California · Verified November 2026

Best Sterile Processing Technician Programs in California

What Are the Best Sterile Processing Technician Programs in California?

Contra Costa Medical Career College in Antioch ranks first among 19 schools offering sterile processing technician programs in California, with a score of 87 of 100. 20 sterile processing technician programs in California run at 20 schools, with the most in Torrance, Salinas and Corona. 19 include clinical hours, and 9 state the 400 hands-on hours that HSPA's CRCST, the central service technician certification, requires. The lowest published price is $1,599 at Central Sterilization Solutions. Medical equipment preparers in California earn a median of $61,370 a year (BLS, May 2025).

Researched and edited by · Updated

schools in California
20
programs
20
include clinical hours
19
median published cost
$2,891
median pay (BLS May 2025)
$61,370

Top Picks in California

PickProgramScore
Best overallContra Costa Medical Career College certificateAntioch · 28 weeks · 400 clinical hours87
Best for the CRCST's 400 hoursCentral Coast College certificateSalinas · 32 weeks · 400 clinical hours83
Lowest published costCentral Sterilization Solutions courseCorona · 35 weeks · $1,59955
FastestLos Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health courseLos Angeles · 7 weeks25
Best online or hybridHigh Desert Medical College-Bakersfield certificateBakersfield · 32 weeks · 400 clinical hours83

The 19 Best Sterile Processing Technician Programs in California, 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. Contra Costa Medical Career College: Sterile Processing TechnicianSterile Processing Technician

    87score of 100

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

    Contra Costa Medical Career College (Antioch, CA, private for-profit) runs this certificate (28 weeks). Clinical: 400-hour clinical externship. The school reported 104 sterile processing awards for 2022-23 (IPEDS).

    Weeks
    2828 weeks
    Hours
    744instruction
    Clinical
    400hours, meets 400
    Includes
    • Clinicals
    Prepares for
    • CRCSTHSPA
    • CSPDTCBSPD

    Contra Costa Medical Career College certificate on the school's site

  2. Central Coast College: Sterile Processing TechnicianSterile Processing Technician

    83score of 100

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

    Central Coast College (Salinas, CA, private for-profit) runs this hybrid certificate (32 weeks). Clinical: 400-hour clinical externship.

    Weeks
    3232 weeks
    Hours
    830instruction
    Clinical
    400hours, meets 400
    Includes
    • Clinicals
    Prepares for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    Official page for the Central Coast College certificate

  3. 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

    Apply or ask about the High Desert Medical College-Bakersfield certificate

  4. 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

    High Desert Medical College-Lancaster's own page for this certificate

  5. 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

    Admission details for the High Desert Medical College-Temecula certificate

  6. Integrity College of Health: Sterile Processing TechnicianSterile Processing Technician

    83score of 100

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

    Integrity College of Health (Pasadena, CA, private for-profit) runs this hybrid certificate (32 weeks). Clinical: 400-hour clinical externship.

    Weeks
    3232 weeks
    Hours
    830instruction
    Clinical
    400hours, meets 400
    Includes
    • Clinicals
    Prepares for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    Integrity College of Health certificate on the school's site

  7. Premiere Career College: Hospital Central Service TechnicianHospital Central Service Technician

    64score of 100

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

    Premiere Career College (Irwindale, CA, private for-profit) runs this on campus and hybrid diploma (30 weeks (day); maximum timeframe 45 weeks). The school publishes a price of $12,000 for the program (2026). Clinical: CST104 Hospital Central Service/Instrument Processing externship, 400 clock hours in a hospital central service department. The school reported 29 sterile processing awards for 2022-23 (IPEDS).

    Weeks
    30
    Hours
    800instruction
    Clinical
    400hours, meets 400
    Cost
    $12,000published total, 2026
    Includes
    • Clinicals
    Prepares for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    Official page for the Premiere Career College diploma

  8. Prestige Career College: Sterile Processing TechnicianSterile Processing Technician

    58score of 100

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

    Prestige Career College (Huntington Park, CA) runs this hybrid diploma (31 weeks). Clinical: 400-hour clinical externship in an approved facility.

    Weeks
    3131 weeks
    Hours
    800instruction
    Clinical
    400hours, meets 400
    Includes
    • Clinicals

    Apply or ask about the Prestige Career College diploma

  9. Glendale Career College: Central Service Instrument Technician (CSIT)Central Service Instrument Technician (CSIT)

    57score of 100

    Best for hybrid study near Glendale

    Glendale Career College (Glendale, CA, private for-profit) runs this on campus and hybrid diploma (34 weeks). Clinical: Two clinical externships in hospital or outpatient central service/sterile processing departments: Clinical Experience I (40 hours) and Clinical Experience II (360 hours, 9 weeks). The school reported 27 sterile processing awards for 2022-23 (IPEDS).

    Weeks
    3434 weeks
    Credits
    30.5
    Clinical
    Yesincluded
    Includes
    • Clinicals
    Prepares for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    Glendale Career College's own page for this diploma

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

    55score of 100

    Best for training around a job 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

    Admission details for the Central Sterilization Solutions course

  11. Martinson College: Sterile Processing Technician (SPT) ProgramSterile Processing Technician (SPT) Program

    50score of 100

    Best for hybrid study near Fullerton

    Martinson College (Fullerton, CA) runs this on campus, online and hybrid certificate (As little as 8 weeks). Clinical: Externship and placement services through affiliate hospitals and healthcare facilities. Evening and weekend classes are offered.

    Weeks
    8As little as 8 weeks
    Clinical
    Yesincluded
    Includes
    • Clinicals
    Prepares for
    • CSPDTCBSPD

    Martinson College certificate on the school's site

  12. Skyline College: Sterile Processing Technology With Clinical PracticeSterile Processing Technology With Clinical Practice

    50score of 100

    Best for hands-on training near San Bruno

    Skyline College (San Bruno, CA, public) runs this on campus certificate (Two semesters). Clinical: Skills lab course plus a hospital externship designed to provide the clinical hours HSPA requires for exam eligibility.

    Weeks
    32Two semesters
    Credits
    15
    Clinical
    Yesincluded
    Includes
    • Clinicals
    Prepares for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    Official page for the Skyline College certificate

  13. Southern California Regional Occupational Center (SoCal ROC): Sterilization Processing Distribution TechnicianSterilization Processing Distribution Technician

    50score of 100

    Best for hybrid study near Torrance

    Southern California Regional Occupational Center (SoCal ROC) (Torrance, CA) runs this hybrid non-credit course (One semester (Monday-Thursday, 4:15-7:00 pm)). Clinical: Externship (students must be 18+ and hold BLS certification). Evening classes are offered.

    Weeks
    16
    Clinical
    Yesincluded
    Includes
    • Clinicals
    Prepares for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    Apply or ask about the Southern California Regional Occupational Center course

  14. Southwestern College: Central Service TechnologyCentral Service Technology

    50score of 100

    Best for training around a job near Chula Vista

    Southwestern College (Chula Vista, CA, public) runs this on campus certificate (27 weeks (three 9-week courses across two semesters)). Clinical: ST 10B and ST 10C are 200 hours each in a hospital setting. Evening and weekend classes are offered.

    Weeks
    27
    Credits
    11.5
    Clinical
    Yesincluded
    Includes
    • Clinicals
    Prepares for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    Southwestern College's own page for this certificate

  15. Concorde Career College-Garden Grove: Sterile Processing TechnicianSterile Processing Technician

    46score of 100

    Best for hybrid study near Garden Grove

    Concorde Career College-Garden Grove (Garden Grove, CA, private for-profit) runs this hybrid diploma (16 instructional weeks full time; average 5 months). The school publishes a price of $2,891 for the program. Clinical: 80-hour externship toward HSPA's 400 hours; graduates complete the remaining 320 hours on their own.

    Weeks
    22
    Hours
    216instruction
    Clinical
    80hours
    Cost
    $2,891published total
    Includes
    • Clinicals
    Prepares for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    Admission details for the Concorde Career College-Garden Grove diploma

  16. Concorde Career College-North Hollywood: Sterile Processing TechnicianSterile Processing Technician

    46score of 100

    Best for hybrid study near North Hollywood

    Concorde Career College-North Hollywood (North Hollywood, CA, private for-profit) runs this hybrid diploma (16 instructional weeks full time; average 5 months). The school publishes a price of $2,891 for the program. Clinical: 80-hour externship toward HSPA's 400 hours; graduates complete the remaining 320 hours on their own.

    Weeks
    22
    Hours
    216instruction
    Clinical
    80hours
    Cost
    $2,891published total
    Includes
    • Clinicals
    Prepares for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    Concorde Career College-North Hollywood diploma on the school's site

  17. SVSTI: Sterile Processing ProgramSterile Processing Program

    46score of 100

    Best for hybrid study near Fremont

    SVSTI (Fremont, CA) runs this hybrid certificate (9 weekends of lab plus a 6-week externship). The school publishes a price of $5,250 for the program (2026). Clinical: 6-week externship (240 hours) at a designated medical facility. Weekend classes are offered.

    Weeks
    9
    Clinical
    240hours
    Cost
    $5,250published total, 2026
    Includes
    • Clinicals
    Prepares for
    • CSPDTCBSPD

    Official page for the SVSTI certificate

  18. Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health: Central Service Technician Certification Training ProgramCentral Service Technician Certification Training Program

    25score of 100

    Best for training around a job near Los Angeles

    Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health (Los Angeles, CA, public) runs this on campus non-credit course (7 weeks). Clinical: Clinical instruction in sterile processing department settings. Evening classes are offered.

    Weeks
    77 weeks
    Clinical
    Yesincluded
    Includes
    • Clinicals

    Apply or ask about the Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health course

  19. El Camino College: Sterile Processing Technician Certificate of CompletionSterile Processing Technician Certificate of Completion

    0score of 100

    Best for classroom preparation near Torrance

    El Camino College (Torrance, CA) runs this non-credit course.

    Hours
    72instruction

    El Camino College's own page for this course

Sterile Processing Schools in California, Compared

SchoolBest scoreCredentialsClinicalLowest published costAwards, 2022-23
Contra Costa Medical Career College: official siteAntioch · Private for-profit87Certificate400 hr104
Central Coast College: official siteSalinas · Private for-profit83Certificate400 hr
High Desert Medical College-Bakersfield: official siteBakersfield83Certificate400 hr
High Desert Medical College-Lancaster: official siteLancaster83Certificate400 hr
High Desert Medical College-Temecula: official siteTemecula83Certificate400 hr
Integrity College of Health: official sitePasadena · Private for-profit83Certificate400 hr
North Orange County ROP: official siteAnaheim65Non-credit course400 hr$3,750
Premiere Career College: official siteIrwindale · Private for-profit64Diploma400 hr$12,00029
Prestige Career College: official siteHuntington Park58Diploma400 hr
Glendale Career College: official siteGlendale · Private for-profit57DiplomaIncluded27
Central Sterilization Solutions: official siteCorona55Non-credit courseIncluded$1,599
Martinson College: official siteFullerton50CertificateIncluded
Skyline College: official siteSan Bruno · Public50CertificateIncluded
Southern California Regional Occupational Center (SoCal ROC): official siteTorrance50Non-credit courseIncluded
Southwestern College: official siteChula Vista · Public50CertificateIncluded
Concorde Career College-Garden Grove: official siteGarden Grove · Private for-profit46Diploma80 hr$2,891
Concorde Career College-North Hollywood: official siteNorth Hollywood · Private for-profit46Diploma80 hr$2,891
SVSTI: official siteFremont46Certificate240 hr$5,250
Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health: official siteLos Angeles · Public25Non-credit courseIncluded
El Camino College: official siteTorrance0Non-credit course

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 California

Online and Hybrid Options for California 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 California.

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
Central Coast College certificate: hybrid program pageSalinas, CAHybrid32 weeks400 hours
Concorde Career College-Garden Grove diploma: hybrid program pageGarden Grove, CAHybrid22 weeks80 hours$2,891published total
Concorde Career College-North Hollywood diploma: hybrid program pageNorth Hollywood, CAHybrid22 weeks80 hours$2,891published total
Glendale Career College diploma: hybrid program pageGlendale, CAHybrid34 weeksIncluded
High Desert Medical College-Bakersfield certificate: hybrid program pageBakersfield, CAHybrid32 weeks400 hours
High Desert Medical College-Lancaster certificate: hybrid program pageLancaster, CAHybrid32 weeks400 hours
High Desert Medical College-Temecula certificate: hybrid program pageTemecula, CAHybrid32 weeks400 hours
Integrity College of Health certificate: hybrid program pagePasadena, CAHybrid32 weeks400 hours
Martinson College certificate: hybrid program pageFullerton, CAHybrid8 weeksIncluded
Premiere Career College diploma: hybrid program pageIrwindale, CAHybrid30 weeks400 hours$12,000published total, 2026
Prestige Career College diploma: hybrid program pageHuntington Park, CAHybrid31 weeks400 hours
Southern California Regional Occupational Center course: hybrid program pageTorrance, CAHybrid16 weeksIncluded
SVSTI certificate: hybrid program pageFremont, CAHybrid9 weeks240 hours$5,250published total, 2026

See the online program rankings

How We Rank Sterile Processing Programs in California

Every California 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 California

No California 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 California

bottom tenth
$43,680
median
$61,370
top tenth
$85,240
employed
8,720

California's median of $61,370 is above 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 California

Programs Near California Cities

Questions About Sterile Processing Technician Programs in California

What Is the Best Sterile Processing Technician Program in California?

Sterile Processing Technician at Contra Costa Medical Career College ranks first with a score of 87 of 100, ahead of Central Coast College (83) and High Desert Medical College-Bakersfield (83). 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 California Have?

20 at 20 schools, verified on each school's own site in November 2026. Torrance (2), Salinas (1), Corona (1) and Garden Grove (1) have the most.

Which California Programs Include Clinical Hours?

Central Coast College, Central Sterilization Solutions, Concorde Career College-Garden Grove, Concorde Career College-North Hollywood, Contra Costa Medical Career College and Glendale Career 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 California?

Among the 6 California programs that publish a price for the whole program, cost runs from $1,599 to $12,000, with a median of $2,891.

How Much Do Sterile Processing Technicians Make in California?

The median for medical equipment preparers in California is $61,370 a year, with the bottom tenth earning $43,680 and the top tenth $85,240, across 8,720 jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The national median is $47,700. Pay in every state.

Can California Residents Train Online?

Partly. 3 programs put all coursework online, and 13 California 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 20 California 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