New Jersey · Verified November 2026

Best Sterile Processing Technician Programs in New Jersey

What Are the Best Sterile Processing Technician Programs in New Jersey?

Rowan College of South Jersey in Sewell ranks first among 6 schools offering sterile processing technician programs in New Jersey, with a score of 83 of 100. 6 sterile processing technician programs in New Jersey run at 6 schools, with the most in Piscataway, Paramus and Woodland Park. 6 include clinical hours, and 4 state the 400 hands-on hours that HSPA's CRCST, the central service technician certification, requires. The lowest published price is $2,750 at Rowan College at Burlington County. A New Jersey Department of Health hospital licensing rule requires everyone involved in sterile processing at a hospital to be certified through a national sterile processing program the Department recognizes within three years of employment. The central service director or supervisor must be certified and have two years of supervisory experience. Medical equipment preparers in New Jersey earn a median of $50,280 a year (BLS, May 2025).

Researched and edited by · Updated

schools in New Jersey
6
programs
6
include clinical hours
6
median published cost
$2,950
median pay (BLS May 2025)
$50,280

Top Picks in New Jersey

PickProgramScore
Best overallRowan College of South Jersey courseSewell · 39 weeks · 400 clinical hours83
Best for the CRCST's 400 hoursRowan College at Burlington County courseMount Laurel · $2,750 · 400 clinical hours81
Lowest published costBergen Community College courseParamus · 10 weeks · $2,950 · 400 clinical hours69
FastestMCI Institute certificateOcean · 29 weeks55
Best online or hybridAmerican Institute of Medical Sciences & Education certificatePiscataway · 43 weeks · 400 clinical hours80

The 6 Best Sterile Processing Technician Programs in New Jersey, 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. Rowan College of South Jersey: Central Service TechnicianCentral Service Technician

    83score of 100

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

    Rowan College of South Jersey (Sewell, NJ) runs this on campus non-credit course (6-9 months). Clinical: 400-hour externship.

    Weeks
    396-9 months
    Hours
    140instruction
    Clinical
    400hours, meets 400
    Includes
    • Clinicals
    Prepares for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    Rowan College of South Jersey course on the school's site

  2. Rowan College at Burlington County: Central Services TechnicianCentral Services Technician

    81score of 100

    Best 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 for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    Official page for the Rowan College at Burlington County course

  3. American Institute of Medical Sciences &Amp; Education (AIMS Education): Sterile Processing TechnicianSterile Processing Technician

    80score of 100

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

    American Institute of Medical Sciences & Education (AIMS Education) (Piscataway, NJ, private for-profit) runs this hybrid certificate (10 months). Clinical: Mandatory 400-hour clinical internship at an affiliated healthcare facility, placed by the AIMS Internship Department; held during weekday business hours. Evening classes are offered. The school reported 14 sterile processing awards for 2022-23 (IPEDS).

    Weeks
    4310 months
    Credits
    26
    Clinical
    400hours, meets 400
    Includes
    • Clinicals
    Prepares for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    Apply or ask about the American Institute of Medical Sciences & Education certificate

  4. Bergen Community College: Central Sterile Processing Technician (HH-008)Central Sterile Processing Technician (HH-008)

    69score of 100

    Best for covering the CRCST's 400 hands-on hours 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 for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    Bergen Community College's own page for this course

  5. MCI Institute (Medical Career Institute): Sterile Processing TechnologySterile Processing Technology

    55score of 100

    Best for hands-on training near Ocean

    MCI Institute (Medical Career Institute) (Ocean, NJ, private for-profit) runs this on campus certificate (29 weeks). Clinical: Off-campus clinical externship at hospitals and surgical centers with supervised hands-on training, competency logs and evaluations. The school reported 19 sterile processing awards for 2022-23 (IPEDS).

    Weeks
    2929 weeks
    Hours
    712instruction
    Clinical
    Yesincluded
    Includes
    • Clinicals
    Prepares for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    Admission details for the MCI Institute certificate

  6. Berkeley College: Sterile Processing Technician CertificateSterile Processing Technician Certificate

    49score of 100

    Best for having the certification exam paid for near Woodland Park

    Berkeley College (Woodland Park, NJ, private for-profit) runs this on campus certificate (Two semesters, designed to be completed in 30 weeks). The school publishes a price of $17,900 for the program (2026-27). Clinical: SPT2150 Surgical Processing Clinical Practicum (8 credits): supervised practical work experience at an off-campus sterile processing department, with a 2-credit clinical seminar. The school reported 7 sterile processing awards for 2022-23 (IPEDS).

    Weeks
    30
    Credits
    27
    Clinical
    Yesincluded
    Cost
    $17,900published total, 2026-27
    Includes
    • Clinicals
    • Exam voucher
    • Textbook
    Prepares for
    • CRCSTHSPA

    Berkeley College certificate on the school's site

Sterile Processing Schools in New Jersey, Compared

SchoolBest scoreCredentialsClinicalLowest published costAwards, 2022-23
Rowan College of South Jersey: official siteSewell83Non-credit course400 hr
Rowan College at Burlington County: official siteMount Laurel · Public81Non-credit course400 hr$2,750
American Institute of Medical Sciences & Education (AIMS Education): official sitePiscataway · Private for-profit80Certificate400 hr14
Bergen Community College: official siteParamus · Public69Non-credit course400 hr$2,950
MCI Institute (Medical Career Institute): official siteOcean · Private for-profit55CertificateIncluded19
Berkeley College: official siteWoodland Park · Private for-profit49CertificateIncluded$17,9007

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 New Jersey

Online and Hybrid Options for New Jersey 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 New Jersey.

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
American Institute of Medical Sciences & Education certificate: hybrid program pagePiscataway, NJHybrid43 weeks400 hours
Rowan College at Burlington County course: hybrid program pageMount Laurel, NJHybrid400 hours$2,750published course fee, 2026-27

See the online program rankings

How We Rank Sterile Processing Programs in New Jersey

Every New Jersey 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 New Jersey

A New Jersey Department of Health hospital licensing rule requires everyone involved in sterile processing at a hospital to be certified through a national sterile processing program the Department recognizes within three years of employment. The central service director or supervisor must be certified and have two years of supervisory experience.

Credentials the law accepts: Certification through a national sterile processing program recognized by the New Jersey Department of Health. New hires: within three years of employment.

N.J.A.C. 8:43G-8.2 (readopted effective November 17, 2024) · N.J.A.C. 8:43G-8.2 text, 50 N.J.R. (January 16, 2018) · checked 2026-11-11

Sterile Processing Technician Salary in New Jersey

bottom tenth
$38,050
median
$50,280
top tenth
$69,570
employed
2,440

New Jersey's median of $50,280 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 New Jersey

Programs Near New Jersey Cities

Questions About Sterile Processing Technician Programs in New Jersey

What Is the Best Sterile Processing Technician Program in New Jersey?

Central Service Technician at Rowan College of South Jersey ranks first with a score of 83 of 100, ahead of Rowan College at Burlington County (81) and American Institute of Medical Sciences & Education (80). 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 New Jersey Have?

6 at 6 schools, verified on each school's own site in November 2026. Piscataway (1), Paramus (1), Woodland Park (1) and Ocean (1) have the most.

Which New Jersey Programs Include Clinical Hours?

American Institute of Medical Sciences & Education, Bergen Community College, Berkeley College, MCI Institute, Rowan College at Burlington County and Rowan College of South Jersey 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 New Jersey?

Among the 3 New Jersey programs that publish a price for the whole program, cost runs from $2,750 to $17,900, with a median of $2,950.

Does New Jersey Require Sterile Processing Certification?

A New Jersey Department of Health hospital licensing rule requires everyone involved in sterile processing at a hospital to be certified through a national sterile processing program the Department recognizes within three years of employment. The central service director or supervisor must be certified and have two years of supervisory experience. Accepted credentials: Certification through a national sterile processing program recognized by the New Jersey Department of Health. Certification requirements in every state.

How Much Do Sterile Processing Technicians Make in New Jersey?

The median for medical equipment preparers in New Jersey is $50,280 a year, with the bottom tenth earning $38,050 and the top tenth $69,570, across 2,440 jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The national median is $47,700. Pay in every state.

Can New Jersey Residents Train Online?

Partly. 3 programs put all coursework online, and 2 New Jersey 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 6 New Jersey schools listed, reviewed November 2026
  2. U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS completions 2022-23, CIP 51.1012
  3. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025: Medical Equipment Preparers, state estimates
  4. New Jersey: N.J.A.C. 8:43G-8.2 (readopted effective November 17, 2024)
  5. New Jersey: N.J.A.C. 8:43G-8.2 text, 50 N.J.R. (January 16, 2018)

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