2027 Rankings · Verified November 2026
Best Online Sterile Processing Technician Programs
What Are the Best Online Sterile Processing Technician Programs?
Central Coast College (Salinas, CA) ranks first, with a score of 83 of 100. 71 sterile processing programs at 70 schools in 25 states fit this ranking, each checked on the school's own site in November 2026. 28 are non-credit courses and 43 are credit certificates, diplomas or degrees. 68 are hybrid, with coursework online and labs or clinicals in person, and 3 are fully online; HSPA's CRCST still requires 400 hours of hands-on experience in a real department. 60 include clinical hours, and 17 state 400 or more, the hands-on total full CRCST certification requires. Where the school publishes a price for the whole program, it runs from $200 to $18,063, with a median of $2,399. 5 programs include the certification exam fee or a voucher.
- programs
- 71
- schools
- 70
- hybrid
- 68
- states
- 25
- 400+ clinical hours
- 17
- median length
- 26 wk
- median published cost (37 priced)
- $2,399
Top Picks for Your Situation
| Pick | Program | Score | Published cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Central Coast College, Salinas: Sterile Processing TechnicianCertificate · 32 weeks · 400 clinical hours | 83 | |
| Best for the CRCST's 400 hours | High Desert Medical College-Bakersfield, Bakersfield: Sterile Processing TechnicianCertificate · 32 weeks · 400 clinical hours | 83 | |
| Lowest published cost | Wake Technical Community College, Raleigh: Central Sterile Processing Technician (PHM-3002A3)Non-credit course · 13 weeks | 47 | $200 |
| Fastest | Nebraska Methodist College, Omaha: Sterile Processing Technician Certificate ProgramNon-credit course · 8 weeks | 61 | $795 |
| Best online or hybrid | High Desert Medical College-Lancaster, Lancaster: Sterile Processing TechnicianCertificate · 32 weeks · 400 clinical hours | 83 |
Each pick links to the program's entry on its state ranking. Score: out of 100, as explained under How Each Program Is Scored.
The 10 Best Online Sterile Processing Technician Programs, 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 sterile processing (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.
Central Coast College: Sterile Processing TechnicianSterile Processing Technician
83score of 100Best for covering the CRCST's 400 hands-on hours near Salinas
Central Coast College (Salinas, CA, private for-profit) runs this hybrid certificate (32 weeks). Clinical: 400-hour clinical externship.
- Weeks
- 3232 weeks
- Hours
- 830instruction
- Clinical
- 400hours, meets 400
Includes- Clinicals
Prepares forCentral Coast College certificate on the school's site · Central Coast College among California programs
High Desert Medical College-Bakersfield: Sterile Processing TechnicianSterile Processing Technician
83score of 100Best for covering the CRCST's 400 hands-on hours near Bakersfield
High Desert Medical College-Bakersfield (Bakersfield, CA) runs this hybrid certificate (32 weeks). Clinical: 400-hour clinical externship. Evening classes are offered.
- Weeks
- 3232 weeks
- Hours
- 830instruction
- Clinical
- 400hours, meets 400
Includes- Clinicals
Prepares forOfficial page for the High Desert Medical College-Bakersfield certificate · How High Desert Medical College-Bakersfield ranks in California
High Desert Medical College-Lancaster: Sterile Processing TechnicianSterile Processing Technician
83score of 100Best for covering the CRCST's 400 hands-on hours near Lancaster
High Desert Medical College-Lancaster (Lancaster, CA) runs this hybrid certificate (32 weeks). Clinical: 400-hour clinical externship. Evening classes are offered.
- Weeks
- 3232 weeks
- Hours
- 830instruction
- Clinical
- 400hours, meets 400
Includes- Clinicals
Prepares forApply or ask about the High Desert Medical College-Lancaster certificate · California ranking: High Desert Medical College-Lancaster
High Desert Medical College-Temecula: Sterile Processing TechnicianSterile Processing Technician
83score of 100Best for covering the CRCST's 400 hands-on hours near Temecula
High Desert Medical College-Temecula (Temecula, CA) runs this hybrid certificate (32 weeks). Clinical: 400-hour clinical externship. Evening classes are offered.
- Weeks
- 3232 weeks
- Hours
- 830instruction
- Clinical
- 400hours, meets 400
Includes- Clinicals
Prepares forHigh Desert Medical College-Temecula's own page for this certificate · High Desert Medical College-Temecula among California programs
Integrity College of Health: Sterile Processing TechnicianSterile Processing Technician
83score of 100Best for covering the CRCST's 400 hands-on hours near Pasadena
Integrity College of Health (Pasadena, CA, private for-profit) runs this hybrid certificate (32 weeks). Clinical: 400-hour clinical externship.
- Weeks
- 3232 weeks
- Hours
- 830instruction
- Clinical
- 400hours, meets 400
Includes- Clinicals
Prepares forAdmission details for the Integrity College of Health certificate · How Integrity College of Health ranks in California
JVS Boston: Central Sterile Processing Technician Training ProgramCentral Sterile Processing Technician Training Program
83score of 100Best for covering the CRCST's 400 hands-on hours near Boston
JVS Boston (Boston, MA) runs this hybrid non-credit course (12 weeks, full-time). Clinical: Week 1 in person; weeks 2-12 remote over Zoom with 10 hours a week of hands-on training in a hospital CSP lab every Wednesday, then 400 externship hours with an employer partner.
- Weeks
- 1212 weeks, full-time
- Clinical
- 400hours, meets 400
Includes- Clinicals
Prepares forJVS Boston course on the school's site · Massachusetts ranking: JVS Boston
Rowan College at Burlington County: Central Services TechnicianCentral Services Technician
81score of 100Best 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
- 400hours, meets 400
- Cost
- $2,750published course fee, 2026-27
Includes- Clinicals
- Exam voucher
- Textbook
Prepares forOfficial page for the Rowan College at Burlington County course · Rowan College at Burlington County among New Jersey programs
College of Southern Nevada: Sterile Processing Technician (Certificate of Completion)Sterile Processing Technician (Certificate of Completion)
81score of 100Best for covering the CRCST's 400 hands-on hours near Las Vegas
College of Southern Nevada (Las Vegas, NV, public) runs this hybrid certificate. Clinical: 400 hours in the clinical setting. The school reported 15 sterile processing awards for 2022-23 (IPEDS).
- Credits
- 9
- Clinical
- 400hours, meets 400
Includes- Clinicals
Prepares forApply or ask about the College of Southern Nevada certificate · How College of Southern Nevada ranks in Nevada
American Institute of Medical Sciences &Amp; Education (AIMS Education): Sterile Processing TechnicianSterile Processing Technician
80score of 100Best for covering the CRCST's 400 hands-on hours 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
- 400hours, meets 400
Includes- Clinicals
Prepares forAmerican Institute of Medical Sciences & Education's own page for this certificate · New Jersey ranking: American Institute of Medical Sciences & Education
Delaware Technical Community College: Central Service Technician (Sterile Processing)Central Service Technician (Sterile Processing)
78score of 100Best for the CRCST's 400 hours with the exam fee paid near Dover
Delaware Technical Community College (Dover, DE) runs this hybrid and on campus non-credit course. The school publishes a price of $3,595 for the program (2027). Clinical: 400 internship hours included; hours and locations may vary from the course schedule. Evening and weekend classes are offered.
- Hours
- 200instruction
- Clinical
- 400hours, meets 400
- Cost
- $3,595published total, 2027
Includes- Clinicals
- Exam voucher
- Textbook
Prepares forAdmission details for the Delaware Technical Community College course · Delaware Technical Community College among Delaware programs
More of the Best Online Sterile Processing Technician Programs: Ranks 11 to 25
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 sterile processing (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.
Lowest-Cost Online and Hybrid Programs
How this list is ranked: lowest published cost first. Cost is the program total or the single course fee each school publishes for the whole program, read on the school's own site in November 2026; per-credit rates are never multiplied out. Published costs often leave out the certification exam fee, books, uniforms and background checks. One program per school.
Wake Technical Community College: Central Sterile Processing Technician (PHM-3002A3)Central Sterile Processing Technician (PHM-3002A3)
$200published total, 2026-27Best for a low-cost course 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
- Hours
- 112instruction
- Cost
- $200published total, 2026-27
Prepares forWake Technical Community College course on the school's site · Wake Technical Community College among North Carolina programs
Beaufort County Community College: Central Sterile Preparation Technician-HybridCentral Sterile Preparation Technician-Hybrid
$205.25published total, 2026-27Best for a low-cost course 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.
- Hours
- 240instruction
- Cost
- $205.25published total, 2026-27
Prepares forOfficial page for the Beaufort County Community College course · How Beaufort County Community College ranks in North Carolina
Durham Technical Community College: Central Sterile Processing (PHM-3002A)Central Sterile Processing (PHM-3002A)
$257.25published totalBest for a low-cost course 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
- Hours
- 216instruction
- Clinical
- 30hours
- Cost
- $257.25published total
Includes- Clinicals
Prepares forApply or ask about the Durham Technical Community College course · North Carolina ranking: Durham Technical Community College
Davidson-Davie Community College: Central Sterile ProcessingCentral Sterile Processing
$286.50published total, 2026-27Best for a low-cost course near Thomasville
Davidson-Davie Community College (Thomasville, NC, public) runs this hybrid non-credit course (12 weeks). The school publishes a price of $286.50 for the program (2026-27). Clinical: No clinical hours; in-person labs at the Davie Campus, with employer orientation or training after hire. Evening classes are offered. The school reported 6 sterile processing awards for 2022-23 (IPEDS).
- Weeks
- 1212 weeks
- Hours
- 180instruction
- Cost
- $286.50published total, 2026-27
Davidson-Davie Community College's own page for this course · Davidson-Davie Community College among North Carolina programs
Vance-Granville Community College: Central Sterile ProcessingCentral Sterile Processing
$322.60published total, 2026Best for a low-cost course near Henderson
Vance-Granville Community College (Henderson, NC, public) runs this hybrid non-credit course. The school publishes a price of $322.60 for the program (2026). Evening classes are offered.
- Weeks
- 11
- Cost
- $322.60published total, 2026
Prepares forAdmission details for the Vance-Granville Community College course · How Vance-Granville Community College ranks in North Carolina
Wilson Community College: Central Sterile Processing Technician (CSPT)Central Sterile Processing Technician (CSPT)
$348published total, 2026-27Best for a low-cost course 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
- 100hours
- Cost
- $348published total, 2026-27
Includes- Clinicals
Prepares forWilson Community College course on the school's site · North Carolina ranking: Wilson Community College
Piedmont Community College: Central Sterile ProcessingCentral Sterile Processing
$353published total, 2026-27Best for a low-cost course 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
- 27hours
- Cost
- $353published total, 2026-27
Includes- Clinicals
Prepares forOfficial page for the Piedmont Community College course · Piedmont Community College among North Carolina programs
Nebraska Methodist College: Sterile Processing Technician Certificate ProgramSterile Processing Technician Certificate Program
$795published total, 2026-27Best for a low-cost course near Omaha
Nebraska Methodist College (Omaha, NE, private nonprofit) runs this hybrid non-credit course (Eight weeks (FAQ says six weeks)). The school publishes a price of $795 for the program (2026-27). Clinical: Hands-on clinicals one afternoon a week at Methodist Hospital.
- Weeks
- 8Eight weeks (FAQ says six weeks)
- Clinical
- Yesincluded
- Cost
- $795published total, 2026-27
Includes- Clinicals
Prepares forApply or ask about the Nebraska Methodist College course · How Nebraska Methodist College ranks in Nebraska
Most Clinical Hours: Online and Hybrid
How this list is ranked: most hands-on clinical hours first, as each program's own page states them (November 2026). HSPA's CRCST certification requires 400 hours of hands-on experience; programs at 400 or more cover it. Ties go to the lower published cost; one program per school.
Queensborough Community College (CUNY): Sterile Processing Technician - Hybrid ClassSterile Processing Technician - Hybrid Class
400 hrclinical hours statedBest for covering the CRCST's 400 hands-on hours inside the program near Bayside
Queensborough Community College (CUNY) (Bayside, NY, public) runs this hybrid non-credit course (Jan; 25 - Feb; 24 online, Mar; 01 - Mar; 10 in-person labs). The school publishes a price of $2,295 for the program (2026-27). Clinical: Eligible students may complete a 400-hour externship with Northwell Health. Evening classes are offered.
- Hours
- 80instruction
- Clinical
- 400hours, meets 400
- Cost
- $2,295published total, 2026-27
Includes- Clinicals
Prepares forQueensborough Community College course on the school's site · Queensborough Community College among New York programs
Rowan College at Burlington County: Central Services TechnicianCentral Services Technician
400 hrclinical hours statedBest for covering the CRCST's 400 hands-on hours inside the program 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
- 400hours, meets 400
- Cost
- $2,750published course fee, 2026-27
Includes- Clinicals
- Exam voucher
- Textbook
Prepares forOfficial page for the Rowan College at Burlington County course · How Rowan College at Burlington County ranks in New Jersey
Yakima Valley College: Sterile Processing Technician (SPT) CertificateSterile Processing Technician (SPT) Certificate
400 hrclinical hours statedBest for covering the CRCST's 400 hands-on hours inside the program near Yakima
Yakima Valley College (Yakima, WA, public) runs this hybrid certificate (Two quarters (about 6 months)). The school publishes a price of $3,074.45 for the program (2026-27). Clinical: 400-hour clinical externship.
- Weeks
- 26Two quarters (about 6 months)
- Credits
- 19
- Clinical
- 400hours, meets 400
- Cost
- $3,074.45published total, 2026-27
Includes- Clinicals
Prepares forApply or ask about the Yakima Valley College certificate · Washington ranking: Yakima Valley College
Delaware Technical Community College: Central Service Technician (Sterile Processing)Central Service Technician (Sterile Processing)
400 hrclinical hours statedBest for covering the CRCST's 400 hands-on hours inside the program near Dover
Delaware Technical Community College (Dover, DE) runs this hybrid and on campus non-credit course. The school publishes a price of $3,595 for the program (2027). Clinical: 400 internship hours included; hours and locations may vary from the course schedule. Evening and weekend classes are offered.
- Hours
- 200instruction
- Clinical
- 400hours, meets 400
- Cost
- $3,595published total, 2027
Includes- Clinicals
- Exam voucher
- Textbook
Prepares forDelaware Technical Community College's own page for this course · Delaware Technical Community College among Delaware programs
Fletcher Technical Community College: Sterile Processing (Certificate of Technical Studies)Sterile Processing (Certificate of Technical Studies)
400 hrclinical hours statedBest for covering the CRCST's 400 hands-on hours inside the program near Schriever
Fletcher Technical Community College (Schriever, LA, public) runs this hybrid certificate (Two semesters). The school publishes a price of $4,202.66 for the program (2026-27). Clinical: Hospital clinical rotations under a preceptor, beginning late October and continuing through the spring semester; completion of 400 hours of clinical experience is required to graduate. The school reported 6 sterile processing awards for 2022-23 (IPEDS).
- Weeks
- 32Two semesters
- Credits
- 21
- Clinical
- 400hours, meets 400
- Cost
- $4,202.66published total, 2026-27
Includes- Clinicals
Prepares forAdmission details for the Fletcher Technical Community College certificate · How Fletcher Technical Community College ranks in Louisiana
Premiere Career College: Hospital Central Service TechnicianHospital Central Service Technician
400 hrclinical hours statedBest for covering the CRCST's 400 hands-on hours inside the program near Irwindale
Premiere Career College (Irwindale, CA, private for-profit) runs this on campus and hybrid diploma (30 weeks (day); maximum timeframe 45 weeks). The school publishes a price of $12,000 for the program (2026). Clinical: CST104 Hospital Central Service/Instrument Processing externship, 400 clock hours in a hospital central service department. The school reported 29 sterile processing awards for 2022-23 (IPEDS).
- Weeks
- 30
- Hours
- 800instruction
- Clinical
- 400hours, meets 400
- Cost
- $12,000published total, 2026
Includes- Clinicals
Prepares forPremiere Career College diploma on the school's site · California ranking: Premiere Career College
American Institute of Medical Sciences &Amp; Education (AIMS Education): Sterile Processing TechnicianSterile Processing Technician
400 hrclinical hours statedBest for covering the CRCST's 400 hands-on hours inside the program 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
- 400hours, meets 400
Includes- Clinicals
Prepares forOfficial page for the American Institute of Medical Sciences & Education certificate · American Institute of Medical Sciences & Education among New Jersey programs
Central Coast College: Sterile Processing TechnicianSterile Processing Technician
400 hrclinical hours statedBest for covering the CRCST's 400 hands-on hours inside the program near Salinas
Central Coast College (Salinas, CA, private for-profit) runs this hybrid certificate (32 weeks). Clinical: 400-hour clinical externship.
- Weeks
- 3232 weeks
- Hours
- 830instruction
- Clinical
- 400hours, meets 400
Includes- Clinicals
Prepares forApply or ask about the Central Coast College certificate · How Central Coast College ranks in California
How Each Program Is Scored
Each program gets a score 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 and nothing is guessed. Each ranking lists one program per school and leaves out programs not admitting students.
| 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 | Sterile processing awards 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. |
What an Online Sterile Processing Technician Program Covers
Sterile processing has two halves. One is knowledge: microbiology, decontamination chemistry, instrument names, packaging rules, sterilizer cycles and record keeping. The other is hands-on work in a real department, where you scrub, inspect, assemble and sterilize instrument sets under supervision. The knowledge half moves online well. The hands-on half can’t.
That split decides which programs are worth your money. HSPA (the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association, formerly IAHCSMM) requires 400 hours of hands-on experience in a sterile processing department for full CRCST certification, paid or volunteer. HSPA breaks those hours down: 120 in decontamination, 120 in preparing and packaging instruments, 120 in sterilization and disinfection, 24 in storage and distribution and 16 in quality assurance. Hours can’t be documented by a private instructor, so a course’s own lab doesn’t count unless it sits inside a real department.
So an “online” program is really one of three things:
- Fully online coursework with no clinical placement. Only 3 programs in the set work this way.
- Hybrid with a short clinical, where you learn online and spend 27 to 240 hours in a hospital. This covers part of the 400 hours at most.
- Hybrid with the full 400 hours, where lectures are online and the program places you in a department for the whole requirement. 17 programs in the set do this.
The Three Fully Online Programs and What Each Leads to
Kishwaukee College’s CE 086 course in Illinois is a one-semester non-credit course (January 11 to April 16 in spring 2027) for $1,300, which includes textbooks and supplies. It prepares you for CBSPD’s CSPDT exam. CBSPD accepts completion of a sterile processing training course with a passing grade of 70 or higher as an eligibility route, which makes CSPDT the credential an online-only course leads to most directly. The CSPDT exam fee is $135.
Herzing University-Madison’s Diploma in Sterile Processing is the credit option: 24 semester credits and 420 total hours, with 300 lecture hours online and 120 lab hours. It takes as few as 10 months and is billed at $530 per credit. IPEDS records 111 sterile processing awards at Herzing University-Madison in 2022-23.
Lehman College’s STR100 course (CUNY) is 80 hours online plus an optional clinical placement, and the tuition includes textbooks, the registration fee and materials. It prepares you for CRCST.
None of the three supplies the 400 CRCST hours on its own. If you already work in a hospital sterile processing department, that doesn’t matter: your job supplies the hours. If you don’t, read the next sections before you enroll.
Fully Online Sterile Processing Programs
3 programs put all coursework online. The CRCST still needs 400 hours of hands-on work in a sterile processing department, so check how each one helps you get them.
| Program | Credential | Length | Clinical | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sterile Processing Technician (CE 086) at Kishwaukee CollegeMalta, IL | Non-credit course | 16 weeks | $1,300published total, 2026-27 | |
| Diploma in Sterile Processing at Herzing University-MadisonMadison, WI | Diploma | 43 weeks | Included | $530per credit, 2026-27 |
| Sterile Processing Technician (STR100) at Lehman CollegeBronx, NY | Non-credit course | 80 hours | Included |
From each school's own pages, November 2026. Blank cells: the school's pages don't give that figure.
Filter All 71 Online and Hybrid Programs
Filter by credential, format, clinical hours, exam fee included, certification, schedule and state; tick up to three programs to compare them side by side.
71 programs
- Certificate
Sterile Instrument Processing Certificate at Aims Community College: Schedule, Cost and What It Includes
Aims Community College school facts and programs · Greeley, CO
- Credits
- 17
- Clinical
- Yesincluded
- Cost
- $2,702published total
- Clinicals
- Non-credit course
Certified Sterile Processing Technician (CSPDT) at Alamo Colleges District: Length, Clinicals and Exam Prep
Alamo Colleges District (Alamo Technical Institute) school profile and campuses · San Antonio, TX
- Weeks
- 225 months
- Hours
- 264instruction
- Clinical
- 112hours
- Cost
- $3,855published total
- Clinicals
- Exam voucher
- CertificateCRCST prep
Sterile Processing Technician at American Institute of Medical Sciences &Amp; Education: Schedule, Cost and What It Includes
American Institute of Medical Sciences & Education (AIMS Education) school facts and programs · Piscataway, NJ
- Weeks
- 4310 months
- Credits
- 26
- Clinical
- 400hours, meets 400
- Clinicals
- Non-credit course
Sterile Processing (Certified Sterile Processing Technician) at Austin Community College: Cost, Length and Clinical Hours
Austin Community College sterile processing profile · Austin, TX
- Weeks
- 133 months, about 9 hours per week
- Clinical
- Yesincluded
- Cost
- $1,140published total, 2026-27
- Clinicals
- Non-credit course
Central Sterile Preparation Technician-Hybrid at Beaufort County Community College: Cost, Length and Clinical Hours
Beaufort County Community College school profile and campuses · Washington, NC
- Hours
- 240instruction
- Cost
- $205.25published total, 2026-27
- Certificate
Sterile Processing Technician Program at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College: Tuition, Hours and Certification
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College school profile and campuses · Martinsburg, WV
- Weeks
- 174 months
- Hours
- 80instruction
- CertificateCRCST prep
Sterile Processing Technician at Central Coast College: Admission, Cost and Length
Central Coast College school profile and campuses · Salinas, CA
- Weeks
- 3232 weeks
- Hours
- 830instruction
- Clinical
- 400hours, meets 400
- Clinicals
- CertificateCRCST prep
Sterile Processing Technician (Certificate of Completion) at College of Southern Nevada: Admission, Cost and Length
College of Southern Nevada school profile and campuses · Las Vegas, NV
- Credits
- 9
- Clinical
- 400hours, meets 400
- Clinicals
- CertificateCRCST prep
Central Sterile Processing, Level 1 Certificate at Collin College: Cost, Length and Clinical Hours
Collin College school facts and programs · McKinney, TX
- Weeks
- 322 semesters
- Credits
- 16
- Clinical
- Yesincluded
- Clinicals
- DiplomaCRCST prep
Sterile Processing Technician Diploma at Concorde Career College: Admission, Cost and Length
Concorde Career College programs at this school · San Antonio, TX
- Weeks
- 22
- Hours
- 216instruction
- Clinical
- 80hours
- Clinicals
- DiplomaCRCST prep
Sterile Processing Technician at Concorde Career College-Garden Grove: Schedule, Cost and What It Includes
Concorde Career College-Garden Grove school profile and campuses · Garden Grove, CA
- Weeks
- 22
- Hours
- 216instruction
- Clinical
- 80hours
- Cost
- $2,891published total
- Clinicals
- DiplomaCRCST prep
Sterile Processing Technician Diploma Program at Concorde Career College-Kansas City: Schedule, Cost and What It Includes
Concorde Career College-Kansas City school facts and programs · Kansas City, MO
- Weeks
- 22As few as 5 months
- Credits
- 8
- Clinical
- 80hours
- Clinicals
- DiplomaCRCST prep
Sterile Processing Technician at Concorde Career College-North Hollywood: Cost, Length and Clinical Hours
Concorde Career College-North Hollywood school profile and campuses · North Hollywood, CA
- Weeks
- 22
- Hours
- 216instruction
- Clinical
- 80hours
- Cost
- $2,891published total
- Clinicals
- DiplomaCRCST prep
Sterile Processing Technician at Concorde Career College-Portland: Length, Clinicals and Exam Prep
Concorde Career College-Portland school facts and programs · Portland, OR
- Weeks
- 22
- Hours
- 216instruction
- Clinical
- 80hours
- Cost
- $3,064published total
- Clinicals
- Non-credit course
Central Sterile Processing Technician (CSPT 0500) at Connecticut State Community College: Schedule, Cost and What It Includes
Connecticut State Community College programs at this school · New Britain, CT
- Hours
- 80instruction
- Clinical
- Yesincluded
- Cost
- $1,800published course fee, 2026-27
- Clinicals
- Non-credit course
Sterile Processing Technician at Dallas College: Schedule, Cost and What It Includes
Dallas College school profile and campuses · Dallas, TX
- Weeks
- 17About 4 months
- Hours
- 216instruction
- Clinical
- 120hours
- Cost
- $1,960published total, 2026-27
- Clinicals
- Non-credit course
Central Sterile Processing at Davidson-Davie Community College: Tuition, Hours and Certification
Davidson-Davie Community College school profile and campuses · Thomasville, NC
- Weeks
- 1212 weeks
- Hours
- 180instruction
- Cost
- $286.50published total, 2026-27
- Non-credit courseCRCST prep
Sterile Processing Technician at Del Mar College: Length, Clinicals and Exam Prep
Del Mar College school profile and campuses · Corpus Christi, TX
- Hours
- 80instruction
- Clinical
- Yesincluded
- Cost
- $900published total
- Clinicals
- Non-credit courseCRCST prep
Central Service Technician (Sterile Processing) at Delaware Technical Community College: Length, Clinicals and Exam Prep
Delaware Technical Community College sterile processing profile · Dover, DE
- Hours
- 200instruction
- Clinical
- 400hours, meets 400
- Cost
- $3,595published total, 2027
- Clinicals
- Exam voucher
- Textbook
- CertificateCRCST prep
Sterile Processing Technician, Advanced Certificate at Delta College: Schedule, Cost and What It Includes
Delta College school facts and programs · University Center, MI
- Weeks
- 322 semesters
- Credits
- 27
- Cost
- $4,734published total
No programs match these filters.
Program facts come from each school's own pages, reviewed November 2026. Cost is the price the school publishes for the whole program (a total or a single course fee); per-credit rates show as rates. Published prices often leave out the exam fee, books and background checks. Clinical hours, the exam fee and the textbook show as included only where the program's page says so; certification tags show the exams the page names.
Hybrid Programs That Include All 400 Clinical Hours
These programs teach the theory online or in a hybrid format and then place you in a sterile processing department for the full 400 hours. When you finish, you can apply for full CRCST rather than provisional status.
| Program | Format and length | Clinical hours | Published cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queensborough Community College (CUNY), hybrid class | Online Jan 25 to Feb 24, in-person labs Mar 1 to 10; 80 hours | 400-hour clinical placement with Northwell Health for eligible students | $2,295 |
| Rowan College at Burlington County, Central Services Technician | Evening classes March 1 to July 9 | 400-hour in-person clinical placement | $2,750, includes textbook and one exam attempt |
| Yakima Valley College SPT Certificate | Two quarters, 19 credits | 400-hour clinical placement | $3,074.45 total, includes the $140 exam fee |
| Delaware Technical Community College | Day, evening or weekend sections; 200 hours | 400 internship hours | $3,595, includes textbooks, exam fees and clinicals |
| Fletcher Technical Community College | Two semesters, 21 credits | 400 hours required to graduate | About $4,202.66 tuition and fees |
| Truckee Meadows Community College | One semester of online coursework plus clinical | 400 hours | Billed by credit |
| Premiere Career College | 30 weeks, 800 clock hours | 400-hour clinical placement | $12,000 total |
Delaware Tech’s fee is the most complete in the set: it covers textbooks, the background check, drug screening, certification exam fees, supplies and the clinical placement. Yakima Valley’s published total also includes the $140 exam fee, books and scrubs.
JVS Boston runs a different model. Week 1 is in person, weeks 2 to 12 are remote over Zoom with 10 hours a week of hands-on training in a hospital lab every Wednesday, and then you complete 400 clinical hours with an employer partner. JVS lists the program as free, and it is full-time.
Three California career colleges, Central Coast College, High Desert Medical College and Integrity College of Health, run the same 32-week, 830-clock-hour certificate: 200 classroom hours, 230 lab hours and a 400-hour clinical placement. The High Desert campuses offer day and evening schedules.
Lowest-Cost Online and Hybrid Options
North Carolina’s community colleges dominate the low end, with hybrid non-credit courses priced as a single section fee. These suit you best if you already work in a hospital or can find a department to log hours.
| Program | Length | Clinical time | Published cost | Exam it targets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wake Technical Community College | 112 contact hours, 3 months or less | $200 per section | CSPDT | |
| Beaufort County Community College | 240 hours, Feb 2 to Apr 27, 2027 | $205.25 | CSPDT | |
| Durham Technical Community College | 216 contact hours, about 4.5 months | 30 hours at an offsite hospital | $257.25 | CSPDT |
| Vance-Granville Community College | About 11 weeks, Mon to Wed 4:30 to 8:00 pm | $322.60 including the book bundle | CRCST and CSPDT | |
| Wilson Community College | Hybrid | 100 hours | $348 in fees | CRCST |
| Nebraska Methodist College | Eight weeks | One afternoon a week at Methodist Hospital | $795 | CRCST |
| Austin Community College | 3 months, about 9 hours a week | Clinical at a local hospital | $1,140 | CSPDT |
| Tarrant County College | 2 semesters, 16 credits | 240 clinic hours | $1,184 in-county |
A blank cell means the course page lists no clinical hours or no target exam.
A low fee usually means a short course with few or no clinical hours. Wake Tech’s $200 buys the theory; you would still need a department to log 400 hours for CRCST, or you could take the CSPDT route. Beaufort County lists its course as free for eligible students, and Wake Tech’s Propel scholarships can cover registration and fees. More North Carolina options are on the North Carolina page.
Tarrant County College is the low-cost pick if you want clinical time built in: it arranges 240 clinic hours in the second semester, and its $1,184 covers tuition and fees for all 16 credits at in-county rates. Austin Community College and Del Mar College add more hybrid options in the Texas programs list.
Evening and Weekend Hybrid Schedules for Working Adults
21 programs in the online set offer evening sections and 5 offer weekends. The class time is the flexible part; the clinical time usually isn’t.
- Rowan College at Burlington County holds classes Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 6 to 8 pm, but the clinical placement typically runs 7:30 am to 3:30 pm, Monday to Friday.
- Delaware Tech runs Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening hybrid sections in Dover and Tuesday-Thursday evening plus Saturday morning in-person sections in Wilmington.
- SVSTI in Fremont, California pairs online coursework with nine weekends of lab (Saturday and Sunday, noon to 4 pm), then a six-week, 240-hour clinical placement. The program price is $5,250.
- Virginia Western Community College offers day and weekend sections of a 10-week course.
- Southern California Regional Occupational Center teaches Monday to Thursday, 4:15 to 7:00 pm, for one semester, with a clinical placement.
If you work days, plan for the clinical hours before you plan for the classes. Ask your employer about leave for those weeks, or choose a course without a built-in clinical placement and log hours in a department on a schedule you can keep.
Sterile Processing Technician Certification Online: What Has to Happen in Person
Coursework, homework and review can all be online. Three parts of certification can’t.
| Step | CRCST (HSPA) | CSPDT (CBSPD) |
|---|---|---|
| Hands-on requirement | 400 hours in a sterile processing department, paid or volunteer | One route is completing a training course with a grade of 70 or higher; others are 12 months of full-time SPD work or six months each of allied health and SPD work |
| When the hours can come | Within the five years before you apply, or within six months after passing (provisional) | Before applying |
| Exam | 150 questions, three hours, in person at a Prometric facility | 150 questions, including 25 unscored pretest questions |
| Exam fee | $140 | $135 |
The CRCST provisional route matters most to online students. You can study online, pass the exam, then complete the 400 hours within six months. HSPA allows a one-time two-month extension if you are working or volunteering in a sterile processing department. Miss the window and the provisional certification is forfeited. Virginia Western’s course is built around this route: its $3,198 tuition ($1,066 with FastForward assistance) includes online course access, the textbook and workbook and the certification test, and the 400 hours are completed in a department within six months of provisional certification.
Keeping CRCST takes 12 continuing education credits a year and a $50 renewal fee, and much of that continuing education can be done online. The CRCST certification guide and CSPDT certification guide cover each route step by step, and the CRCST hours planner maps your 400 hours against HSPA’s five areas.
Which Online Route Fits Your Situation
You already work in a hospital (environmental services, transport, an OR aide role) and can move into sterile processing or volunteer there. A low-cost hybrid or fully online course is enough. Your department supplies the hours. J Sargeant Reynolds Community College even offers competency-based credit for documented sterile processing work in its 20-credit certificate.
You have no healthcare experience. Choose a hybrid program that places you for all 400 hours, such as Rowan College at Burlington County, Queensborough or Delaware Tech. Finding a department to take an unaffiliated volunteer is the hardest part of the CRCST route, and these programs do it for you.
You work days. Look for evening classes and ask each school when the clinical placement runs. Queensborough and Rowan both teach in the evening, but clinical placements follow hospital shifts.
You want college credit to build on. Herzing’s 24-credit diploma, Fletcher’s 21-credit certificate and Yakima Valley’s 19-credit certificate all carry credit. Santa Fe College’s 30-credit certificate, a hybrid program, published that 20 of 22 graduates in its class of 2025 passed the certification exam.
Trade-Offs to Weigh Before You Enroll
Online coursework vs the hours you still need. A fully online course is flexible and often affordable, but it leaves the 400 CRCST hours to you. If you can’t get into a department, the CSPDT route through course completion is the more direct path.
Short clinical vs full clinical. Concorde Career College-North Hollywood includes an 80-hour clinical placement toward HSPA’s 400 hours and says graduates complete the remaining 320 on their own. That is common: many hybrid programs give you a start on the hours, not all of them.
Community college fee vs career school total. Rowan’s $2,750 course fee and Premiere Career College’s $12,000 total both lead to 400 clinical hours and CRCST. The career school’s figure is itemized and includes books, uniforms, background check and the $140 exam fee; the community college figure is a course fee with fewer extras built in. Compare what each price includes, not just the number. The course cost guide breaks these extras down.
Non-credit vs credit. Non-credit courses are shorter and usually less expensive. Kishwaukee and Frederick Community College both say their courses aren’t eligible for federal financial aid. Credit certificates take longer but stack toward a degree.
How to Choose an Online Program: A Checklist
- Count the clinical hours in writing. 17 of the 71 programs in this set cover all 400. If yours doesn’t, know where your hours will come from.
- Match the exam to the course. Kishwaukee and Wake Tech prepare you for CSPDT; Rowan, Queensborough and Lehman prepare you for CRCST.
- Check what the price includes. Delaware Tech, Rowan and Yakima Valley include the exam fee; most low-cost courses leave out books and the exam.
- Check the clinical schedule, not just the class schedule. Rowan’s evening classes lead into a weekday-daytime clinical placement.
- Check the in-person days. Queensborough’s hybrid class holds in-person labs from March 1 to 10; Herzing’s diploma includes 120 lab hours.
- Look up your state. Some states set certification rules for sterile processing staff in law. The state requirements guide lists them.
For programs near you, try the program finder, or browse all sterile processing technician programs and the most affordable programs.
What the Job Pays and How Long Training Takes
The federal occupation for sterile processing technicians is Medical Equipment Preparers. Its national median pay was $47,700 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Online and hybrid programs in this set run a median of 26 weeks among those that state a length; the training length guide compares course, certificate and diploma timelines, and the step-by-step guide walks through the whole path from first class to certification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Take the CRCST Exam Online?
No. HSPA delivers the CRCST exam in person at a Prometric testing facility. It is a computer-based test of 150 multiple-choice questions with three hours to finish, and the initial fee is $140.
Do Online Sterile Processing Courses Count Toward the 400 CRCST Hours?
No. HSPA counts only hands-on experience completed in a sterile processing department, paid or volunteer. Lectures, quizzes and simulated labs don't add to the 400 hours, so pick a program with a hospital placement or plan to log the hours at work.
Is There a Fully Online Program That Leads to CSPDT?
Kishwaukee College runs a fully online non-credit course (CE 086) that prepares you for CBSPD's CSPDT exam for $1,300, including textbooks and supplies. CBSPD accepts completion of a sterile processing training course with a passing grade of 70 or higher as one of its eligibility routes.
How Long Does a Hybrid Sterile Processing Program Take?
The median among online and hybrid programs that list a length is 26 weeks. Short non-credit courses run 8 to 13 weeks, such as Nebraska Methodist College's eight-week course, while credit certificates with 400 clinical hours, such as Fletcher Technical Community College's, take two semesters.
Can You Get Financial Aid for an Online Sterile Processing Course?
It depends on the program type. Kishwaukee College and Frederick Community College both say their non-credit courses aren't eligible for federal aid, while credit certificates such as J Sargeant Reynolds Community College's are billed per credit hour. Several colleges list their own help, such as Wake Tech's Propel scholarships and Virginia Western's FastForward tuition assistance.
What Happens if You Pass the CRCST Exam Before Finishing Your Hours?
You hold provisional CRCST certification and have six months after passing to submit 400 hours of hands-on experience. HSPA offers a one-time two-month extension to people working or volunteering in a sterile processing department. Missing the deadline forfeits the provisional credential.
More Sterile Processing Rankings and Guides
- Best Sterile Processing Technician ProgramsEvery verified program, scored on hands-on hours, certification prep, cost and track record; 212 programs
- Most Affordable Sterile Processing Technician ProgramsPrograms ranked by the whole-program price each school publishes; 85 programs
- Best Sterile Processing Certification ProgramsPrograms that prepare you for HSPA's CRCST or CBSPD's CSPDT exam; 149 programs
- Best Sterile Processing Technician Programs With ExternshipsPrograms with clinical hours in a hospital sterile processing department; 164 programs
- Best Accelerated Sterile Processing Technician ProgramsPrograms a school says take 16 weeks or less; 43 programs
- Best Sterile Processing Technician CoursesNon-credit workforce courses at colleges and training schools; 69 programs
- Best Community College Sterile Processing ProgramsPrograms at public community and technical colleges; 146 programs
- Best Evening and Weekend Sterile Processing ProgramsPrograms with evening or weekend classes for people who work; 41 programs
- Sterile Processing CertificationThe two national sterile processing certifications, HSPA's CRCST and CBSPD's CSPDT, who can sit each exam and which programs prepare you for them
- How Long Training TakesHow many weeks, instruction hours and clinical hours sterile processing programs take, by credential, from verified program pages
- Course Cost and Financial AidWhat sterile processing courses and certificates cost, from published program prices, what the price leaves out and how to pay for it
- Rankings by StateThe best programs in every state
- All Sterile Processing RankingsEvery ranking on one page
Sources
- Official program, tuition and admissions pages of each school listed, reviewed November 2026
- U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2022-23 completions: sterile processing awards (CIP 51.1012)
- Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA): CRCST certification
- Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD)
- HSPA: CRCST certification application and requirements
- HSPA: CRCST renewal
- CBSPD: CSPDT technician certification exam
- BLS OEWS: Medical Equipment Preparers (31-9093), May 2025