Pennsylvania · Verified November 2026

Best Sterile Processing Technician Programs in Pennsylvania

What Are the Best Sterile Processing Technician Programs in Pennsylvania?

Delaware County Community College in Media ranks first among 4 schools offering sterile processing technician programs in Pennsylvania, with a score of 82 of 100. 4 sterile processing technician programs in Pennsylvania run at 4 schools, with the most in Pittsburgh, Media and Pottstown. 4 include clinical hours, and 2 state the 400 hands-on hours that HSPA's CRCST, the central service technician certification, requires. The lowest published price is $1,295 at Delaware County Community College. Hospitals, ambulatory surgical facilities and freestanding surgical outpatient facilities may employ only central service technicians who have passed a nationally accredited central service exam and hold a CRCST or CSPDT credential. Technicians employed on or before the act's effective date are exempt, and new hires have 18 months to certify. Medical equipment preparers in Pennsylvania earn a median of $45,820 a year (BLS, May 2025).

Researched and edited by · Updated

schools in Pennsylvania
4
programs
4
include clinical hours
4
median published cost
$2,650
median pay (BLS May 2025)
$45,820

Top Picks in Pennsylvania

PickProgramScore
Best overallDelaware County Community College courseMedia · $1,295 · 400 clinical hours82
Best for the CRCST's 400 hoursMontgomery County Community College coursePottstown · $2,650 · 400 clinical hours71
Lowest published costPhiladelphia Technician Training Institute certificatePhiladelphia · 31 weeks · $23,00030

The 4 Best Sterile Processing Technician Programs in Pennsylvania, 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. 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 course on the school's site

  2. Montgomery County Community College: Sterile Processing Technician (BICEC 1614)Sterile Processing Technician (BICEC 1614)

    71score of 100

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

    Montgomery County Community College (Pottstown, PA) runs this on campus non-credit course. The school publishes a price of $2,650 for the program. Clinical: 400-hour externship at Pottstown Hospital after the lecture component, scheduled by the instructor.

    Hours
    432instruction
    Clinical
    400hours, meets 400
    Cost
    $2,650published total
    Includes
    • Clinicals
    Prepares for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    Official page for the Montgomery County Community College course

  3. Philadelphia Technician Training Institute: Sterile Processing and Central Services Technician ProgramSterile Processing and Central Services Technician Program

    30score of 100

    Best for training around a job near Philadelphia

    Philadelphia Technician Training Institute (Philadelphia, PA, private nonprofit) runs this on campus certificate (31 weeks). The school publishes a price of $23,000 for the program. Clinical: Internships and externships are part of the program. Evening classes are offered. The school reported 97 sterile processing awards for 2022-23 (IPEDS).

    Weeks
    3131 weeks
    Clinical
    Yesincluded
    Cost
    $23,000published total
    Includes
    • Clinicals

    Apply or ask about the Philadelphia Technician Training Institute certificate

  4. Community College of Allegheny County: Central Service Technician, Certificate (438.2)Central Service Technician, Certificate (438.2)

    26score of 100

    Best for hands-on training near Pittsburgh

    Community College of Allegheny County (Pittsburgh, PA, public) runs this on campus certificate (One semester). Clinical: Clinical experiences in area hospital Central Service departments. The school reported 2 sterile processing awards for 2022-23 (IPEDS).

    Weeks
    16One semester
    Clinical
    Yesincluded
    Includes
    • Clinicals

    Community College of Allegheny County's own page for this certificate

Sterile Processing Schools in Pennsylvania, Compared

SchoolBest scoreCredentialsClinicalLowest published costAwards, 2022-23
Delaware County Community College: official siteMedia · Public82Non-credit course400 hr$1,295
Montgomery County Community College: official sitePottstown71Non-credit course400 hr$2,650
Philadelphia Technician Training Institute: official sitePhiladelphia · Private nonprofit30CertificateIncluded$23,00097
Community College of Allegheny County: official sitePittsburgh · Public26CertificateIncluded2

From each school's own pages, reviewed November 2026. Best score: the school's highest-scoring program. Awards from IPEDS 2022-23 (CIP 51.1012) count credit certificates conferred, not graduates; non-credit courses aren't counted. Blank cells: the school's pages don't give that figure.

Every Sterile Processing Technician Program in Pennsylvania

Online and Hybrid Options for Pennsylvania Residents

Online coursework still leads to hands-on hours in a real department: the CRCST requires 400 of them. Check where each program places you for clinicals before you apply.

ProgramFormatLengthClinicalCost
Kishwaukee College course: online program pageMalta, ILOnline16 weeks$1,300published total, 2026-27
Herzing University-Madison diploma: online program pageMadison, WIOnline43 weeksIncluded$530per credit, 2026-27
Lehman College course: online program pageBronx, NYOnline80 hoursIncluded

See the online program rankings

How We Rank Sterile Processing Programs in Pennsylvania

Every Pennsylvania program is scored out of 100 from figures on the school's own pages and federal data. A part a program has no figure for is left out and the others are rescaled, so a missing fact never counts against it.

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

Sterile Processing Technician Certification in Pennsylvania

Hospitals, ambulatory surgical facilities and freestanding surgical outpatient facilities may employ only central service technicians who have passed a nationally accredited central service exam and hold a CRCST or CSPDT credential. Technicians employed on or before the act's effective date are exempt, and new hires have 18 months to certify.

Credentials the law accepts: CRCST (HSPA), CSPDT (CBSPD). New hires: 18 months from the date of hire.

Act of Oct. 29, 2020, P.L. 710, No. 80 (Central Service Technician and Surgical Technologist Regulation Act), §§ 301-302; effective in 60 days · checked 2026-11-11

Sterile Processing Technician Salary in Pennsylvania

bottom tenth
$37,500
median
$45,820
top tenth
$57,070
employed
3,450

Pennsylvania's median of $45,820 is below the national median of $47,700. Figures are annual wages for medical equipment preparers (SOC 31-9093), the BLS occupation for sterile processing technicians, OEWS May 2025.

Schools in States Near Pennsylvania

Programs Near Pennsylvania Cities

Questions About Sterile Processing Technician Programs in Pennsylvania

What Is the Best Sterile Processing Technician Program in Pennsylvania?

Sterile Processing Technician (CAR 2950) at Delaware County Community College ranks first with a score of 82 of 100, ahead of Montgomery County Community College (71) and Philadelphia Technician Training Institute (30). The score weighs hands-on hours, certification prep, published cost and the school's federal track record. How the score works.

How Many Training Programs Does Pennsylvania Have?

4 at 4 schools, verified on each school's own site in November 2026. Pittsburgh (1), Media (1), Pottstown (1) and Philadelphia (1) have the most.

Which Pennsylvania Programs Include Clinical Hours?

Community College of Allegheny County, Delaware County Community College, Montgomery County Community College and Philadelphia Technician Training Institute include clinical or practicum time. HSPA's CRCST requires 400 hands-on hours for full certification. How the 400-hour requirement works.

How Much Does Training Cost in Pennsylvania?

Among the 3 Pennsylvania programs that publish a price for the whole program, cost runs from $1,295 to $23,000, with a median of $2,650.

Does Pennsylvania Require Sterile Processing Certification?

Hospitals, ambulatory surgical facilities and freestanding surgical outpatient facilities may employ only central service technicians who have passed a nationally accredited central service exam and hold a CRCST or CSPDT credential. Technicians employed on or before the act's effective date are exempt, and new hires have 18 months to certify. Accepted credentials: CRCST (HSPA), CSPDT (CBSPD). Certification requirements in every state.

How Much Do Sterile Processing Technicians Make in Pennsylvania?

The median for medical equipment preparers in Pennsylvania is $45,820 a year, with the bottom tenth earning $37,500 and the top tenth $57,070, across 3,450 jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The national median is $47,700. Pay in every state.

Can Pennsylvania Residents Train Online?

Partly. 3 programs put all coursework online, and many programs are hybrid, but the CRCST's 400 hands-on hours happen in a real sterile processing department. Online program rankings.

More Sterile Processing Rankings

Sources

  1. Official program pages of the 4 Pennsylvania schools listed, reviewed November 2026
  2. U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS completions 2022-23, CIP 51.1012
  3. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025: Medical Equipment Preparers, state estimates
  4. Pennsylvania: Act of Oct. 29, 2020, P.L. 710, No. 80 (Central Service Technician and Surgical Technologist Regulation Act), §§ 301-302; effective in 60 days

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