuing education program. The course is offered in the fall and spring semesters and takes 18 weeks--six weeks of lecture and 12 weeks of clinical experience. The certificate received upon completion is called Surgical Technology, but it is basically the same thing as a sterile processing technician.
Cornerstone College of Science and Technology in Hayward, California, offers two types of learning paces for a certificate in Sterile Processing. The fast-track program is a 15-day course. For students seeking part-time education, the same program is offered in seven weeks and students meet twice a week. Both programs are 120 hours and include the option of online coursework.
Lansing Community College in Lansing, Michigan, has a two-part sterile processing program: Sterile Processing Tech I and Sterile Processing II. The program is for two semesters, which is about 32 weeks for both sections. Classes meet twice a week, except for special clinics held on various weekends. Lansing Community College does have a prerequisite for the sterile technology program called Medical Terminology.