Illinois · Verified November 2026
Best Sterile Processing Technician Programs in Illinois
What Are the Best Sterile Processing Technician Programs in Illinois?
McHenry County College in Crystal Lake ranks first among 11 schools offering sterile processing technician programs in Illinois, with a score of 87 of 100. 11 sterile processing technician programs in Illinois run at 11 schools, with the most in Chicago, Glen Ellyn and Elgin. 10 include clinical hours, and 1 states the 400 hands-on hours that HSPA's CRCST, the central service technician certification, requires. The lowest published price is $1,670 at Illinois Central College. Sterile processing technicians in Illinois earn a median of $48,050 a year (BLS, May 2025, medical equipment preparers).
- schools in Illinois
- 11
- programs
- 11
- include clinical hours
- 10
- median published cost
- $1,670
- median pay (BLS May 2025)
- $48,050
Top Picks in Illinois
| Pick | Program | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall | McHenry County CollegeCrystal Lake · Non-credit course · $1,999 · 400 clinical hours | 87 |
| Lowest published cost | Illinois Central CollegeEast Peoria · Certificate · 52 weeks · $1,670 | 36 |
| Fastest | College of DuPageGlen Ellyn · Certificate · 8 weeks | 56 |
| Best online or hybrid | Midwestern Career CollegeChicago · Certificate | 48 |
The 10 Best Sterile Processing Technician Programs in Illinois, Ranked
How this list is ranked: highest score first. The score (out of 100) adds hands-on training (35), certification prep (25), published cost (25) and the school's federal track record in the field (15), each from the school's own pages or IPEDS; a part a program has no figure for is left out and the rest are rescaled. One program per school; programs not admitting students are left out.
McHenry County College: Sterile Processing Technician TrainingSterile Processing Technician Training
87scoreBest for the CRCST's 400 hours with the exam fee paid near Crystal Lake
McHenry County College (Crystal Lake, IL, public) runs this on campus non-credit course. The school publishes a price of $1,999 for the program. Clinical: Classroom lessons and hands-on clinical labs; after passing the CRCST exam, students complete a 400-hour clinical internship with a preceptor-set schedule.
- Clinical
- 400 hr
- Cost
- $1,999published total
Includes- Clinicals
- Exam voucher
- Textbook
Prepares forCollege of DuPage: Central Sterile Processing Distribution Technician, CertificateCentral Sterile Processing Distribution Technician, Certificate
56scoreBest for hands-on training near Glen Ellyn
College of DuPage (Glen Ellyn, IL, public) runs this on campus certificate. Clinical: CSPD 1211 Central Sterile Processing and Distribution Practicum: 8-week hands-on course in a hospital or surgery center. The school reported 22 sterile processing awards for 2022-23 (IPEDS).
- Weeks
- 8
- Credits
- 12
- Clinical
- Included
Includes- Clinicals
Prepares forParkland College: Sterile Processing Technician (Certificate, GSPT.CER)Sterile Processing Technician (Certificate, GSPT.CER)
56scoreBest for hands-on training near Champaign
Parkland College (Champaign, IL, public) runs this certificate. Clinical: Program completion is followed by required clinical hours. The school reported 23 sterile processing awards for 2022-23 (IPEDS).
- Credits
- 4
- Clinical
- Included
Includes- Clinicals
Prepares forElgin Community College: Sterile Processing and Distribution, Basic Vocational Certificate (SGT 100)Sterile Processing and Distribution, Basic Vocational Certificate (SGT 100)
50scoreBest for hands-on training near Elgin
Elgin Community College (Elgin, IL, public) runs this on campus certificate (One semester). Clinical: Supervised hands-on clinical experience at a health care facility, plus on-campus lab.
- Weeks
- 16One semester
- Credits
- 5
- Clinical
- Included
Includes- Clinicals
Prepares forOakton College: Sterile Processing Technician CertificateSterile Processing Technician Certificate
50scoreBest for hands-on training near Des Plaines
Oakton College (Des Plaines, IL, public) runs this on campus certificate (One semester). Clinical: On-site sterilizing lab plus clinical training in a hospital setting.
- Weeks
- 16One semester
- Clinical
- Included
Includes- Clinicals
Prepares forTriton College: Sterile Processing Technician Certificate (Basic, SPT.SPT.CERT)Sterile Processing Technician Certificate (Basic, SPT.SPT.CERT)
50scoreBest for hands-on training near River Grove
Triton College (River Grove, IL, public) runs this on campus certificate (Two semesters (fall and spring)). Clinical: SPT 150 Experiential Learning (2.5 credits): supervised clinical experience at cooperating area healthcare facilities.
- Weeks
- 32Two semesters (fall and spring)
- Credits
- 12.5
- Clinical
- Included
Includes- Clinicals
Prepares forWilliam Rainey Harper College: Sterile Processing and Distribution CertificateSterile Processing and Distribution Certificate
49scoreBest for hands-on training near Palatine
William Rainey Harper College (Palatine, IL, public) runs this on campus certificate. Clinical: Clinical Application for Sterile Processing (3 credits) with clinical assignments. The school reported 5 sterile processing awards for 2022-23 (IPEDS).
- Weeks
- 8
- Credits
- 11
- Clinical
- Included
Includes- Clinicals
Prepares forOfficial page for the William Rainey Harper College certificate
Midwestern Career College: Sterile Processing Technician ProgramSterile Processing Technician Program
48scoreBest for hybrid study near Chicago
Midwestern Career College (Chicago, IL, private for-profit) runs this hybrid certificate (40 instructional weeks (2 terms)). Clinical: Hands-on laboratory training combined with online lectures. The school reported 4 sterile processing awards for 2022-23 (IPEDS).
- Clinical
- Included
Includes- Clinicals
Prepares forApply or ask about the Midwestern Career College certificate
Illinois Central College: Central Sterile Service Technician CertificateCentral Sterile Service Technician Certificate
36scoreBest for a published, all-in price near East Peoria
Illinois Central College (East Peoria, IL, public) runs this on campus certificate. The school publishes a price of $1,670 for the program (2026-27). Clinical: Campus laboratories replicate healthcare settings with the same equipment as local hospitals. The school reported 2 sterile processing awards for 2022-23 (IPEDS).
- Weeks
- 52
- Credits
- 10
- Clinical
- Included
- Cost
- $1,670published total, 2026-27
Includes- Clinicals
Lincoln Land Community College: Central Sterile Service Technician, Certificate of CompletionCentral Sterile Service Technician, Certificate of Completion
32scoreBest for classroom preparation near Springfield
Lincoln Land Community College (Springfield, IL, public) runs this on campus certificate (16 weeks (one semester)). The school reported 9 sterile processing awards for 2022-23 (IPEDS).
- Weeks
- 1616 weeks (one semester)
- Credits
- 8.5
- Cost
- $146.50per credit, 2026-27
Prepares forAdmission details for the Lincoln Land Community College certificate
More Illinois Sterile Processing Schools: Ranks 11 to 11
How this list is ranked: the same score as the ranking above, continued.
| Rank | Program | Score | Length | Clinical | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Malcolm X College: Basic Certificate in Sterile ProcessingChicago, IL | 25 | 16 weeks | Included |
Sterile Processing Schools in Illinois, Compared
All 11 sterile processing schools in Illinois, side by side: each school's best score, the credentials it offers, its longest stated clinical placement, its lowest published price and its federal award count.
| School | Best score | Credentials | Clinical | Lowest published cost | Awards, 2022-23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McHenry County College: official siteCrystal Lake · Public | 87 | Non-credit course | 400 hr | $1,999 | |
| College of DuPage: official siteGlen Ellyn · Public | 56 | Certificate | Included | 22 | |
| Parkland College: official siteChampaign · Public | 56 | Certificate | Included | 23 | |
| Elgin Community College: official siteElgin · Public | 50 | Certificate | Included | ||
| Oakton College: official siteDes Plaines · Public | 50 | Certificate | Included | ||
| Triton College: official siteRiver Grove · Public | 50 | Certificate | Included | ||
| William Rainey Harper College: official sitePalatine · Public | 49 | Certificate | Included | 5 | |
| Midwestern Career College: official siteChicago · Private for-profit | 48 | Certificate | Included | 4 | |
| Illinois Central College: official siteEast Peoria · Public | 36 | Certificate | Included | $1,670 | 2 |
| Lincoln Land Community College: official siteSpringfield · Public | 32 | Certificate | 9 | ||
| Malcolm X College (City Colleges of Chicago): official siteChicago · Public | 25 | Certificate | Included |
From each school's own pages, reviewed November 2026. Best score: the school's highest-scoring program. Awards from IPEDS 2022-23 (CIP 51.1012) count credit certificates conferred, not graduates; non-credit courses aren't counted. Blank cells: the school's pages don't give that figure.
Sterile Processing Technician Training in Illinois: Every Program
Illinois has 10 for-credit programs (certificate, diploma or degree) and 1 non-credit course, and 1 is hybrid. Each row links to the school's own program page.
From each school's own program page, reviewed November 2026. Cost is the school's published price or its stated rate. Blank cells: the school's pages don't give that figure.
Online Sterile Processing Technician Programs for Illinois Residents
Online coursework still leads to hands-on hours in a real department: the CRCST requires 400 of them. Hybrid programs here hold labs or clinicals in Illinois.
| Program | Format | Length | Clinical hours | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kishwaukee College: online program pageMalta, IL | Online | 16 weeks | $1,300published total, 2026-27 | |
| Herzing University-Madison: online program pageMadison, WI | Online | 43 weeks | Included | $530per credit, 2026-27 |
| Lehman College: online program pageBronx, NY | Online | 80 hours | Included | |
| Midwestern Career College: hybrid program pageChicago, IL | Hybrid | Included |
How the Illinois Programs Are Scored
Every Illinois program is scored out of 100 from figures on the school's own pages and federal data. A part a program has no figure for is left out and the others are rescaled, so a missing fact never counts against it.
| Part | Weight | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Hands-on training | 35 | Clinical hours the program states, measured against the 400 hands-on hours HSPA's CRCST requires. A program at 400 hours or more scores full marks; clinical time without stated hours scores 15 of 35. |
| Certification prep | 25 | 15 points when the program's page names the CRCST or CSPDT exam, and 10 more when the exam fee or a voucher is included. |
| Cost | 25 | The whole-program price the school publishes, ranked against every priced program. Per-credit rates are never multiplied out. |
| Track record | 15 | Awards in the field the school reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2022-23 (IPEDS, CIP 51.1012), on a log scale that reaches full marks at 50. |
Sterile Processing Technician Certification in Illinois
No Illinois law in force requires sterile processing certification, so the requirement comes from employers. Many hospitals hire for, or ask new technicians to earn, HSPA's CRCST (the central service technician credential) or CBSPD's CSPDT. Full CRCST certification needs 400 hands-on hours in a hospital department; you can test first and hold provisional status while you log them.
How the CRCST and its 400 hours work · States that require certification by law
Sterile Processing Technician Salary in Illinois
- bottom tenth
- $38,280
- median
- $48,050
- top tenth
- $66,390
- employed
- 2,800
Illinois's median of $48,050 is above the national median of $47,700. Figures are annual wages for medical equipment preparers (SOC 31-9093), the BLS occupation for sterile processing technicians, OEWS May 2025.
Schools in States Near Illinois
- Ivy Tech Community CollegeIndianapolis, IN · certificate
- Des Moines Area Community CollegeAnkeny, IA · non-credit course
- Iowa Western Community CollegeCouncil Bluffs, IA · non-credit course
- Northeast Iowa Community CollegeCalmar, IA · non-credit course
- Concorde Career College-Kansas CityKansas City, MO · diploma
- University of Central MissouriLee's Summit, MO · non-credit course
- Blackhawk Technical CollegeJanesville, WI · diploma
- Chippewa Valley Technical CollegeEau Claire, WI · diploma
- Mid-State Technical CollegeWisconsin Rapids, WI · diploma
- Northcentral Technical CollegeWausau, WI · certificate
Sterile Processing Classes Near Illinois Cities
Each city page lists the classes you can attend in person within 50 miles, with the distance, plus online options. The number after a city is how many programs are that close; a city without one shows the closest schools instead.
- Belleville
- Berwyn 8
- Bloomington 2
- Calumet City 7
- Centralia
- Champaign 1
- Chicago 8
- Crystal Lake 9
- Des Plaines 8
- Dolton 7
- East Moline
- East Peoria 1
- Elgin 8
- Glen Ellyn 8
- Harvey 7
- Herrin
- Joliet 7
- Kankakee
- Mattoon 1
- Moline
- New Lenox 7
- Niles 8
- North Chicago 8
- Oak Lawn 8
- Palatine 8
- Plainfield 8
- Richton Park 7
- River Grove 8
- Rock Island
- Rockford 3
- Romeoville 8
- Springfield 1
Questions About Sterile Processing Technician Programs in Illinois
What Is the Best Sterile Processing Technician Program in Illinois?
Sterile Processing Technician Training at McHenry County College ranks first with a score of 87 of 100, ahead of College of DuPage (56) and Parkland College (56). The score weighs hands-on hours, certification prep, published cost and the school's federal track record. How the score works.
How Many Sterile Processing Technician Programs Are in Illinois?
11 at 11 schools, verified on each school's own site in November 2026. Chicago (2), Glen Ellyn (1), Elgin (1) and East Peoria (1) have the most.
How Do You Become a Sterile Processing Technician in Illinois?
Finish a training program (11 run in Illinois), log hands-on hours in a hospital, and pass a certification exam: HSPA's CRCST, which needs 400 hands-on hours for full certification, or CBSPD's CSPDT. Illinois has no certification law in force, but many hospitals hire for the CRCST. Every step in order.
How Long Is Sterile Processing Training in Illinois?
From 8 to 52 weeks among the 8 Illinois programs that state a length, with a median of 16 weeks. Clinical hours can add time when they come after the classroom part.
Which Illinois Programs Include Clinical Hours?
College of DuPage, Elgin Community College, Illinois Central College, Malcolm X College, McHenry County College and Midwestern Career College and others include clinical or practicum time. HSPA's CRCST requires 400 hands-on hours for full certification. How the 400-hour requirement works.
How Much Does Training Cost in Illinois?
Among the 2 Illinois programs that publish a price for the whole program, cost runs from $1,670 to $1,999, with a median of $1,670.
Which Illinois Programs Prepare You for the CRCST?
7 of the 11 name the CRCST on their own pages, and 1 includes the exam fee or a voucher. The certification program ranking puts those first.
How Much Do Sterile Processing Technicians Make in Illinois?
The median for medical equipment preparers in Illinois is $48,050 a year, with the bottom tenth earning $38,280 and the top tenth $66,390, across 2,800 jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The national median is $47,700. Pay in every state.
Can Illinois Residents Train Online?
Partly. 3 programs put all coursework online, and 1 Illinois program is hybrid, but the CRCST's 400 hands-on hours happen in a real hospital department. Online program rankings.
More Rankings and Certification Guides
- Best Programs NationwideEvery verified program, scored on hands-on hours, certification prep, cost and track record
- Online and Hybrid RankingsOnline and hybrid programs, and how each one gets you hands-on hours
- Most Affordable RankingsPrograms ranked by the whole-program price each school publishes
- With Externships RankingsPrograms with clinical hours in a hospital sterile processing department
- CRCST CertificationThe 400-hour requirement and the exam
- Certification Requirements by StateWhich states require it by law
- Best Programs in Indiana1 school
- Best Programs in Iowa3 schools
- Best Programs in Missouri2 schools
- Best Programs in Wisconsin5 schools
- Rankings by StateEvery state's ranking
Sources
- Official program pages of the 11 Illinois schools listed, reviewed November 2026
- U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS completions 2022-23, CIP 51.1012
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025: Medical Equipment Preparers, state estimates