A sterile processing technician is a professional member of a healthcare team with the potential for a career in several medical settings.
These technicians are tasked with the responsibility of ensuring healthcare professionals have and use clean, safe medical equipment.
Certain areas and healthcare systems refer to a Central Service Technician position.
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- Steps to Become a Sterile Processing Technician in Massachusetts
- Sterile Processing Technician Schools in Massachusetts
- Mass Bay Community College – Wellesley Hills, MA
- Boston Career Institute – Brookline, Lowell, and Malden, MA
- Bunker Hill Community College – Boston & Chelsea, MA
- Quinsigamond Community College – Worcester, MA
- North Shore Community College – Danvers, MA
- Quincy College – Quincy & Plymouth, MA & Online
- Springfield Technical Community College – Springfield, MA
- Sterile Processing Technician Schools in Massachusetts – Summary Table
- Salary Information for Massachusetts Sterile Processing Technicians
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Are there yearly fees for a Sterile Processing Technicians license in Massachusetts?
- Does a Sterile Processing Technician need to be certified in Massachusetts?
- What kind of certifications is available to Massachusetts Sterile Processing Technicians?
- What are the best places in Massachusetts to work as a Sterile Processing Technician?
Steps to Become a Sterile Processing Technician in Massachusetts
Massachusetts has no current regulations that require sterile processing technicians to become licensed by the state.
However, because of the nature and importance of these allied health professionals’ roles, sterile processing technicians are supervised by a registered nurse or other licensed professionals.
There are professional sterile processing technicians who can learn on the job; however, because competition in the field has become fierce, many people pursuing this career complete a professional training program that prepares them for certification as a sterile processing technician.
Sterile Processing Technician Schools in Massachusetts
Massachusetts sterile processing technician programs typically have an age restriction and the requirement that the applicant holds a high school diploma or GED.
Mass Bay Community College – Wellesley Hills, MA
Mass Bay Community College (MBCC) offers a four-credit Central Processing Technology Certificate program that starts each semester.
The coursework for this Mass Bay Community College program is based on the IAHCSMM training curriculum, with students eligible to take the exam after graduation.
This MBCC program is available on the Wellesley Hills, Ashland, and Framingham campuses.
The tuition and fees for in-state students are $4,808, plus $1,200 for supplies/books.
Boston Career Institute – Brookline, Lowell, and Malden, MA
Boston Career Institute offers a Hospital Central Service Technician program from its three campuses in Massachusetts.
Students graduating from the technician training program offered by the Boston Career Institute are eligible for the HSPA or CRCST professional exams.
Coursework includes infection control, sterilization of surgical instruments and surgical equipment repair, etc.
Boston Career Institute also includes a clinical practicum at several hospitals throughout the greater Boston metro area.
Bunker Hill Community College – Boston & Chelsea, MA
Bunker Hill Community College offers a full-time Surgical Technology Certificate program that can be completed in less than one year.
This Bunker Hill Community College 29-credit certificate program includes a 500-hour internship for two days per week during the semester and full-time during the summer months.
Part-time students may complete the certificate at a slower pace.
Graduates of this technical training program are eligible to sit for the national certification exam.
Quinsigamond Community College – Worcester, MA
Quinsigamond Community College offers the state’s Department of Workforce Development Sterile Processing Technician Certificate program.
This Quinsigamond Community College technician training program is completed in 13 weeks, with a tuition cost of $1,529.
Featured classes for this certificate training program include infectious disease and illness, handling surgical instruments, infection control techniques, and microbiology.
North Shore Community College – Danvers, MA
North Shore Community College (NSCC) offers a Central Sterile Processing Technician Certification training program that can be completed in as few as sixteen weeks.
This noncredit training program from North Shore Community College prepares students for the CRST and the IAHSCMM professional certification exams.
The cost of the program for in-state students is $1,999, which includes classroom instruction, labs, and clinical.
Quincy College – Quincy & Plymouth, MA & Online
Quincy College offers a Central Processing Technology Certificate program that prepares students for entry-level positions as sterile processing technicians.
This 18-credit certificate training program from Quincy College includes classroom instruction, medical terminology, microbiology, a clinical practicum, and central processing labs.
Springfield Technical Community College – Springfield, MA
Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) offers an Associate of Science degree in Surgical Technology program that is completed in two years.
This Springfield Technical Community College technical training program is accredited by CAAHEP, with graduates eligible to apply for various national certifications.
Featured classes for this 65-credit unit degree program include medical terminology, anatomy/physiology, intro to surgical technology, pharmacology, and clinical rotations, to name a few.
Sterile Processing Technician Schools in Massachusetts – Summary Table
Top 7 Schools in Massachusetts
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Mass Bay Community College | 50 Oakland St, Wellesley, MA 02481, USA |
| Boston Career Institute | 320 Washington Street 4th FL, Brookline, MA 02445 |
| Bunker Hill Community College | 250 Rutherford Ave, Boston, MA 02129, USA |
| Quinsigamond Community College | 670 W Boylston St, Worcester, MA 01606, USA |
| North Shore Community College | 1 Ferncroft Rd, Danvers, MA 01923, USA |
| Quincy College | 1250 Hancock St, Quincy, MA 02169, USA |
| Springfield Technical Community College | 1 Armory St, Springfield, MA 01105, USA |
Salary Information for Massachusetts Sterile Processing Technicians
A Sterile Processing Technician working in the state of Massachusetts can expect an average base salary of $49,930, with top-of-scale earners reaching a yearly salary of approximately $65,000.
Massachusetts’s average salary for a sterile processing technician exceeds the national annual average of $45,891.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Sterile Processing Technicians in Massachusetts
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Boston | $43,000 |
| Worcester | $40,280 |
| Springfield | $39,880 |
| Lowell | $41,640 |
| Cambridge | $43,000 |
| Brockton | $41,680 |
| New Bedford | $40,610 |
| Fall River | $40,610 |
| Lynn | $43,000 |
| Quincy | $43,000 |
Regional Salary in Massachusetts
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town, MA | 50 | $56,760 | $27.29 | $85,880 | $37,810 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | 1,270 | $53,920 | $25.92 | $69,830 | $40,070 |
| New Bedford, MA | 40 | $46,500 | $22.36 | $60,020 | $34,890 |
| Springfield, MA-CT | 180 | $44,610 | $21.45 | $59,680 | $36,380 |
| Worcester, MA-CT | 110 | $50,460 | $24.26 | $64,800 | $36,300 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there yearly fees for a Sterile Processing Technicians license in Massachusetts?
There are no state-issued licensing requirements for sterile processing technicians, so there are no annual state licensing fees.
Does a Sterile Processing Technician need to be certified in Massachusetts?
No, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has no state requirements regarding the certification of sterile processing technicians.
However, students serious about this career should approach it professionally by completing a technical program that leads to potential certification as a career springboard.
What kind of certifications is available to Massachusetts Sterile Processing Technicians?
Sterile processing technicians can become certified by either of these professional organizations:
- The IAHCSMM – the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materials Management, offers national certification opportunities to sterile processing technicians. In addition to providing entry-level technicians with a certification option, the IAHCSMM also offers certification in related specialties.
- The CBSPD – the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution, offers an intro-level certification for Sterile Processing staff that requires the passing of a proprietary exam.
What are the best places in Massachusetts to work as a Sterile Processing Technician?
Sterile processing technicians will find the best employment opportunities in large medical organizations and hospitals like:
- Massachusetts General Hospital.
- Mount Auburn Hospital.
- Boston Medical Center.
- Clinical Management Consultants.
- Nesco Resources, to name a few.
