North Carolina · Verified November 2026
Best Sterile Processing Technician Programs in North Carolina
What Are the Best Sterile Processing Technician Programs in North Carolina?
Durham Technical Community College in Durham ranks first among 13 schools offering sterile processing technician programs in North Carolina, with a score of 64 of 100. 14 sterile processing technician programs in North Carolina run at 14 schools, with the most in Washington, Jacksonville and New Bern. 8 include clinical hours. The lowest published price is $180 at Coastal Carolina Community College. Sterile processing technicians in North Carolina earn a median of $45,130 a year (BLS, May 2025, medical equipment preparers).
- schools in North Carolina
- 14
- programs
- 14
- include clinical hours
- 8
- median published cost
- $287
- median pay (BLS May 2025)
- $45,130
Top Picks in North Carolina
| Pick | Program | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Durham Technical Community CollegeDurham · Non-credit course · 19 weeks · $257.25 · 30 clinical hours | 64 |
| Lowest published cost | Coastal Carolina Community CollegeJacksonville · Non-credit course · $180 | 47 |
| Fastest | Vance-Granville Community CollegeHenderson · Non-credit course · 11 weeks · $322.60 | 45 |
| Best online or hybrid | Wilson Community CollegeWilson · Non-credit course · $348 · 100 clinical hours | 62 |
| Best for working adults | Beaufort County Community CollegeWashington · Non-credit course · $205.25 | 46 |
The 10 Best Sterile Processing Technician Programs in North Carolina, 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.
Durham Technical Community College: Central Sterile Processing (PHM-3002A)Central Sterile Processing (PHM-3002A)
64scoreBest for hybrid study near Durham
Durham Technical Community College (Durham, NC, public) runs this hybrid non-credit course (About 4.5 months (late January or February to June)). The school publishes a price of $257.25 for the program. Clinical: 30 hours of clinical application at an offsite hospital, one day a week (8:30 am-3:30 pm), plus a 4-hour BLS course. Evening classes are offered.
- Weeks
- 19
- Instruction
- 216 hr
- Clinical
- 30 hr
- Cost
- $257.25published total
Includes- Clinicals
Prepares forDurham Technical Community College course on the school's site
Guilford Technical Community College: Central Sterile Processing TechnicianCentral Sterile Processing Technician
63scoreBest for a published, all-in price near Jamestown
Guilford Technical Community College (Jamestown, NC, public) runs this non-credit course. The school publishes a price of $328 for the program (2026-27). Clinical: Clinical or clinical simulation portion; these hours do not count toward the 400 hours required for full CRCST.
- Clinical
- Included
- Cost
- $328published total, 2026-27
Includes- Clinicals
- Textbook
Prepares forOfficial page for the Guilford Technical Community College course
Wilson Community College: Central Sterile Processing Technician (CSPT)Central Sterile Processing Technician (CSPT)
62scoreBest for hybrid study near Wilson
Wilson Community College (Wilson, NC, public) runs this hybrid non-credit course. The school publishes a price of $348 for the program (2026-27). Clinical: 100 hours of clinical experience in a healthcare setting.
- Clinical
- 100 hr
- Cost
- $348published total, 2026-27
Includes- Clinicals
Prepares forPiedmont Community College: Central Sterile ProcessingCentral Sterile Processing
62scoreBest for hybrid study near Roxboro
Piedmont Community College (Roxboro, NC, public) runs this hybrid non-credit course (January 19 to April 19, 2027). The school publishes a price of $353 for the program (2026-27). Clinical: 27 hours at an assigned clinical site during one week between weeks 8 and 13.
- Clinical
- 27 hr
- Cost
- $353published total, 2026-27
Includes- Clinicals
Prepares forFayetteville Technical Community College: Central Sterile Processing (C45180)Central Sterile Processing (C45180)
51scoreBest for hands-on training near Fayetteville
Fayetteville Technical Community College (Fayetteville, NC, public) runs this certificate (1 semester). Clinical: STP 102 STP Clinical Practice (3 credits, 9 clinical contact hours in the sequence). The school reported 7 sterile processing awards for 2022-23 (IPEDS).
- Weeks
- 161 semester
- Credits
- 17
- Clinical
- Included
- Cost
- $76per credit, 2025-26
Includes- Clinicals
Prepares forAdmission details for the Fayetteville Technical Community College certificate
Craven Community College: Central Sterile Processing Technician (PHM-CSTECH)Central Sterile Processing Technician (PHM-CSTECH)
50scoreBest for hands-on training near New Bern
Craven Community College (New Bern, NC, public) runs this on campus non-credit course. Clinical: Classroom instruction, labs and clinical rotations.
- Clinical
- Included
Includes- Clinicals
Prepares forRockingham Community College: Central Sterile ProcessingCentral Sterile Processing
50scoreBest for hybrid study near Wentworth
Rockingham Community College (Wentworth, NC, public) runs this hybrid non-credit course. Clinical: Practical applications of learned concepts and procedures.
- Clinical
- Included
Includes- Clinicals
Prepares forCoastal Carolina Community College: Central Sterile Processing TechnicianCentral Sterile Processing Technician
47scoreBest for a published, all-in price near Jacksonville
Coastal Carolina Community College (Jacksonville, NC, public) runs this non-credit course. The school publishes a price of $180 for the program (2026-27).
- Cost
- $180published total, 2026-27
Prepares forApply or ask about the Coastal Carolina Community College course
Wake Technical Community College: Central Sterile Processing Technician (PHM-3002A3)Central Sterile Processing Technician (PHM-3002A3)
47scoreBest for hybrid study near Raleigh
Wake Technical Community College (Raleigh, NC, public) runs this hybrid non-credit course (3 months or less). The school publishes a price of $200 for the program (2026-27).
- Weeks
- 133 months or less
- Instruction
- 112 hr
- Cost
- $200published total, 2026-27
Prepares forBeaufort County Community College: Central Sterile Preparation Technician-HybridCentral Sterile Preparation Technician-Hybrid
46scoreBest for hybrid study near Washington
Beaufort County Community College (Washington, NC, public) runs this hybrid non-credit course (February 2 to April 27, 2027). The school publishes a price of $205.25 for the program (2026-27). Evening classes are offered.
- Instruction
- 240 hr
- Cost
- $205.25published total, 2026-27
Prepares forAdmission details for the Beaufort County Community College course
More North Carolina Sterile Processing Schools: Ranks 11 to 13
How this list is ranked: the same score as the ranking above, continued.
| Rank | Program | Score | Length | Clinical | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Vance-Granville Community College: Central Sterile ProcessingHenderson, NC | 45 | 11 weeks | $322.60 | |
| 12 | Davidson-Davie Community College: Central Sterile ProcessingThomasville, NC | 31 | 12 weeks | $286.50 | |
| 13 | Forsyth Technical Community College: Central Sterile ProcessingWinston-Salem, NC | 25 | 15 weeks | Included |
Sterile Processing Schools in North Carolina, Compared
All 14 sterile processing schools in North Carolina, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham Technical Community College: official siteDurham · Public | 64 | Non-credit course | 30 hr | $257.25 | |
| Guilford Technical Community College: official siteJamestown · Public | 63 | Non-credit course | Included | $328 | |
| Piedmont Community College: official siteRoxboro · Public | 62 | Non-credit course | 27 hr | $353 | |
| Wilson Community College: official siteWilson · Public | 62 | Non-credit course | 100 hr | $348 | |
| Fayetteville Technical Community College: official siteFayetteville · Public | 51 | Certificate | Included | 7 | |
| Craven Community College: official siteNew Bern · Public | 50 | Non-credit course | Included | ||
| Rockingham Community College: official siteWentworth · Public | 50 | Non-credit course | Included | ||
| Coastal Carolina Community College: official siteJacksonville · Public | 47 | Non-credit course | $180 | ||
| Wake Technical Community College: official siteRaleigh · Public | 47 | Non-credit course | $200 | ||
| Beaufort County Community College: official siteWashington · Public | 46 | Non-credit course | $205.25 | ||
| Vance-Granville Community College: official siteHenderson · Public | 45 | Non-credit course | $322.60 | ||
| Davidson-Davie Community College: official siteThomasville · Public | 31 | Non-credit course | $286.50 | 6 | |
| Forsyth Technical Community College: official siteWinston-Salem · Public | 25 | Non-credit course | Included | ||
| Gaston College: official siteDallas · Public | 11 | Certificate | 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 North Carolina: Every Program
North Carolina has 2 for-credit programs (certificate, diploma or degree) and 12 non-credit courses; 5 offer evening or weekend classes, and 9 are 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina.
| 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 | |
| Beaufort County Community College: hybrid program pageWashington, NC | Hybrid | 240 hours | $205.25published total, 2026-27 | |
| Davidson-Davie Community College: hybrid program pageThomasville, NC | Hybrid | 12 weeks | $286.50published total, 2026-27 | |
| Durham Technical Community College: hybrid program pageDurham, NC | Hybrid | 19 weeks | 30 | $257.25published total |
| Forsyth Technical Community College: hybrid program pageWinston-Salem, NC | Hybrid | 15 weeks | Included | |
| Piedmont Community College: hybrid program pageRoxboro, NC | Hybrid | 27 | $353published total, 2026-27 | |
| Rockingham Community College: hybrid program pageWentworth, NC | Hybrid | Included | ||
| Vance-Granville Community College: hybrid program pageHenderson, NC | Hybrid | 11 weeks | $322.60published total, 2026 | |
| Wake Technical Community College: hybrid program pageRaleigh, NC | Hybrid | 13 weeks | $200published total, 2026-27 | |
| Wilson Community College: hybrid program pageWilson, NC | Hybrid | 100 | $348published total, 2026-27 |
How the North Carolina Programs Are Scored
Every North Carolina 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 North Carolina
No North Carolina 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 North Carolina
- bottom tenth
- $36,410
- median
- $45,130
- top tenth
- $58,950
- employed
- 2,900
North Carolina's median of $45,130 is below 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 North Carolina
- Albany Technical CollegeAlbany, GA · certificate
- Atlanta Technical CollegeAtlanta, GA · certificate
- Augusta Technical CollegeAugusta, GA · certificate
- Chattahoochee Technical CollegeMarietta, GA · certificate
- Aiken Technical CollegeGraniteville, SC · certificate
- Florence-Darlington Technical CollegeFlorence, SC · non-credit course
- Greenville Technical CollegeGreenville, SC · certificate
- Midlands Technical CollegeColumbia, SC · non-credit course
- Concorde Career College-MemphisMemphis, TN · diploma
- Motlow State Community CollegeTullahoma, TN · certificate
- Nashville State Community CollegeNashville, TN · certificate
- Tennessee College of Applied Technology-JacksonJackson, TN · certificate
- J Sargeant Reynolds Community CollegeRichmond, VA · certificate
- Virginia Western Community CollegeRoanoke, VA · non-credit course
Sterile Processing Classes Near North Carolina 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.
- Asheville
- Belmont 1
- Cerro Gordo
- Charlotte 1
- Concord 2
- Dallas 1
- Denver 1
- Durham 4
- Fayetteville 2
- Gastonia 1
- Henderson 5
- High Point 4
- Huntersville 2
- Jacksonville 2
- Jamestown 4
- Kinston 4
- Lenoir 1
- Lumberton 1
- Mint Hill 1
- Mooresville 3
- Morganton 1
- Myrtle Grove
- New Bern 3
- Raeford 1
- Raleigh 5
- Roxboro 4
- Shelby 1
- Spindale 2
- Statesville 3
- Thomasville 4
- Washington 3
- Wentworth 5
- Wilmington 1
- Wilson 2
- Winston-Salem 4
Questions About Sterile Processing Technician Programs in North Carolina
What Is the Best Sterile Processing Technician Program in North Carolina?
Central Sterile Processing (PHM-3002A) at Durham Technical Community College ranks first with a score of 64 of 100, ahead of Guilford Technical Community College (63) and Wilson Community College (62). 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 North Carolina?
14 at 14 schools, verified on each school's own site in November 2026. Washington (1), Jacksonville (1), New Bern (1) and Thomasville (1) have the most.
How Do You Become a Sterile Processing Technician in North Carolina?
Finish a training program (14 run in North Carolina), 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. North Carolina has no certification law in force, but many hospitals hire for the CRCST. Every step in order.
How Long Is Sterile Processing Training in North Carolina?
From 11 to 19 weeks among the 6 North Carolina programs that state a length, with a median of 13 weeks. Clinical hours can add time when they come after the classroom part.
Which North Carolina Programs Include Clinical Hours?
Craven Community College, Durham Technical Community College, Fayetteville Technical Community College, Forsyth Technical Community College, Guilford Technical Community College and Piedmont Community 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 North Carolina?
Among the 9 North Carolina programs that publish a price for the whole program, cost runs from $180 to $353, with a median of $287.
Which North Carolina Programs Prepare You for the CRCST?
4 of the 14 name the CRCST on their own pages. The certification program ranking puts those first.
How Much Do Sterile Processing Technicians Make in North Carolina?
The median for medical equipment preparers in North Carolina is $45,130 a year, with the bottom tenth earning $36,410 and the top tenth $58,950, across 2,900 jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The national median is $47,700. Pay in every state.
Can North Carolina Residents Train Online?
Partly. 3 programs put all coursework online, and 9 North Carolina 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 Georgia10 schools
- Best Programs in South Carolina6 schools
- Best Programs in Tennessee8 schools
- Best Programs in Virginia2 schools
- Rankings by StateEvery state's ranking
Sources
- Official program pages of the 14 North Carolina 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