New Jersey · Verified November 2026
Best Sterile Processing Technician Programs in New Jersey
What Are the Best Sterile Processing Technician Programs in New Jersey?
Rowan College of South Jersey in Sewell ranks first among 6 schools offering sterile processing technician programs in New Jersey, with a score of 83 of 100. 6 sterile processing technician programs in New Jersey run at 6 schools, with the most in Piscataway, Paramus and Woodland Park. 6 include clinical hours, and 4 state the 400 hands-on hours that HSPA's CRCST, the central service technician certification, requires. The lowest published price is $2,750 at Rowan College at Burlington County. A New Jersey Department of Health hospital licensing rule requires everyone involved in sterile processing at a hospital to be certified through a national sterile processing program the Department recognizes within three years of employment. The central service director or supervisor must be certified and have two years of supervisory experience. Sterile processing technicians in New Jersey earn a median of $50,280 a year (BLS, May 2025, medical equipment preparers).
- schools in New Jersey
- 6
- programs
- 6
- include clinical hours
- 6
- median published cost
- $2,950
- median pay (BLS May 2025)
- $50,280
Top Picks in New Jersey
| Pick | Program | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Rowan College of South JerseySewell · Non-credit course · 39 weeks · 400 clinical hours | 83 |
| Best for the CRCST's 400 hours | Rowan College at Burlington CountyMount Laurel · Non-credit course · $2,750 · 400 clinical hours | 81 |
| Lowest published cost | Bergen Community CollegeParamus · Non-credit course · 10 weeks · $2,950 · 400 clinical hours | 69 |
| Fastest | MCI InstituteOcean · Certificate · 29 weeks | 55 |
| Best online or hybrid | American Institute of Medical Sciences & EducationPiscataway · Certificate · 43 weeks · 400 clinical hours | 80 |
The 6 Best Sterile Processing Technician Programs in New Jersey, 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.
Rowan College of South Jersey: Central Service TechnicianCentral Service Technician
83scoreBest for covering the CRCST's 400 hands-on hours near Sewell
Rowan College of South Jersey (Sewell, NJ) runs this on campus non-credit course (6-9 months). Clinical: 400-hour externship.
- Weeks
- 396-9 months
- Instruction
- 140 hr
- Clinical
- 400 hr
Includes- Clinicals
Prepares forRowan College at Burlington County: Central Services TechnicianCentral Services Technician
81scoreBest for the CRCST's 400 hours with the exam fee paid near Mount Laurel
Rowan College at Burlington County (Mount Laurel, NJ, public) runs this hybrid non-credit course (March 1 to July 9 class session, plus clinical externship). The school publishes a price of $2,750 for the program (2026-27). Clinical: 400-hour in-person clinical externship at a clinical site, typically 7:30 AM-3:30 PM Monday through Friday, subject to hospital availability. Evening classes are offered.
- Clinical
- 400 hr
- Cost
- $2,750published course fee, 2026-27
Includes- Clinicals
- Exam voucher
- Textbook
Prepares forOfficial page for the Rowan College at Burlington County course
American Institute of Medical Sciences &Amp; Education (AIMS Education): Sterile Processing TechnicianSterile Processing Technician
80scoreBest for finishing with full CRCST clinical hours done near Piscataway
American Institute of Medical Sciences & Education (AIMS Education) (Piscataway, NJ, private for-profit) runs this hybrid certificate (10 months). Clinical: Mandatory 400-hour clinical internship at an affiliated healthcare facility, placed by the AIMS Internship Department; held during weekday business hours. Evening classes are offered. The school reported 14 sterile processing awards for 2022-23 (IPEDS).
- Weeks
- 4310 months
- Credits
- 26
- Clinical
- 400 hr
Includes- Clinicals
Prepares forApply or ask about the American Institute of Medical Sciences & Education certificate
Bergen Community College: Central Sterile Processing Technician (HH-008)Central Sterile Processing Technician (HH-008)
69scoreBest for hospital clinicals long enough for full certification near Paramus
Bergen Community College (Paramus, NJ, public) runs this on campus non-credit course. The school publishes a price of $2,950 for the program (2026-27). Clinical: Required 400-hour unpaid clinical internship at a local medical center or surgical center; shifts 7 AM-3 PM, 3-11 PM or 11 PM-7 AM. Evening classes are offered.
- Weeks
- 10
- Instruction
- 460 hr
- Clinical
- 400 hr
- Cost
- $2,950published course fee, 2026-27
Includes- Clinicals
Prepares forMCI Institute (Medical Career Institute): Sterile Processing TechnologySterile Processing Technology
55scoreBest for hands-on training near Ocean
MCI Institute (Medical Career Institute) (Ocean, NJ, private for-profit) runs this on campus certificate (29 weeks). Clinical: Off-campus clinical externship at hospitals and surgical centers with supervised hands-on training, competency logs and evaluations. The school reported 19 sterile processing awards for 2022-23 (IPEDS).
- Weeks
- 2929 weeks
- Instruction
- 712 hr
- Clinical
- Included
Includes- Clinicals
Prepares forBerkeley College: Sterile Processing Technician CertificateSterile Processing Technician Certificate
49scoreBest for having the certification exam paid for near Woodland Park
Berkeley College (Woodland Park, NJ, private for-profit) runs this on campus certificate (Two semesters, designed to be completed in 30 weeks). The school publishes a price of $17,900 for the program (2026-27). Clinical: SPT2150 Surgical Processing Clinical Practicum (8 credits): supervised practical work experience at an off-campus sterile processing department, with a 2-credit clinical seminar. The school reported 7 sterile processing awards for 2022-23 (IPEDS).
- Weeks
- 30
- Credits
- 27
- Clinical
- Included
- Cost
- $17,900published total, 2026-27
Includes- Clinicals
- Exam voucher
- Textbook
Prepares for
Sterile Processing Schools in New Jersey, Compared
All 6 sterile processing schools in New Jersey, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rowan College of South Jersey: official siteSewell | 83 | Non-credit course | 400 hr | ||
| Rowan College at Burlington County: official siteMount Laurel · Public | 81 | Non-credit course | 400 hr | $2,750 | |
| American Institute of Medical Sciences & Education (AIMS Education): official sitePiscataway · Private for-profit | 80 | Certificate | 400 hr | 14 | |
| Bergen Community College: official siteParamus · Public | 69 | Non-credit course | 400 hr | $2,950 | |
| MCI Institute (Medical Career Institute): official siteOcean · Private for-profit | 55 | Certificate | Included | 19 | |
| Berkeley College: official siteWoodland Park · Private for-profit | 49 | Certificate | Included | $17,900 | 7 |
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 New Jersey: Every Program
New Jersey has 3 for-credit programs (certificate, diploma or degree) and 3 non-credit courses; 3 offer evening or weekend classes, and 2 are hybrid. Each row links to the school's own program page.
| Program | Credential | Format | Length | Clinical hours | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rowan College of South Jersey: Central Service TechnicianSewell | Non-credit course | On campus | 39 weeks | 400 | |
| Rowan College at Burlington County: Central Services TechnicianMount Laurel | Non-credit course | Hybrid, Evening | 400 | $2,750published course fee, 2026-27 | |
| American Institute of Medical Sciences & Education: Sterile Processing TechnicianPiscataway | Certificate | Hybrid, Evening | 43 weeks | 400 | |
| Bergen Community College: Central Sterile Processing Technician (HH-008)Paramus | Non-credit course | On campus, Evening | 10 weeks | 400 | $2,950published course fee, 2026-27 |
| MCI Institute: Sterile Processing TechnologyOcean | Certificate | On campus | 29 weeks | Included | |
| Berkeley College: Sterile Processing Technician CertificateWoodland Park | Certificate | On campus | 30 weeks | Included | $17,900published total, 2026-27 |
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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey.
| 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 | |
| American Institute of Medical Sciences & Education: hybrid program pagePiscataway, NJ | Hybrid | 43 weeks | 400 | |
| Rowan College at Burlington County: hybrid program pageMount Laurel, NJ | Hybrid | 400 | $2,750published course fee, 2026-27 |
How the New Jersey Programs Are Scored
Every New Jersey 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 New Jersey
A New Jersey Department of Health hospital licensing rule requires everyone involved in sterile processing at a hospital to be certified through a national sterile processing program the Department recognizes within three years of employment. The central service director or supervisor must be certified and have two years of supervisory experience.
Credentials the law accepts: Certification through a national sterile processing program recognized by the New Jersey Department of Health. New hires: within three years of employment.
N.J.A.C. 8:43G-8.2 (readopted effective November 17, 2024) · N.J.A.C. 8:43G-8.2 text, 50 N.J.R. (January 16, 2018) · checked 2026-11-11
Sterile Processing Technician Salary in New Jersey
- bottom tenth
- $38,050
- median
- $50,280
- top tenth
- $69,570
- employed
- 2,440
New Jersey's median of $50,280 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 New Jersey
- Delaware Technical Community CollegeDover, DE · non-credit course
- Borough of Manhattan Community College (CUNY)New York, NY · non-credit course
- Broome-Tioga BOCESJohnson City, NY · non-credit course
- Capital Region BOCESAlbany, NY · non-credit course
- Corning Community College (SUNY Corning)Corning, NY · non-credit course
- Community College of Allegheny CountyPittsburgh, PA · certificate
- Delaware County Community CollegeMedia, PA · non-credit course
- Montgomery County Community CollegePottstown, PA · non-credit course
- Philadelphia Technician Training InstitutePhiladelphia, PA · certificate
Sterile Processing Classes Near New Jersey 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.
Questions About Sterile Processing Technician Programs in New Jersey
What Is the Best Sterile Processing Technician Program in New Jersey?
Central Service Technician at Rowan College of South Jersey ranks first with a score of 83 of 100, ahead of Rowan College at Burlington County (81) and American Institute of Medical Sciences & Education (80). 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 New Jersey?
6 at 6 schools, verified on each school's own site in November 2026. Piscataway (1), Paramus (1), Woodland Park (1) and Ocean (1) have the most.
How Do You Become a Sterile Processing Technician in New Jersey?
Finish a training program (6 run in New Jersey), 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. New Jersey law also applies: A New Jersey Department of Health hospital licensing rule requires everyone involved in sterile processing at a hospital to be certified through a national sterile processing program the Department recognizes within three years of employment. The central service director or supervisor must be certified and have two years of supervisory experience. Every step in order.
How Long Is Sterile Processing Training in New Jersey?
From 10 to 43 weeks among the 5 New Jersey programs that state a length, with a median of 30 weeks. Clinical hours can add time when they come after the classroom part.
Which New Jersey Programs Include Clinical Hours?
American Institute of Medical Sciences & Education, Bergen Community College, Berkeley College, MCI Institute, Rowan College at Burlington County and Rowan College of South Jersey 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 New Jersey?
Among the 3 New Jersey programs that publish a price for the whole program, cost runs from $2,750 to $17,900, with a median of $2,950.
Does New Jersey Require Sterile Processing Certification?
A New Jersey Department of Health hospital licensing rule requires everyone involved in sterile processing at a hospital to be certified through a national sterile processing program the Department recognizes within three years of employment. The central service director or supervisor must be certified and have two years of supervisory experience. Accepted credentials: Certification through a national sterile processing program recognized by the New Jersey Department of Health. Certification requirements in every state.
Which New Jersey Programs Prepare You for the CRCST?
6 of the 6 name the CRCST on their own pages, and 2 include the exam fee or a voucher. The certification program ranking puts those first.
How Much Do Sterile Processing Technicians Make in New Jersey?
The median for medical equipment preparers in New Jersey is $50,280 a year, with the bottom tenth earning $38,050 and the top tenth $69,570, across 2,440 jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The national median is $47,700. Pay in every state.
Can New Jersey Residents Train Online?
Partly. 3 programs put all coursework online, and 2 New Jersey programs are 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 Delaware1 school
- Best Programs in New York14 schools
- Best Programs in Pennsylvania4 schools
- Rankings by StateEvery state's ranking
Sources
- Official program pages of the 6 New Jersey 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
- New Jersey: N.J.A.C. 8:43G-8.2 (readopted effective November 17, 2024)
- New Jersey: N.J.A.C. 8:43G-8.2 text, 50 N.J.R. (January 16, 2018)