Arizona · Verified November 2026

Best Sterile Processing Technician Programs in Arizona

What Are the Best Sterile Processing Technician Programs in Arizona?

Pima Medical Institute-Phoenix in Phoenix ranks first among 3 schools offering sterile processing technician programs in Arizona, with a score of 83 of 100. 3 sterile processing technician programs in Arizona run at 3 schools, with the most in Phoenix and Mesa. 3 include clinical hours, and 1 states the 400 hands-on hours that HSPA's CRCST, the central service technician certification, requires. Medical equipment preparers in Arizona earn a median of $46,790 a year (BLS, May 2025).

Researched and edited by · Updated

schools in Arizona
3
programs
3
include clinical hours
3
median pay (BLS May 2025)
$46,790

Top Picks in Arizona

PickProgramScore
Best overallPima Medical Institute-Phoenix certificatePhoenix · 39 weeks · 400 clinical hours83

Arizona Sterile Processing Programs, Ranked

How this list is ranked: highest score first. The score (out of 100) adds hands-on training (35), certification prep (25), published cost (25) and the school's federal track record in sterile processing (15), each from the school's own pages or IPEDS; a part a program has no figure for is left out and the rest are rescaled. One program per school; programs not admitting students are left out.

  1. Pima Medical Institute-Phoenix: Sterile Processing Technician Certificate ProgramSterile Processing Technician Certificate Program

    83score of 100

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

    Pima Medical Institute-Phoenix (Phoenix, AZ, private for-profit) runs this on campus certificate (~9 months). Clinical: 400-hour clinical externship, completed fully in person. The school reported 26 sterile processing awards for 2022-23 (IPEDS).

    Weeks
    39~9 months
    Clinical
    400hours, meets 400
    Includes
    • Clinicals
    Prepares for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    Pima Medical Institute-Phoenix certificate on the school's site

  2. East Valley Institute of Technology: Sterile Processing Technician ProgramSterile Processing Technician Program

    53score of 100

    Best for hands-on training near Mesa

    East Valley Institute of Technology (Mesa, AZ, public) runs this certificate (600 hours). Clinical: Clinical rotations. The school reported 11 sterile processing awards for 2022-23 (IPEDS).

    Hours
    600instruction
    Clinical
    Yesincluded
    Includes
    • Clinicals
    Prepares for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    Official page for the East Valley Institute of Technology certificate

  3. GateWay Community College: Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Hospital Central Service TechnologyCertificate of Completion (CCL) in Hospital Central Service Technology

    50score of 100

    Best for hands-on training near Phoenix

    GateWay Community College (Phoenix, AZ, public) runs this certificate (Two terms (suggested course sequence)). Clinical: HCS154 Hospital Central Service Preceptorship (7 credits) with clinical experience in hospital central service areas.

    Credits
    18
    Clinical
    Yesincluded
    Includes
    • Clinicals
    Prepares for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    Apply or ask about the GateWay Community College certificate

Sterile Processing Schools in Arizona, Compared

SchoolBest scoreCredentialsClinicalLowest published costAwards, 2022-23
Pima Medical Institute-Phoenix: official sitePhoenix · Private for-profit83Certificate400 hr26
East Valley Institute of Technology: official siteMesa · Public53CertificateIncluded11
GateWay Community College: official sitePhoenix · Public50CertificateIncluded

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 Program in Arizona

Online and Hybrid Options for Arizona 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 Arizona

Every Arizona 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 Arizona

No Arizona 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 Arizona

bottom tenth
$35,290
median
$46,790
top tenth
$60,760
employed
2,320

Arizona's median of $46,790 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 Arizona

Programs Near Arizona Cities

Questions About Sterile Processing Technician Programs in Arizona

What Is the Best Sterile Processing Technician Program in Arizona?

Sterile Processing Technician Certificate Program at Pima Medical Institute-Phoenix ranks first with a score of 83 of 100, ahead of East Valley Institute of Technology (53) and GateWay Community College (50). 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 Arizona Have?

3 at 3 schools, verified on each school's own site in November 2026. Phoenix (2) and Mesa (1) have the most.

Which Arizona Programs Include Clinical Hours?

East Valley Institute of Technology, GateWay Community College and Pima Medical Institute-Phoenix include clinical or practicum time. HSPA's CRCST requires 400 hands-on hours for full certification. How the 400-hour requirement works.

How Much Do Sterile Processing Technicians Make in Arizona?

The median for medical equipment preparers in Arizona is $46,790 a year, with the bottom tenth earning $35,290 and the top tenth $60,760, across 2,320 jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The national median is $47,700. Pay in every state.

Can Arizona 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 3 Arizona 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