North Carolina · Verified November 2026

Best Sterile Processing Technician Programs in North Carolina

What Are the Best Sterile Processing Technician Programs in North Carolina?

Durham Technical Community College in Durham ranks first among 13 schools offering sterile processing technician programs in North Carolina, with a score of 64 of 100. 14 sterile processing technician programs in North Carolina run at 14 schools, with the most in Washington, Jacksonville and New Bern. 8 include clinical hours. The lowest published price is $180 at Coastal Carolina Community College. Medical equipment preparers in North Carolina earn a median of $45,130 a year (BLS, May 2025).

Researched and edited by · Updated

schools in North Carolina
14
programs
14
include clinical hours
8
median published cost
$287
median pay (BLS May 2025)
$45,130

Top Picks in North Carolina

PickProgramScore
Best overallDurham Technical Community College courseDurham · 19 weeks · $257.25 · 30 clinical hours64
Lowest published costCoastal Carolina Community College courseJacksonville · $18047
FastestVance-Granville Community College courseHenderson · 11 weeks · $322.6045
Best online or hybridWilson Community College courseWilson · $348 · 100 clinical hours62
Best for working adultsBeaufort County Community College courseWashington · $205.2546

The 13 Best Sterile Processing Technician Programs in North Carolina, Ranked

How this list is ranked: highest score first. The score (out of 100) adds hands-on training (35), certification prep (25), published cost (25) and the school's federal track record in 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. 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

    Durham Technical Community College course on the school's site

  2. Guilford Technical Community College: Central Sterile Processing TechnicianCentral Sterile Processing Technician

    63score of 100

    Best for a published, all-in price near Jamestown

    Guilford Technical Community College (Jamestown, NC, public) runs this non-credit course. The school publishes a price of $328 for the program (2026-27). Clinical: Clinical or clinical simulation portion; these hours do not count toward the 400 hours required for full CRCST.

    Clinical
    Yesincluded
    Cost
    $328published total, 2026-27
    Includes
    • Clinicals
    • Textbook
    Prepares for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    Official page for the Guilford Technical Community College course

  3. Wilson Community College: Central Sterile Processing Technician (CSPT)Central Sterile Processing Technician (CSPT)

    62score of 100

    Best for hybrid study near Wilson

    Wilson Community College (Wilson, NC, public) runs this hybrid non-credit course. The school publishes a price of $348 for the program (2026-27). Clinical: 100 hours of clinical experience in a healthcare setting.

    Clinical
    100hours
    Cost
    $348published total, 2026-27
    Includes
    • Clinicals
    Prepares for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    Apply or ask about the Wilson Community College course

  4. Piedmont Community College: Central Sterile ProcessingCentral Sterile Processing

    62score of 100

    Best for hybrid study near Roxboro

    Piedmont Community College (Roxboro, NC, public) runs this hybrid non-credit course (January 19 to April 19, 2027). The school publishes a price of $353 for the program (2026-27). Clinical: 27 hours at an assigned clinical site during one week between weeks 8 and 13.

    Clinical
    27hours
    Cost
    $353published total, 2026-27
    Includes
    • Clinicals
    Prepares for
    • CSPDTCBSPD

    Piedmont Community College's own page for this course

  5. Fayetteville Technical Community College: Central Sterile Processing (C45180)Central Sterile Processing (C45180)

    51score of 100

    Best for hands-on training near Fayetteville

    Fayetteville Technical Community College (Fayetteville, NC, public) runs this certificate (1 semester). Clinical: STP 102 STP Clinical Practice (3 credits, 9 clinical contact hours in the sequence). The school reported 7 sterile processing awards for 2022-23 (IPEDS).

    Weeks
    161 semester
    Credits
    17
    Clinical
    Yesincluded
    Cost
    $76per credit, 2025-26
    Includes
    • Clinicals
    Prepares for
    • CSPDTCBSPD

    Admission details for the Fayetteville Technical Community College certificate

  6. Craven Community College: Central Sterile Processing Technician (PHM-CSTECH)Central Sterile Processing Technician (PHM-CSTECH)

    50score of 100

    Best for hands-on training near New Bern

    Craven Community College (New Bern, NC, public) runs this on campus non-credit course. Clinical: Classroom instruction, labs and clinical rotations.

    Clinical
    Yesincluded
    Includes
    • Clinicals
    Prepares for
    • CRCSTHSPA
    • CSPDTCBSPD

    Craven Community College course on the school's site

  7. Rockingham Community College: Central Sterile ProcessingCentral Sterile Processing

    50score of 100

    Best for hybrid study near Wentworth

    Rockingham Community College (Wentworth, NC, public) runs this hybrid non-credit course. Clinical: Practical applications of learned concepts and procedures.

    Clinical
    Yesincluded
    Includes
    • Clinicals
    Prepares for
    • CSPDTCBSPD

    Official page for the Rockingham Community College course

  8. Coastal Carolina Community College: Central Sterile Processing TechnicianCentral Sterile Processing Technician

    47score of 100

    Best for a published, all-in price near Jacksonville

    Coastal Carolina Community College (Jacksonville, NC, public) runs this non-credit course. The school publishes a price of $180 for the program (2026-27).

    Cost
    $180published total, 2026-27
    Prepares for
    • CSPDTCBSPD

    Apply or ask about the Coastal Carolina Community College course

  9. Wake Technical Community College: Central Sterile Processing Technician (PHM-3002A3)Central Sterile Processing Technician (PHM-3002A3)

    47score of 100

    Best for hybrid study near Raleigh

    Wake Technical Community College (Raleigh, NC, public) runs this hybrid non-credit course (3 months or less). The school publishes a price of $200 for the program (2026-27).

    Weeks
    133 months or less
    Hours
    112instruction
    Cost
    $200published total, 2026-27
    Prepares for
    • CSPDTCBSPD

    Wake Technical Community College's own page for this course

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

    46score of 100

    Best for hybrid study near Washington

    Beaufort County Community College (Washington, NC, public) runs this hybrid non-credit course (February 2 to April 27, 2027). The school publishes a price of $205.25 for the program (2026-27). Evening classes are offered.

    Hours
    240instruction
    Cost
    $205.25published total, 2026-27
    Prepares for
    • CSPDTCBSPD

    Admission details for the Beaufort County Community College course

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

    45score of 100

    Best for hybrid study 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 course on the school's site

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

    31score of 100

    Best for hybrid study 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

    Official page for the Davidson-Davie Community College course

  13. Forsyth Technical Community College: Central Sterile ProcessingCentral Sterile Processing

    25score of 100

    Best for hybrid study near Winston-Salem

    Forsyth Technical Community College (Winston-Salem, NC, public) runs this hybrid non-credit course (15 weeks). Clinical: Clinical externship at a healthcare facility. Evening classes are offered.

    Weeks
    1515 weeks
    Clinical
    Yesincluded
    Includes
    • Clinicals

    Apply or ask about the Forsyth Technical Community College course

Sterile Processing Schools in North Carolina, Compared

SchoolBest scoreCredentialsClinicalLowest published costAwards, 2022-23
Durham Technical Community College: official siteDurham · Public64Non-credit course30 hr$257.25
Guilford Technical Community College: official siteJamestown · Public63Non-credit courseIncluded$328
Piedmont Community College: official siteRoxboro · Public62Non-credit course27 hr$353
Wilson Community College: official siteWilson · Public62Non-credit course100 hr$348
Fayetteville Technical Community College: official siteFayetteville · Public51CertificateIncluded7
Craven Community College: official siteNew Bern · Public50Non-credit courseIncluded
Rockingham Community College: official siteWentworth · Public50Non-credit courseIncluded
Coastal Carolina Community College: official siteJacksonville · Public47Non-credit course$180
Wake Technical Community College: official siteRaleigh · Public47Non-credit course$200
Beaufort County Community College: official siteWashington · Public46Non-credit course$205.25
Vance-Granville Community College: official siteHenderson · Public45Non-credit course$322.60
Davidson-Davie Community College: official siteThomasville · Public31Non-credit course$286.506
Forsyth Technical Community College: official siteWinston-Salem · Public25Non-credit courseIncluded
Gaston College: official siteDallas · Public11Certificate7

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 North Carolina

Online and Hybrid Options for North Carolina Residents

Online coursework still leads to hands-on hours in a real department: the CRCST requires 400 of them. Hybrid programs here hold labs or clinicals in North Carolina.

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
Beaufort County Community College course: hybrid program pageWashington, NCHybrid240 hours$205.25published total, 2026-27
Davidson-Davie Community College course: hybrid program pageThomasville, NCHybrid12 weeks$286.50published total, 2026-27
Durham Technical Community College course: hybrid program pageDurham, NCHybrid19 weeks30 hours$257.25published total
Forsyth Technical Community College course: hybrid program pageWinston-Salem, NCHybrid15 weeksIncluded
Piedmont Community College course: hybrid program pageRoxboro, NCHybrid27 hours$353published total, 2026-27
Rockingham Community College course: hybrid program pageWentworth, NCHybridIncluded
Vance-Granville Community College course: hybrid program pageHenderson, NCHybrid11 weeks$322.60published total, 2026
Wake Technical Community College course: hybrid program pageRaleigh, NCHybrid13 weeks$200published total, 2026-27
Wilson Community College course: hybrid program pageWilson, NCHybrid100 hours$348published total, 2026-27

See the online program rankings

How We Rank Sterile Processing Programs in North Carolina

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

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 North Carolina

No North Carolina law in force requires sterile processing certification, so the requirement comes from employers. Many hospitals hire for, or ask new technicians to earn, HSPA's CRCST (the central service technician credential) or CBSPD's CSPDT. Full CRCST certification needs 400 hands-on hours in a sterile processing department; you can test first and hold provisional status while you log them.

How the CRCST and its 400 hours work · States that require certification by law

Sterile Processing Technician Salary in North Carolina

bottom tenth
$36,410
median
$45,130
top tenth
$58,950
employed
2,900

North Carolina's median of $45,130 is below the national median of $47,700. Figures are annual wages for medical equipment preparers (SOC 31-9093), the BLS occupation for sterile processing technicians, OEWS May 2025.

Schools in States Near North Carolina

Programs Near North Carolina Cities

Questions About Sterile Processing Technician Programs in North Carolina

What Is the Best Sterile Processing Technician Program in North Carolina?

Central Sterile Processing (PHM-3002A) at Durham Technical Community College ranks first with a score of 64 of 100, ahead of Guilford Technical Community College (63) and Wilson Community College (62). The score weighs hands-on hours, certification prep, published cost and the school's federal track record. How the score works.

How Many Training Programs Does North Carolina Have?

14 at 14 schools, verified on each school's own site in November 2026. Washington (1), Jacksonville (1), New Bern (1) and Thomasville (1) have the most.

Which North Carolina Programs Include Clinical Hours?

Craven Community College, Durham Technical Community College, Fayetteville Technical Community College, Forsyth Technical Community College, Guilford Technical Community College and Piedmont Community College and others include clinical or practicum time. HSPA's CRCST requires 400 hands-on hours for full certification. How the 400-hour requirement works.

How Much Does Training Cost in North Carolina?

Among the 9 North Carolina programs that publish a price for the whole program, cost runs from $180 to $353, with a median of $287.

How Much Do Sterile Processing Technicians Make in North Carolina?

The median for medical equipment preparers in North Carolina is $45,130 a year, with the bottom tenth earning $36,410 and the top tenth $58,950, across 2,900 jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The national median is $47,700. Pay in every state.

Can North Carolina Residents Train Online?

Partly. 3 programs put all coursework online, and 9 North Carolina programs are hybrid, but the CRCST's 400 hands-on hours happen in a real sterile processing department. Online program rankings.

More Sterile Processing Rankings

Sources

  1. Official program pages of the 14 North Carolina 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

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