2027 Rankings · Verified November 2026
Best Sterile Processing Certification Programs
Which Sterile Processing Programs Prepare You for CRCST or CSPDT Certification?
McHenry County College (Crystal Lake, IL) ranks first, with a score of 87 of 100. 149 sterile processing programs at 147 schools in 34 states fit this ranking, each checked on the school's own site in November 2026. 53 are non-credit courses and 96 are credit certificates, diplomas or degrees. 121 include clinical hours, and 37 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 $180 to $18,063, with a median of $2,236. 13 programs include the certification exam fee or a voucher.
- programs
- 149
- schools
- 147
- include clinical hours
- 121
- states
- 34
- 400+ clinical hours
- 37
- median length
- 22 wk
- median published cost (66 priced)
- $2,236
Top Picks for Your Situation
| Pick | Program | Score | Published cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | McHenry County College, Crystal Lake: Sterile Processing Technician TrainingNon-credit course · 400 clinical hours | 87 | $1,999 |
| Best for the CRCST's 400 hours | Contra Costa Medical Career College, Antioch: Sterile Processing TechnicianCertificate · 28 weeks · 400 clinical hours | 87 | |
| Lowest published cost | Coastal Carolina Community College, Jacksonville: Central Sterile Processing TechnicianNon-credit course | 47 | $180 |
| Fastest | Massachusetts Bay Community College, Wellesley Hills: Central Processing Technology (CPT) CertificateCertificate · 6 weeks · 100 clinical hours | 60 | |
| Best online or hybrid | Central Coast College, Salinas: 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 Sterile Processing Certification Programs, Ranked
How this list is ranked: certification prep first: programs that include the exam fee or a voucher, then programs that prepare you for both the CRCST and the CSPDT, then the rest; within each group, highest score first. One program per school.
McHenry County College: Sterile Processing Technician TrainingSterile Processing Technician Training
87score of 100Best for the CRCST's 400 hours with the exam fee paid near Crystal Lake
McHenry County College (Crystal Lake, IL, public) runs this on campus non-credit course. The school publishes a price of $1,999 for the program. Clinical: Classroom lessons and hands-on clinical labs; after passing the CRCST exam, students complete a 400-hour clinical internship with a preceptor-set schedule.
- Clinical
- 400hours, meets 400
- Cost
- $1,999published total
Includes- Clinicals
- Exam voucher
- Textbook
Prepares forMcHenry County College course on the school's site · McHenry County College among Illinois programs
Community College of Baltimore County: Central Service Technician, Continuing Education Workforce CertificateCentral Service Technician, Continuing Education Workforce Certificate
86score of 100Best for the CRCST's 400 hours with the exam fee paid near Essex
Community College of Baltimore County (Essex, MD) runs this on campus non-credit course. The school publishes a price of $2,063 for the program. Clinical: Optional Central Service Technician Clinical I-IV (AHL 046-049), 100 hours each, 400 hours in total; not required to complete the program.
- Hours
- 72instruction
- Clinical
- 400hours, meets 400
- Cost
- $2,063published total
Includes- Clinicals
- Exam voucher
Prepares forOfficial page for the Community College of Baltimore County course · How Community College of Baltimore County ranks in Maryland
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 forApply or ask about the Rowan College at Burlington County course · New Jersey ranking: Rowan College at Burlington County
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 forDelaware Technical Community College's own page for this course · Delaware Technical Community College among Delaware programs
University of Central Missouri: Sterile Processing Technician Certificate ProgramSterile Processing Technician Certificate Program
78score of 100Best for the CRCST's 400 hours with the exam fee paid near Lee's Summit
University of Central Missouri (Lee's Summit, MO) runs this non-credit course. The school publishes a price of $3,645 for the program. Clinical: 400 hours of clinical experience.
- Hours
- 150instruction
- Clinical
- 400hours, meets 400
- Cost
- $3,645published total
Includes- Clinicals
- Exam voucher
- Textbook
Prepares forAdmission details for the University of Central Missouri course · How University of Central Missouri ranks in Missouri
LaGuardia Community College (CUNY): Central Service Technician CertificateCentral Service Technician Certificate
67score of 100Best for having the certification exam paid for near Long Island City
LaGuardia Community College (CUNY) (Long Island City, NY, public) runs this non-credit course. Clinical: A 400-hour internship is needed for full industry certification; the student secures the facility, with possible support for internship or job placement.
- Clinical
- Yesincluded
Includes- Clinicals
- Exam voucher
- Textbook
Prepares forLaGuardia Community College course on the school's site · New York ranking: LaGuardia Community College
Temple College: Sterile Processing and Distribution TechnicianSterile Processing and Distribution Technician
61score of 100Best for having the certification exam paid for near Temple
Temple College (Temple, TX, public) runs this on campus non-credit course (5 months). The school publishes a price of $2,234 for the program (2026-27). Clinical: SRGT 1060 Clinical, 80 contact hours; students may be eligible for an optional 80-hour off-site externship Monday to Friday. Evening classes are offered.
- Weeks
- 225 months
- Hours
- 160instruction
- Clinical
- 80hours
- Cost
- $2,234published total, 2026-27
Includes- Clinicals
- Exam voucher
- Textbook
Prepares forOfficial page for the Temple College course · Temple College among Texas programs
Northeast Iowa Community College: Sterile Processing Technician (Career Pathway Certificate)Sterile Processing Technician (Career Pathway Certificate)
60score of 100Best for having the certification exam paid for near Calmar
Northeast Iowa Community College (Calmar, IA, public) runs this hybrid non-credit course (2.5 months). The school publishes a price of $2,399 for the program. Clinical: Optional volunteer externship.
- Weeks
- 112.5 months
- Clinical
- Yesincluded
- Cost
- $2,399published total
Includes- Clinicals
- Exam voucher
- Textbook
Prepares forApply or ask about the Northeast Iowa Community College course · How Northeast Iowa Community College ranks in Iowa
Virginia Western Community College: Registered Central Service Technician (Sterile Processing)Registered Central Service Technician (Sterile Processing)
55score of 100Best for having the certification exam paid for near Roanoke
Virginia Western Community College (Roanoke, VA, public) runs this hybrid non-credit course (10 weeks). The school publishes a price of $3,198 for the program (2026-27). Clinical: Not part of the course; the 400 hands-on hours for full CRCST are completed in a sterile processing department within 6 months of provisional certification. Weekend classes are offered.
- Weeks
- 1010 weeks
- Clinical
- Yesincluded
- Cost
- $3,198published total, 2026-27
Includes- Clinicals
- Exam voucher
- Textbook
Prepares forVirginia Western Community College's own page for this course · Virginia ranking: Virginia Western Community College
Alamo Colleges District (Alamo Technical Institute): Certified Sterile Processing Technician (CSPDT)Certified Sterile Processing Technician (CSPDT)
53score of 100Best for having the certification exam paid for near San Antonio
Alamo Colleges District (Alamo Technical Institute) (San Antonio, TX) runs this hybrid non-credit course (5 months). The school publishes a price of $3,855 for the program. Clinical: 112-hour supervised externship in healthcare settings.
- Weeks
- 225 months
- Hours
- 264instruction
- Clinical
- 112hours
- Cost
- $3,855published total
Includes- Clinicals
- Exam voucher
Prepares forAdmission details for the Alamo Colleges District course · Alamo Colleges District among Texas programs
More of the Best Sterile Processing Certification Programs: Ranks 11 to 25
How this list is ranked: certification prep first: programs that include the exam fee or a voucher, then programs that prepare you for both the CRCST and the CSPDT, then the rest; within each group, highest score first. One program per school.
Lowest-Cost Certification Prep 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.
Coastal Carolina Community College: Central Sterile Processing TechnicianCentral Sterile Processing Technician
$180published total, 2026-27Best for a low-cost course near Jacksonville
Coastal Carolina Community College (Jacksonville, NC, public) runs this non-credit course. The school publishes a price of $180 for the program (2026-27).
- Cost
- $180published total, 2026-27
Prepares forCoastal Carolina Community College course on the school's site · Coastal Carolina Community College among North Carolina programs
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 forOfficial page for the Wake Technical Community College course · How Wake Technical Community College ranks in North Carolina
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 forApply or ask about the Beaufort County Community College course · North Carolina ranking: Beaufort County Community College
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 forDurham Technical Community College's own page for this course · Durham Technical 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
Guilford Technical Community College: Central Sterile Processing TechnicianCentral Sterile Processing Technician
$328published total, 2026-27Best for a low-cost course near Jamestown
Guilford Technical Community College (Jamestown, NC, public) runs this non-credit course. The school publishes a price of $328 for the program (2026-27). Clinical: Clinical or clinical simulation portion; these hours do not count toward the 400 hours required for full CRCST.
- Clinical
- Yesincluded
- Cost
- $328published total, 2026-27
Includes- Clinicals
- Textbook
Prepares forGuilford Technical Community College course on the school's site · North Carolina ranking: Guilford Technical Community College
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 forOfficial page for the Wilson Community College course · Wilson Community College among North Carolina programs
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 forApply or ask about the Piedmont Community College course · How Piedmont Community College ranks in North Carolina
Most Clinical Hours: Certification Prep
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.
SOWELA Technical Community College: Sterile Processing Technology (Certificate of Technical Studies)Sterile Processing Technology (Certificate of Technical Studies)
405 hrclinical hours statedBest for covering the CRCST's 400 hands-on hours inside the program near Lake Charles
SOWELA Technical Community College (Lake Charles, LA, public) runs this on campus certificate. Clinical: STPR 2106 Sterile Processing Practicum, 9 credit hours / 405 contact hours at clinical sites throughout Southwest Louisiana. The school reported 4 sterile processing awards for 2022-23 (IPEDS).
- Hours
- 660instruction
- Clinical
- 405hours, meets 400
Includes- Clinicals
Prepares forSOWELA Technical Community College certificate on the school's site · SOWELA Technical Community College among Louisiana programs
Delaware County Community College: Sterile Processing Technician (CAR 2950)Sterile Processing Technician (CAR 2950)
400 hrclinical hours statedBest 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 forOfficial page for the Delaware County Community College course · How Delaware County Community College ranks in Pennsylvania
McHenry County College: Sterile Processing Technician TrainingSterile Processing Technician Training
400 hrclinical hours statedBest for covering the CRCST's 400 hands-on hours inside the program near Crystal Lake
McHenry County College (Crystal Lake, IL, public) runs this on campus non-credit course. The school publishes a price of $1,999 for the program. Clinical: Classroom lessons and hands-on clinical labs; after passing the CRCST exam, students complete a 400-hour clinical internship with a preceptor-set schedule.
- Clinical
- 400hours, meets 400
- Cost
- $1,999published total
Includes- Clinicals
- Exam voucher
- Textbook
Prepares forApply or ask about the McHenry County College course · Illinois ranking: McHenry County College
Community College of Baltimore County: Central Service Technician, Continuing Education Workforce CertificateCentral Service Technician, Continuing Education Workforce Certificate
400 hrclinical hours statedBest for covering the CRCST's 400 hands-on hours inside the program near Essex
Community College of Baltimore County (Essex, MD) runs this on campus non-credit course. The school publishes a price of $2,063 for the program. Clinical: Optional Central Service Technician Clinical I-IV (AHL 046-049), 100 hours each, 400 hours in total; not required to complete the program.
- Hours
- 72instruction
- Clinical
- 400hours, meets 400
- Cost
- $2,063published total
Includes- Clinicals
- Exam voucher
Prepares forCommunity College of Baltimore County's own page for this course · Community College of Baltimore County among Maryland programs
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 forAdmission details for the Queensborough Community College course · How Queensborough Community College ranks in New York
Montgomery County Community College: Sterile Processing Technician (BICEC 1614)Sterile Processing Technician (BICEC 1614)
400 hrclinical hours statedBest for covering the CRCST's 400 hands-on hours inside the program 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 forMontgomery County Community College course on the school's site · Pennsylvania ranking: Montgomery County Community College
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 · Rowan College at Burlington County among New Jersey programs
Bergen Community College: Central Sterile Processing Technician (HH-008)Central Sterile Processing Technician (HH-008)
400 hrclinical hours statedBest 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 forApply or ask about the Bergen Community College course · How Bergen Community College ranks in New Jersey
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. |
Choosing Sterile Processing Certification Programs by the Exam They Lead to
Every program in this ranking names a certification exam on its own page. That matters more than the program’s title, because the school doesn’t certify you. Two national bodies do:
- HSPA (the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association, formerly IAHCSMM) awards the CRCST. 120 programs here prepare you for it.
- CBSPD awards the CSPDT. 46 programs here prepare you for it, and a smaller group names both.
The two exams look alike on paper: 150 questions each, with a $140 fee for the CRCST and $135 for the CSPDT. The real difference is how you qualify, and that decides which program is worth paying for.
For the CRCST, HSPA wants 400 hours of hands-on work in a sterile processing department, paid or volunteer. You can log them first and apply for full certification, or pass the exam first and finish the hours within six months as a provisional CRCST. HSPA says it doesn’t require any preparatory course at all.
For the CSPDT, one of CBSPD’s four routes is simply finishing a sterile processing technician training course with a grade of 70 or higher. No department hours are needed on that route. So a short course can take you straight to a certified sterile processing technician title through CBSPD, while the same course leaves you 400 hours short of a full CRCST.
The CRCST certification guide and the CSPDT certification guide walk through each exam step by step. This page is about picking a program by how well it gets you there.
Programs That Include the Exam Fee or a Voucher
13 programs fold the exam cost into what you pay. They rank first because the price you see is closer to the price of becoming certified, and because a school that buys your exam seat has a reason to get you ready for it.
| Program | Exam | Published cost and what it covers | Hands-on hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| McHenry County College (IL) | CRCST | $1,999 total, with textbooks, materials and the CRCST exam fee | 400-hour internship after you pass |
| Community College of Baltimore County (MD) | CRCST | $2,063 series total; exam fee in the theory class | Optional 400 hours, $752 extra |
| Rowan College at Burlington County (NJ) | CRCST | $2,750, with textbook and one exam attempt | 400 hours, weekday daytime |
| Delaware Technical Community College (DE) | CRCST | $3,595, with textbooks, checks, exam fees and clinicals | 400 internship hours |
| University of Central Missouri (MO) | CRCST | $3,645, with books, fees and the exam | 400 hours |
| Temple College (TX) | CSPDT | $2,234, with textbook, exam and drug test | 80 clinical hours |
| Northeast Iowa Community College (IA) | CRCST | About $2,399, with textbook and exam voucher | Optional volunteer placement |
| Virginia Western Community College (VA) | CRCST | $3,198, or $1,066 with FastForward; includes the test | You log 400 hours after passing |
| Alamo Colleges (Alamo Technical Institute) (TX) | CSPDT | $3,855, exam voucher included | 112 supervised hours |
| Corning Community College (NY) | CSPDT | $1,560, exam voucher included | Classroom days |
| Berkeley College (NJ) | CRCST | $17,900 tuition, with books and the first exam | 8-credit clinical practicum |
Two more include the exam without a listed price. LaGuardia Community College in Queens gives you a CRCST voucher when you finish, though you secure your own 400-hour internship site. The Community College of Rhode Island runs its course at no cost to accepted students, books and the CRCST exam fee included, with the next Brown University Health cohort likely in July 2027.
Read the fine print on what “included” means. Rowan covers one attempt, and Berkeley covers the first exam, so a retake is on you at HSPA’s $140. Community College of Baltimore County puts the exam fee in the theory class, but its four clinical classes are optional and billed separately.
Filter All 149 Certification Prep 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.
149 programs
- CertificateCRCST prep
Pre-Allied Health Sterile Processing at Aiken Technical College: Cost, Length and Clinical Hours
Aiken Technical College school profile and campuses · Graniteville, SC
- Weeks
- 401 year full time
- Clinical
- 400hours, meets 400
- Cost
- $8,000published total, 2026-27
- 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
- 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 courseCRCST prep
Central Sterile Processing Technician at Anne Arundel Community College: Tuition, Hours and Certification
Anne Arundel Community College school facts and programs · Arnold, MD
- Hours
- 84instruction
- Clinical
- Yesincluded
- Cost
- $2,050published total
- Clinicals
- CertificateCRCST prep
Central Sterile Processing Technology at Atlantic Technical College: Admission, Cost and Length
Atlantic Technical College school facts and programs · Coconut Creek, FL
- Weeks
- 26About 6 months full-time
- Hours
- 650instruction
- Clinical
- Yesincluded
- Cost
- $2,236published total
- Clinicals
- CertificateCRCST prep
Central Sterile Supply Processing Tech Basic, Technical Certificate of Credit at Augusta Technical College: Tuition, Hours and Certification
Augusta Technical College school facts and programs · Augusta, GA
- Credits
- 16
- Clinical
- Yesincluded
- 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
- Certificate
Sterile Processing Career and Technical Certificate (CTC) at Baton Rouge Community College: Schedule, Cost and What It Includes
Baton Rouge Community College school facts and programs · Baton Rouge, LA
- Weeks
- 16One semester
- Hours
- 180instruction
- Clinical
- Yesincluded
- 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
- Non-credit courseCRCST prep
Central Sterile Processing Technician (HH-008) at Bergen Community College: Admission, Cost and Length
Bergen Community College school profile and campuses · Paramus, NJ
- Weeks
- 10
- Hours
- 460instruction
- Clinical
- 400hours, meets 400
- Cost
- $2,950published course fee, 2026-27
- Clinicals
- CertificateCRCST prep
Sterile Processing Technician Certificate at Berkeley College: Admission, Cost and Length
Berkeley College school facts and programs · Woodland Park, NJ
- Weeks
- 30
- Credits
- 27
- Clinical
- Yesincluded
- Cost
- $17,900published total, 2026-27
- Clinicals
- Exam voucher
- Textbook
- Non-credit courseCRCST prep
Central Sterile Processing Program at Borough of Manhattan Community College: Cost, Length and Clinical Hours
Borough of Manhattan Community College (CUNY) school facts and programs · New York, NY
- Weeks
- 10
- Clinical
- Yesincluded
- Cost
- $1,995published total
- Clinicals
- Non-credit courseCRCST prep
Sterile Processing Technician at Broome-Tioga BOCES: Cost, Length and Clinical Hours
Broome-Tioga BOCES school profile and campuses · Johnson City, NY
- Hours
- 123instruction
- Clinical
- 30hours
- Cost
- $1,810published total, 2026-27
- Clinicals
- Textbook
- Certificate
Central Processing Certificate at Bunker Hill Community College: Admission, Cost and Length
Bunker Hill Community College school profile and campuses · Boston, MA
- Weeks
- 32Two semesters, part-time
- Credits
- 19
- Clinical
- Yesincluded
- Cost
- $289per credit, Spring 2027
- Clinicals
- 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
- Certificate
- Non-credit courseCRCST prep
In-Person CRCST Class (Sterile Processing Technician) at Central Sterilization Solutions: Cost, Length and Clinical Hours
Central Sterilization Solutions sterile processing profile · Corona, CA
- Weeks
- 35
- Clinical
- Yesincluded
- Cost
- $1,599published total, 2026
- Clinicals
- Non-credit courseCRCST prep
Sterile Processing Technician Certificate Program at Chesapeake College: Schedule, Cost and What It Includes
Chesapeake College school profile and campuses · Wye Mills, MD
- Weeks
- 133 months
- Clinical
- Yesincluded
- Cost
- $2,095published total
- Clinicals
- Non-credit course
Central Sterile Processing Technician at Coastal Carolina Community College: Tuition, Hours and Certification
Coastal Carolina Community College school facts and programs · Jacksonville, NC
- Cost
- $180published total, 2026-27
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.
Getting the CRCST’s 400 Hours: Built in or on Your Own
For a CRCST-bound student, the hours are the hard part. HSPA doesn’t place anyone in a department, and it won’t accept hours signed off by a private instructor. 37 programs in this set build in all 400 hours, which solves that problem for you.
| Program | How the 400 hours work | Published cost |
|---|---|---|
| SOWELA Technical Community College (LA) | 405-hour practicum at sites across Southwest Louisiana | |
| Delaware County Community College (PA) | 60 class hours on Wednesday evenings, then a 400-hour placement | $1,295, books included, voucher not |
| Queensborough Community College (NY) | 400 hours with Northwell Health for eligible students | $2,295 |
| Montgomery County Community College (PA) | 400 hours at Pottstown Hospital, scheduled by the instructor | $2,650 |
| Bergen Community College (NJ) | Required unpaid 400-hour internship on day, evening or night shifts | $2,950, books and exam extra |
| Contra Costa Medical Career College (CA) | 744 clock hours, 400 of them clinical, over 28 weeks |
A blank cost cell means the program page lists no single program price.
McHenry County College’s design is worth noting. You pass the CRCST first, as a provisional technician, and then complete a 400-hour internship on a preceptor-set schedule. The program handles the six-month clock that trips up students who test provisionally on their own.
The other model leaves the hours to you. Guilford Technical Community College charges $328, textbook included, and says its clinical or simulation hours don’t count toward the 400. Virginia Western’s course is built the same way, on purpose: you test, hold provisional status, and log the 400 hours in a department within six months. Herzing University-Madison says its diploma graduates can register for the CRCST provisional exam or the CSPDT.
Testing provisionally works well if you already work in a hospital and your department will let you rotate through decontamination, packaging and sterilization. HSPA gives a one-time two-month extension only to people working or volunteering in a department. If you don’t have that foothold, a program with built-in hours is the safer buy. The CRCST hours planner maps your hours against HSPA’s five areas.
The Shortest Route to a Credential: CSPDT Course Programs
Because CBSPD accepts course completion, CSPDT programs can certify you without department hours. North Carolina’s community colleges run the lowest-cost versions, priced as a single section fee:
- Coastal Carolina Community College: $180 registration, with the textbook and the exam extra.
- Wake Technical Community College: $200 per section for 112 contact hours, three months or less.
- Durham Technical Community College: $257.25 for 216 contact hours, including 30 hours at an offsite hospital.
- Piedmont Community College: $353, with the textbook ($165) and the $135 credentialing exam listed separately.
Coastal Carolina’s page lists the CSPDT exam at $125, while CBSPD’s own page lists $135, so budget for CBSPD’s figure. Outside North Carolina, Temple College, Alamo Colleges and Corning Community College include the CSPDT exam in their price.
The trade-off is the hours you skip. The CRCST is the more common target, named by 120 programs here against 46 for the CSPDT. Before you commit to CSPDT only, look at sterile processing job listings near you and see which credential they name. More North Carolina options are on the North Carolina rankings page.
Programs That Prepare You for Both Exams
A handful of programs name both credentials, which keeps your options open if you aren’t sure which one local employers prefer.
- Contra Costa Medical Career College prepares you for both and builds in 400 clinical hours, so you can sit for either. IPEDS counts 104 sterile processing awards at the school in 2022-23.
- Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland is direct about the gap: its 240-hour hospital practicum qualifies you for the CSPDT, while the CRCST needs 400.
- Minneapolis Community and Technical College prepares you for the CRCST, the CBSPD exam, and HSPA’s CER and CIS exams in one 17-credit certificate.
- Atlantic Technical College in Florida lists $2,236 in-state for 650 clock hours. Exam costs are extra, but students may qualify for reimbursement after passing.
- Owens Community College in Ohio includes 180 hours of clinical field experience in its 16-to-17-credit certificate.
If you pick a dual-prep program without 400 built-in hours, the CSPDT is usually the credential you can claim first, and the CRCST follows once you’ve logged the hours on the job.
Why No Sterile Processing Program Is Accredited
Searches for an “accredited” sterile processing program come up empty for a simple reason: sterile processing has no programmatic accrediting body. HSPA doesn’t approve courses either. It says you don’t need to take or pass a preparatory course to sit for the CRCST.
The accreditation sits with the credential instead. HSPA states that the CRCST is accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board and the National Commission for Certifying Agencies. So the exam you pass, not the school you attend, is what proves your training.
What to look for in place of accreditation:
- The exam named on the program page. Every program in this ranking names the CRCST or CSPDT.
- A college’s institutional accreditation, which matters if you want credit that transfers into a degree later.
- Published exam results. A few schools post them, covered below.
Schools That Publish Their Certification Pass Rates
Most programs don’t post results, so the ones that do give you something concrete to compare:
- Lorain County Community College (OH): a 94.5% CRCST pass rate in 2024-2025 with 17 attempting, and 93% the year before.
- Gwinnett Technical College (GA): an 86% central sterile processing pass rate against a 63% international average, plus endoscope reprocessing (CER or CFER) prep.
- Santa Fe College (FL): 20 of 22 graduates in the class of 2025 passed the certification exam.
- Nashville State Community College (TN): a 100% certification pass rate in 2023.
For context, HSPA reports 10,083 passing CRCST results and 5,286 failing ones in 2025. Lorain’s 94.5% came from 17 test takers, so a single class can move a school’s rate a long way.
Sterile Processing Technician Certification Online
You can prepare for either exam online, but you can’t finish certification online. The CRCST exam is taken in person at a Prometric testing facility, CBSPD’s application is printed and mailed, and the CRCST’s 400 hours happen in a real department.
Herzing University-Madison’s diploma delivers its 300 lecture hours online with 120 lab hours. Virginia Western’s hybrid course bundles online access, the textbook and workbook, and the certification test. For more hybrid and online options, see the online sterile processing programs ranking.
Which Certification Program Fits You
You already work in a hospital (environmental services, transport, an OR aide role). A course that includes the exam and lets you test provisionally fits, because your own department can supply and sign off on the hours. Virginia Western and Northeast Iowa Community College are built for this.
You have no healthcare experience. Pick a CRCST program with all 400 hours built in, ideally with the exam fee covered too. McHenry, Rowan, Delaware Tech and the University of Central Missouri do both.
You want a credential fast and at low cost. A CSPDT course in North Carolina, or Corning’s $1,560 course with the voucher included, gets you certified on the course-completion route.
You want college credit to build on. Credit certificates such as Minneapolis Community and Technical College’s 17 credits or Atlantic Technical College’s 650 clock hours prepare you for both exams and count toward further study.
You work days. Rowan teaches Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings, but its 400-hour placement typically runs 7:30 am to 3:30 pm on weekdays. Bergen offers evening, day and overnight internship shifts.
Before You Enroll: A Certification Checklist
- Name your exam first. CRCST if employers near you ask for it; CSPDT if you need a credential without department hours.
- Ask what “exam included” covers. One attempt, a voucher on completion, or reimbursement after passing are three different things.
- Count the hands-on hours in writing. A 240-hour or 80-hour clinical is a start on the CRCST, not the whole 400.
- Check who signs off on hours. HSPA accepts supervisors and hospital educators who watched the work, never private instructors.
- Check your state. Some states require certification by law for sterile processing staff, and CCRI notes its graduates must pass the CRCST within a year of hire. The state requirements guide and the state certification checker cover the rules.
Medical Equipment Preparers, the federal occupation for sterile processing technicians, earned a national median of $47,700 in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. To compare credentials side by side, read the sterile processing certification guide, or find programs near you with the program finder and the full national ranking.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Is the CRCST Exam if Your Program Doesn't Cover It?
HSPA charges $140 for the initial CRCST exam and $140 for each retake. The fee covers application processing and one exam attempt. CBSPD's CSPDT exam fee is $135, and convenience fees may apply.
Do You Have to Take a Course Before the CRCST Exam?
No. HSPA says it is not required that you take or pass a preparatory course. What HSPA requires is 400 hours of hands-on experience in a sterile processing department, paid or volunteer, either before you apply or within six months after you pass.
Can You Apply for the CSPDT Online?
No. CBSPD says its technician application can't be completed online; you print it and mail it. If you qualify through a training course, you send a copy of your certificate or grade from the instructor, and the course must be passed with a grade of 70 or higher.
Who Can Sign Off on Your CRCST Hours?
Lead technicians, coordinators, supervisors, managers, directors, administrators and hospital-based educators who watched the work can document your hours. HSPA does not accept hours documented by technicians, private instructors or you yourself, and it does not place applicants in departments.
How Many People Pass the CRCST Each Year?
HSPA reports 10,083 passing and 5,286 failing CRCST results in 2025, out of 15,369 exams. As of December 31, 2025, there were 54,525 current CRCST holders.
Is the CRCST Credential Itself Accredited?
Yes. HSPA states that the CRCST certification is accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) and the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). That accreditation applies to the exam and credential, not to the training programs that prepare you for it.
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
- Best Online Sterile Processing Technician ProgramsOnline and hybrid programs, and how each one gets you hands-on hours; 71 programs
- Most Affordable Sterile Processing Technician ProgramsPrograms ranked by the whole-program price each school publishes; 85 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: Certification statistics
- HSPA: Who we are
- CBSPD: Technician certification exam
- BLS OEWS: Medical Equipment Preparers (31-9093), May 2025