2027 Rankings · Verified November 2026

Best Evening and Weekend Sterile Processing Programs

Which Sterile Processing Programs Run Evening or Weekend Classes?

High Desert Medical College-Bakersfield (Bakersfield, CA) ranks first, with a score of 83 of 100. 41 sterile processing programs at 41 schools in 13 states fit this ranking, each checked on the school's own site in November 2026. 26 are non-credit courses and 15 are credit certificates, diplomas or degrees. 35 include clinical hours, and 9 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 $205 to $23,000, with a median of $2,000. 4 programs include the certification exam fee or a voucher.

Researched and edited by · Updated

programs
41
schools
41
include clinical hours
35
states
13
400+ clinical hours
9
median length
19 wk
median published cost (26 priced)
$2,000

Top Picks for Your Situation

PickProgramScorePublished cost
Best overallHigh Desert Medical College-Bakersfield, Bakersfield: Sterile Processing TechnicianCertificate · 32 weeks · 400 clinical hours83
Best for the CRCST's 400 hoursHigh Desert Medical College-Lancaster, Lancaster: Sterile Processing TechnicianCertificate · 32 weeks · 400 clinical hours83
Lowest published costBeaufort County Community College, Washington: Central Sterile Preparation Technician-HybridNon-credit course46$205.25
FastestMassachusetts Bay Community College, Wellesley Hills: Central Processing Technology (CPT) CertificateCertificate · 6 weeks · 100 clinical hours60
Best online or hybridHigh Desert Medical College-Temecula, Temecula: Sterile Processing TechnicianCertificate · 32 weeks · 400 clinical hours83

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 Evening and Weekend Sterile Processing 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.

  1. High Desert Medical College-Bakersfield: Sterile Processing TechnicianSterile Processing Technician

    83score of 100

    Best 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 for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    High Desert Medical College-Bakersfield certificate on the school's site · High Desert Medical College-Bakersfield among California programs

  2. High Desert Medical College-Lancaster: Sterile Processing TechnicianSterile Processing Technician

    83score of 100

    Best 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 for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    Official page for the High Desert Medical College-Lancaster certificate · How High Desert Medical College-Lancaster ranks in California

  3. High Desert Medical College-Temecula: Sterile Processing TechnicianSterile Processing Technician

    83score of 100

    Best 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 for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    Apply or ask about the High Desert Medical College-Temecula certificate · California ranking: High Desert Medical College-Temecula

  4. Delaware County Community College: Sterile Processing Technician (CAR 2950)Sterile Processing Technician (CAR 2950)

    82score of 100

    Best for covering the CRCST's 400 hands-on hours near Media

    Delaware County Community College (Media, PA, public) runs this on campus non-credit course (Wednesdays, January 27 to May 19, 2027). The school publishes a price of $1,295 for the program (Spring 2027). Clinical: 400-hour externship. Evening classes are offered.

    Hours
    60instruction
    Clinical
    400hours, meets 400
    Cost
    $1,295published total, Spring 2027
    Includes
    • Clinicals
    Prepares for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    Delaware County Community College's own page for this course · Delaware County Community College among Pennsylvania programs

  5. Rowan College at Burlington County: Central Services TechnicianCentral Services Technician

    81score of 100

    Best 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 for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    Admission details for the Rowan College at Burlington County course · How Rowan College at Burlington County ranks in New Jersey

  6. American Institute of Medical Sciences &Amp; Education (AIMS Education): Sterile Processing TechnicianSterile Processing Technician

    80score of 100

    Best 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 for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    American Institute of Medical Sciences & Education certificate on the school's site · New Jersey ranking: American Institute of Medical Sciences & Education

  7. Delaware Technical Community College: Central Service Technician (Sterile Processing)Central Service Technician (Sterile Processing)

    78score of 100

    Best 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 for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    Official page for the Delaware Technical Community College course · Delaware Technical Community College among Delaware programs

  8. Queensborough Community College (CUNY): Sterile Processing Technician - Hybrid ClassSterile Processing Technician - Hybrid Class

    72score of 100

    Best for covering the CRCST's 400 hands-on hours 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 for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    Apply or ask about the Queensborough Community College course · How Queensborough Community College ranks in New York

  9. Bergen Community College: Central Sterile Processing Technician (HH-008)Central Sterile Processing Technician (HH-008)

    69score of 100

    Best for covering the CRCST's 400 hands-on hours 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
    Hours
    460instruction
    Clinical
    400hours, meets 400
    Cost
    $2,950published course fee, 2026-27
    Includes
    • Clinicals
    Prepares for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    Bergen Community College's own page for this course · New Jersey ranking: Bergen Community College

  10. Durham Technical Community College: Central Sterile Processing (PHM-3002A)Central Sterile Processing (PHM-3002A)

    64score of 100

    Best 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
    Hours
    216instruction
    Clinical
    30hours
    Cost
    $257.25published total
    Includes
    • Clinicals
    Prepares for
    • CSPDTCBSPD

    Admission details for the Durham Technical Community College course · Durham Technical Community College among North Carolina programs

More of the Best Evening and Weekend Sterile Processing 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.

RankProgramScoreLengthClinicalCost
11Temple College course: Sterile Processing and Distribution TechnicianTemple, TX · Temple College among Texas programs6122 weeks80 hours$2,234
12Massachusetts Bay Community College certificate: Central Processing Technology (CPT) CertificateWellesley Hills, MA · How Massachusetts Bay Community College ranks in Massachusetts606 weeks100 hours$256
13Niagara County Community College course: Sterile Processing TechnicianSanborn, NY · New York ranking: Niagara County Community College57Included$1,350
14Central Sterilization Solutions course: In-Person CRCST Class (Sterile Processing Technician)Corona, CA · Central Sterilization Solutions among California programs5535 weeksIncluded$1,599
15Virginia Western Community College course: Registered Central Service Technician (Sterile Processing)Roanoke, VA · How Virginia Western Community College ranks in Virginia5510 weeksIncluded$3,198
16Connecticut State Community College course: Central Sterile Processing Technician (CSPT 0500)New Britain, CT · Connecticut ranking: Connecticut State Community College5480 hoursIncluded$1,800
17Broome-Tioga BOCES course: Sterile Processing TechnicianJohnson City, NY · Broome-Tioga BOCES among New York programs54123 hours30 hours$1,810
18Montgomery College course: Sterile Processing Technician (TIP), AHT250Takoma Park, MD · How Montgomery College ranks in Maryland5296 hours80 hours$1,920
19Chesapeake College course: Sterile Processing Technician Certificate ProgramWye Mills, MD · Maryland ranking: Chesapeake College5013 weeksIncluded$2,095
20Bunker Hill Community College certificate: Central Processing CertificateBoston, MA · Bunker Hill Community College among Massachusetts programs5032 weeksIncluded$289
21Martinson College certificate: Sterile Processing Technician (SPT) ProgramFullerton, CA · How Martinson College ranks in California508 weeksIncluded
22South Plains College certificate: Certificate in Sterile Processing TechnicianLubbock, TX · Texas ranking: South Plains College5032 weeksIncluded
23Southern California Regional Occupational Center course: Sterilization Processing Distribution TechnicianTorrance, CA · Southern California Regional Occupational Center among California programs5016 weeksIncluded
24Southwestern College certificate: Central Service TechnologyChula Vista, CA · How Southwestern College ranks in California5027 weeksIncluded
25North Shore Community College course: Central Sterile Processing Technician (HEA104)Danvers, MA · Massachusetts ranking: North Shore Community College48Included$2,499

Lowest-Cost Evening and Weekend 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.

  1. Beaufort County Community College: Central Sterile Preparation Technician-HybridCentral Sterile Preparation Technician-Hybrid

    $205.25published total, 2026-27

    Best 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 for
    • CSPDTCBSPD

    Beaufort County Community College course on the school's site · Beaufort County Community College among North Carolina programs

  2. Durham Technical Community College: Central Sterile Processing (PHM-3002A)Central Sterile Processing (PHM-3002A)

    $257.25published total

    Best 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 for
    • CSPDTCBSPD

    Official page for the Durham Technical Community College course · How Durham Technical Community College ranks in North Carolina

  3. Davidson-Davie Community College: Central Sterile ProcessingCentral Sterile Processing

    $286.50published total, 2026-27

    Best 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

    Apply or ask about the Davidson-Davie Community College course · North Carolina ranking: Davidson-Davie Community College

  4. Vance-Granville Community College: Central Sterile ProcessingCentral Sterile Processing

    $322.60published total, 2026

    Best 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 for
    • CRCSTHSPA
    • CSPDTCBSPD

    Vance-Granville Community College's own page for this course · Vance-Granville Community College among North Carolina programs

  5. Prince George's Community College: Sterile Processing Technician (SPT-300)Sterile Processing Technician (SPT-300)

    $840published course fee, Spring 2027

    Best for a low-cost course near Largo

    Prince George's Community College (Largo, MD, public) runs this on campus non-credit course. The school publishes a price of $840 for the program (Spring 2027). Evening classes are offered.

    Cost
    $840published course fee, Spring 2027
    Prepares for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    Admission details for the Prince George's Community College course · How Prince George's Community College ranks in Maryland

  6. Delaware County Community College: Sterile Processing Technician (CAR 2950)Sterile Processing Technician (CAR 2950)

    $1,295published total, Spring 2027

    Best for a low-cost route that covers the CRCST's 400 hours near Media

    Delaware County Community College (Media, PA, public) runs this on campus non-credit course (Wednesdays, January 27 to May 19, 2027). The school publishes a price of $1,295 for the program (Spring 2027). Clinical: 400-hour externship. Evening classes are offered.

    Hours
    60instruction
    Clinical
    400hours, meets 400
    Cost
    $1,295published total, Spring 2027
    Includes
    • Clinicals
    Prepares for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    Delaware County Community College course on the school's site · Pennsylvania ranking: Delaware County Community College

  7. Niagara County Community College (SUNY Niagara): Sterile Processing TechnicianSterile Processing Technician

    $1,350published total, 2026-27

    Best for a low-cost course near Sanborn

    Niagara County Community College (SUNY Niagara) (Sanborn, NY, public) runs this hybrid non-credit course (February 22 - May 15, 2027). The school publishes a price of $1,350 for the program (2026-27). Clinical: Clinicals at Mercy Hospital, Buffalo, on Saturday mornings or Thursday evenings. Evening classes are offered.

    Clinical
    Yesincluded
    Cost
    $1,350published total, 2026-27
    Includes
    • Clinicals
    Prepares for
    • CSPDTCBSPD

    Official page for the Niagara County Community College course · Niagara County Community College among New York programs

  8. Central Sterilization Solutions: In-Person CRCST Class (Sterile Processing Technician)In-Person CRCST Class (Sterile Processing Technician)

    $1,599published total, 2026

    Best for a low-cost course near Corona

    Central Sterilization Solutions (Corona, CA) runs this on campus non-credit course. The school publishes a price of $1,599 for the program (2026). Clinical: Hands-on training happens during the internship; internship placement is included with the Premium level only. Evening and weekend classes are offered.

    Weeks
    35
    Clinical
    Yesincluded
    Cost
    $1,599published total, 2026
    Includes
    • Clinicals
    Prepares for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    Apply or ask about the Central Sterilization Solutions course · How Central Sterilization Solutions ranks in California

Most Clinical Hours: Evening and Weekend

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.

  1. Delaware County Community College: Sterile Processing Technician (CAR 2950)Sterile Processing Technician (CAR 2950)

    400 hrclinical hours stated

    Best for covering the CRCST's 400 hands-on hours inside the program near Media

    Delaware County Community College (Media, PA, public) runs this on campus non-credit course (Wednesdays, January 27 to May 19, 2027). The school publishes a price of $1,295 for the program (Spring 2027). Clinical: 400-hour externship. Evening classes are offered.

    Hours
    60instruction
    Clinical
    400hours, meets 400
    Cost
    $1,295published total, Spring 2027
    Includes
    • Clinicals
    Prepares for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    Delaware County Community College course on the school's site · Delaware County Community College among Pennsylvania programs

  2. Queensborough Community College (CUNY): Sterile Processing Technician - Hybrid ClassSterile Processing Technician - Hybrid Class

    400 hrclinical hours stated

    Best 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 for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    Official page for the Queensborough Community College course · How Queensborough Community College ranks in New York

  3. Rowan College at Burlington County: Central Services TechnicianCentral Services Technician

    400 hrclinical hours stated

    Best 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 for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    Apply or ask about the Rowan College at Burlington County course · New Jersey ranking: Rowan College at Burlington County

  4. Bergen Community College: Central Sterile Processing Technician (HH-008)Central Sterile Processing Technician (HH-008)

    400 hrclinical hours stated

    Best for covering the CRCST's 400 hands-on hours inside the program 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
    Hours
    460instruction
    Clinical
    400hours, meets 400
    Cost
    $2,950published course fee, 2026-27
    Includes
    • Clinicals
    Prepares for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    Bergen Community College's own page for this course · Bergen Community College among New Jersey programs

  5. Delaware Technical Community College: Central Service Technician (Sterile Processing)Central Service Technician (Sterile Processing)

    400 hrclinical hours stated

    Best 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 for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    Admission details for the Delaware Technical Community College course · How Delaware Technical Community College ranks in Delaware

  6. American Institute of Medical Sciences &Amp; Education (AIMS Education): Sterile Processing TechnicianSterile Processing Technician

    400 hrclinical hours stated

    Best 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 for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    American Institute of Medical Sciences & Education certificate on the school's site · New Jersey ranking: American Institute of Medical Sciences & Education

  7. High Desert Medical College-Bakersfield: Sterile Processing TechnicianSterile Processing Technician

    400 hrclinical hours stated

    Best for covering the CRCST's 400 hands-on hours inside the program 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 for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    Official page for the High Desert Medical College-Bakersfield certificate · High Desert Medical College-Bakersfield among California programs

  8. High Desert Medical College-Lancaster: Sterile Processing TechnicianSterile Processing Technician

    400 hrclinical hours stated

    Best for covering the CRCST's 400 hands-on hours inside the program 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 for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    Apply or ask about the High Desert Medical College-Lancaster certificate · How High Desert Medical College-Lancaster 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.

PartWeightWhat it measures
Hands-on training35Clinical 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 prep2515 points when the program's page names the CRCST or CSPDT exam, and 10 more when the exam fee or a voucher is included.
Cost25The whole-program price the school publishes, ranked against every priced program. Per-credit rates are never multiplied out.
Track record15Sterile 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.

Full ranking methodology

Scissors, forceps, retractors, a scalpel and a stack of clamps laid out on a blue sterile drape, with gloved hands in the background
Photo: Jonathan Borba / Pexels

What Part-Time Sterile Processing Technician Programs Look Like

Most part-time sterile processing technician programs are evening courses at community colleges and workforce centers. You sit in class two or three nights a week, or one long night, and study the rest online. The 41 programs in this ranking span 13 states, and 26 of them are non-credit courses priced as a single fee rather than by the credit.

“Evening” covers a wide range. Some classes start at 4 pm, which works for a hospital day shift that ends at 3:30 but not for an office job. Others run until 9:30 pm. These are the meeting times the schools publish:

Program Class days and times Dates or length Published cost
Prince George’s Community College (SPT-300) Mon and Wed, 6 to 9 pm Jan 25 to Apr 12, 2027 $840
Delaware County Community College (CAR 2950) Wednesdays Jan 27 to May 19, 2027 $1,295
Broome-Tioga BOCES Mondays, 4 to 8 pm Nov 23, 2026 to May 24, 2027 $1,810
North Shore Community College (HEA104) Mon and Thu, 6 to 9:30 pm (Danvers); Tue and Thu, 6 to 9 pm (remote) Sep 28, 2026 to Jan 14, 2027; Nov 10, 2026 to Feb 25, 2027 $2,499
Rowan College at Burlington County Mon, Tue and Thu, 6 to 8 pm Mar 1 to Jul 9 $2,750
Bergen Community College (HH-008) Mon and Thu, 5 to 8:30 pm (Hackensack); Tue and Fri, 5 to 8:30 pm (Paramus) About 10 weeks of theory from Jan 25 or Feb 2, 2027 $2,950
Vance-Granville Community College Mon, Tue and Wed, 4:30 to 8 pm About 11 weeks; starts Feb, May, Aug and Nov $322.60
Central Sterilization Solutions Wednesdays 5:30 to 7:30 pm, or Saturdays 9 to 11 am About 3 months of class From $1,599
SoCal ROC Mon to Thu, 4:15 to 7 pm One semester

A blank cell means the school lists the course without a single price.

Weekend options are rarer: 8 programs in the set offer them, against 38 with evening sections. Delaware Technical Community College offers day, evening and weekend sections of the same course across three campuses. Its Wilmington section meets Tuesday and Thursday evenings plus Saturday mornings.

Why the Top Evening Programs Rank Highest

The score weights hands-on training most heavily (35 of 100 points), so the programs at the top are the ones that place you for all 400 hours HSPA requires for full CRCST. Only 9 of the 41 programs in this set do that.

  • High Desert Medical College (Bakersfield, Lancaster and Temecula) runs a 32-week certificate with day and evening schedules: 830 clock hours, of which 400 are a clinical placement, for 27.5 semester credits. It is the longest and most complete training near the top of the ranking.
  • Delaware County Community College is the strongest value. One evening a week from January 27 to May 19, 2027, then a 400-hour clinical placement, for $1,295 with books and course materials included.
  • Rowan College at Burlington County charges $2,750, which covers the textbook and one CRCST exam attempt as well as the 400-hour placement.
  • AIMS Education in Piscataway, New Jersey publishes its own outcomes: an 88% retention rate and a 73% job placement rate for July 2024 to June 2025. Its next listed start is a day section (Monday to Thursday, 9 am to 2 pm) on February 22, 2027, with an evening start still to be scheduled.
  • Delaware Tech has the most inclusive fee at $3,595: textbooks, background check, drug screening, exam fees, supplies and the 400 internship hours.

Durham Technical Community College makes the top ten on cost. Its $257.25 hybrid course runs about 4.5 months with evening and day options, but it includes only 30 clinical hours, so it suits you best if you already have a way into a department.

The Catch: Clinical Hours Run on Hospital Time

Evening classes solve half the problem. The clinical hours happen where the instruments are, in a hospital’s sterile processing department, and most programs schedule them in daytime shifts.

Program When the clinical hours happen
Rowan College at Burlington County 400 hours, typically 7:30 am to 3:30 pm, Monday to Friday
AIMS Education 400 hours during weekday business hours
Durham Tech 30 hours, one day a week, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm
Temple College 80 hours in the course; an optional 80-hour off-site placement runs Monday to Friday
Bergen Community College 400 hours on 7 am to 3 pm, 3 to 11 pm or 11 pm to 7 am shifts
Capital Region BOCES At Albany Medical Center, 4 to 7 pm
Niagara County Community College At Mercy Hospital, Buffalo, Saturday mornings or Thursday evenings
Massachusetts Bay Community College 100 hours, at least three sessions a week, day or evening
Oakland Community College 96 hours at a metro-Detroit hospital, outside regular class days

Bergen is the standout if you hold a day job: its 400-hour internship can run on second or third shift. Capital Region BOCES and Niagara County keep their clinical time in the evening or on Saturday, though neither reaches 400 hours. Delaware Tech notes that its internship hours and locations may differ from the class schedule, so an evening section doesn’t guarantee an evening placement.

Filter All 41 Evening and Weekend 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.

41 programs

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.

How Long a Part-Time Schedule Stretches the Program

Programs in this set that state a length run a median of 19 weeks. That is shorter than the 26-week median across all 212 verified programs, because so many evening options are short non-credit courses. The class portion is quick; the clinical portion is what stretches.

  • One night a week stretches the calendar. Broome-Tioga BOCES meets only on Mondays, so its 123 hours (92 in the classroom and 30 clinical) take six months, from November 23, 2026 to May 24, 2027. Delaware County’s single Wednesday class covers 60 hours over four months before the 400-hour placement begins.
  • Three nights a week moves faster. Vance-Granville finishes in about 11 weeks at three evenings a week.
  • Credit certificates take two semesters or more. Bunker Hill Community College runs its 19-credit Central Processing Certificate over two part-time evening semesters, and Southwestern College in Chula Vista spreads three 9-week courses across two semesters (27 weeks), with two 200-hour hospital courses. Maria College in Albany takes 18 months on weekends.
  • Clinical hours add months. Central Sterilization Solutions describes about 3 months of class plus about 3 months of clinical, 5 to 8 months in all. At a few shifts a week alongside a job, 400 hours takes far longer than at a full-time 40.

If you want to see how 400 hours fits around your work week, the CRCST hours planner lays them out by HSPA’s five areas. The training length guide compares full-time timelines.

Logging CRCST Hours at Your Current Hospital Job

If you already work in a hospital, the 400 hours may come from your own employer rather than a school placement. HSPA (formerly IAHCSMM) sets the rules:

  • Where: the hours must be completed in a sterile processing department, paid or volunteer. Time in environmental services, patient transport or an OR aide role counts only if you are doing sterile processing work in that department.
  • What: 120 hours in decontamination, 120 in preparing and packaging instruments, 120 in sterilization and disinfection, 24 in storage and distribution and 16 in quality assurance.
  • Who signs: your department’s immediate manager or supervisor, or a lead technician, coordinator, manager, director or hospital-based educator in a higher position who physically watched you do the work. You can never document your own hours, and a fellow technician or a private instructor can’t either.
  • When: within the five years before you apply for full certification, or within six months after you pass the exam if you test first and hold provisional status. HSPA allows one two-month extension, requested by your supervisor, if you are working or volunteering in the department.

HSPA doesn’t place anyone; finding a department is your job. That is why an in-house transfer is the smoothest route. Some colleges build the course around it: Montgomery College’s AHT250 evening course offers an 80-hour clinical course to students who aren’t already employed in sterile processing, and Virginia Western Community College runs a 10-week day and weekend course where the 400 hours are completed in a department within six months of provisional certification.

Lowest-Cost Evening Courses and What They Leave Out

North Carolina’s community colleges price evening courses at a few hundred dollars. The trade-off is clinical time: none of these reach 400 hours.

Program Schedule Clinical time Published cost Exam it targets
Beaufort County Community College Hybrid evening, Feb 2 to Apr 27, 2027 (240 hours) $205.25 CSPDT
Durham Technical Community College Hybrid, evening or day, about 4.5 months 30 hours $257.25 CSPDT
Davidson-Davie Community College Hybrid evening, 12 weeks, Tuesday or Wednesday labs None; training comes after hire $286.50
Vance-Granville Community College Mon to Wed, 4:30 to 8 pm, about 11 weeks $322.60 with books CRCST and CSPDT
Prince George’s Community College Mon and Wed, 6 to 9 pm $840 CRCST

A blank cell means the course page lists no clinical hours or no target exam.

Beaufort County lists its course as free for eligible students. Vance-Granville’s $322.60 covers $187.60 in tuition and a $135 book bundle, and its page states plainly that CRCST needs another 400 hands-on hours after the course. Davidson-Davie’s $286.50 leaves out the required texts, about $235 more. The affordable programs ranking covers low-cost day programs too.

CRCST or CSPDT When You Train Part Time

The two certifications treat part-time workers differently, and that can decide which exam you take first.

CRCST (HSPA) is a fixed 400 hours in a sterile processing department. You can test before the hours and hold provisional status, but then the six-month clock runs. If you can give only a couple of shifts a week, line up your department before you test. The exam fee is $140.

CSPDT (CBSPD) has four routes, and two of them accept “equivalent part-time hours” of sterile processing or allied health work in place of 12 months full time. Another route is simply finishing a sterile processing training course with a grade of 70 or higher, which is why so many evening courses prepare you for it: Beaufort County, Durham Tech, Niagara County, Connecticut State Community College and Bunker Hill among them. The exam fee is $135.

Of the 41 programs, 23 prepare you for CRCST and 10 for CSPDT. Check which credential employers near you ask for, and which one your state requires if it has a certification law. The CRCST guide and CSPDT guide cover each application step by step.

The Weekend Programs

If your weeknights are taken, these are the options:

  • SVSTI in Fremont: online coursework plus nine weekends of lab, Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 pm, then a six-week, 240-hour clinical placement. $5,250, with the textbook, workbook and the CSPDT exam fee extra.
  • Central Sterilization Solutions in Corona: a Saturday 9 to 11 am cohort from November 14, 2026. Base is $1,599; only the $2,399 Premium tier includes internship placement.
  • Chesapeake College in Maryland: evening and weekend, about 3 months, $2,095 plus books and scrubs, with required clinical hours before the CRCST exam.
  • Delaware Tech Wilmington: Tuesday and Thursday evenings plus Saturday mornings, with 400 internship hours included.
  • Maria College: an 18-month part-time weekend certificate with supervised clinical placements.
  • Martinson College in California: day, evening and weekend options in as little as 8 weeks, leading to the CSPDT exam.

Who a Part-Time Program Suits

You already work in a hospital. A short, low-cost evening course is enough if you can transfer or volunteer into sterile processing: Vance-Granville, Prince George’s or Durham Tech, then log your 400 hours on the job under a supervisor.

You have no healthcare experience and work days. You need a program that places you. Bergen’s second- and third-shift internships fit a day job best. Delaware County and Rowan place you for 400 hours too, but expect daytime weekday placements.

You work nights or weekends. Look at Delaware Tech’s weekday daytime sections, or evening courses whose clinical time is flexible, such as Massachusetts Bay’s day or evening practicum.

You want college credit to build on. High Desert’s 27.5-credit certificate, Bunker Hill’s 19-credit certificate and Southwestern College’s 11.5-unit certificate all run with evening options.

Medical Equipment Preparers, the federal occupation for sterile processing technicians, earned a national median of $22.93 an hour ($47,700 a year) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

How to Choose an Evening or Weekend Program

  • Get the clinical schedule, not just the class schedule. Rowan’s 6 to 8 pm classes lead into a 7:30 am to 3:30 pm placement.
  • Count the hours. 9 programs in this set include all 400. A 30-hour or 100-hour clinical is a start, not the requirement.
  • Know who will sign your hours. If you plan to log them at work, confirm your supervisor or a hospital educator will document them.
  • Check what the price covers. Rowan and Delaware Tech include the exam; Delaware County and Niagara County don’t.
  • Check the start date. Many evening courses run once or twice a year: Rowan starts in March, Bunker Hill in the fall, Vance-Granville four times a year.
  • Look up your state. The state requirements guide lists states that require certification by law.

To search by location, use the program finder, or compare these with online and hybrid programs and the best sterile processing technician programs overall. Three of the nine programs with all 400 hours built in are in New Jersey; see the New Jersey rankings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Work Full Time While Training as a Sterile Processing Technician?

Yes, during the classroom part. Evening courses such as Prince George's Community College (Monday and Wednesday, 6 to 9 pm) and Broome-Tioga BOCES (Mondays, 4 to 8 pm) fit around a day job. The clinical hours are harder: Rowan College at Burlington County's placement typically runs 7:30 am to 3:30 pm on weekdays, so plan leave or a schedule change for those weeks.

Can You Do CRCST Clinical Hours on Evening or Night Shifts?

Some programs allow it. Bergen Community College places students in 400-hour clinical internships with shifts of 7 am to 3 pm, 3 to 11 pm or 11 pm to 7 am, and Capital Region BOCES runs its clinical at Albany Medical Center from 4 to 7 pm. Most other placements follow weekday hospital hours.

Does Working in Environmental Services Count Toward the 400 CRCST Hours?

Only hours worked in a sterile processing department count. HSPA accepts paid or volunteer hours in the department, documented by a supervisor, lead technician, manager or hospital-based educator who watched you do the work. Time spent cleaning patient rooms or transporting patients doesn't count by itself.

How Much Does an Evening Sterile Processing Course Cost?

Published prices in this set run from $205.25 at Beaufort County Community College to $23,000 at Philadelphia Technician Training Institute, with a median of $2,000 among programs that publish a price. Community college evening courses in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, such as Delaware County's $1,295 and Rowan's $2,750, still include all 400 clinical hours.

Is There a Weekend-Only Sterile Processing Program?

SVSTI in Fremont, California teaches online with nine weekends of hands-on lab (Saturday and Sunday, noon to 4 pm), followed by a six-week, 240-hour clinical placement, for $5,250. Maria College in New York runs an 18-month part-time weekend certificate with supervised clinical placements.

What Happens if You Can't Finish the 400 Hours in Six Months?

Provisional CRCST is forfeited if you don't submit 400 hours within six months of passing. HSPA allows a one-time two-month extension for people currently working or volunteering in a sterile processing department, and your department supervisor must request it before the provisional status expires.

More Sterile Processing Rankings and Guides

Sources

  1. Official program, tuition and admissions pages of each school listed, reviewed November 2026
  2. U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2022-23 completions: sterile processing awards (CIP 51.1012)
  3. Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA): CRCST certification
  4. Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD)
  5. HSPA: CRCST certification application and hands-on hours
  6. CBSPD: SPD technician (CSPDT) exam eligibility
  7. BLS OEWS: Medical Equipment Preparers (31-9093), May 2025

Every program on this site was checked on the school's own website in November 2026. Clinical hours, exam prep and fees are shown as each school states them. Certification rules come from HSPA and CBSPD's own pages, and school completions from U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS) data. Sponsored listings are labeled as ads and never change which programs we list or how we rank them. How we verify programs