Alabama · Verified November 2026

Best Sterile Processing Technician Programs in Alabama

What Are the Best Sterile Processing Technician Programs in Alabama?

Jefferson State Community College in Birmingham ranks first among 2 schools offering sterile processing technician programs in Alabama, with a score of 37 of 100. 2 sterile processing technician programs in Alabama run at 2 schools, with the most in Sumiton and Birmingham. 2 include clinical hours. The lowest published price is $1,795 at Jefferson State Community College. Medical equipment preparers in Alabama earn a median of $35,800 a year (BLS, May 2025).

Researched and edited by · Updated

schools in Alabama
2
programs
2
include clinical hours
2
median published cost
$1,795
median pay (BLS May 2025)
$35,800

Top Picks in Alabama

PickProgramScore
Best overallJefferson State Community College courseBirmingham · $1,795 · 103 clinical hours37

Alabama 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. Jefferson State Community College: Sterile Processing Technician (Fast Track Healthcare Academy)Sterile Processing Technician (Fast Track Healthcare Academy)

    37score of 100

    Best for a published, all-in price near Birmingham

    Jefferson State Community College (Birmingham, AL, public) runs this non-credit course. The school publishes a price of $1,795 for the program. Clinical: 103-hour clinical externship completed during the last four weeks of the schedule; clinical times vary by site.

    Clinical
    103hours
    Cost
    $1,795published total
    Includes
    • Clinicals

    Jefferson State Community College course on the school's site

  2. Bevill State Community College: Sterile Processing Technology (Short Term Certificate)Sterile Processing Technology (Short Term Certificate)

    25score of 100

    Best for hands-on training near Sumiton

    Bevill State Community College (Sumiton, AL) runs this certificate. Clinical: SUR 152 Central Sterile Lab with Preceptorship (3 credits).

    Credits
    22
    Clinical
    Yesincluded
    Includes
    • Clinicals

    Official page for the Bevill State Community College certificate

Sterile Processing Schools in Alabama, Compared

SchoolBest scoreCredentialsClinicalLowest published costAwards, 2022-23
Jefferson State Community College: official siteBirmingham · Public37Non-credit course103 hr$1,795
Bevill State Community College: official siteSumiton25CertificateIncluded

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 Alabama

Online and Hybrid Options for Alabama 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 Alabama

Every Alabama 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 Alabama

No Alabama 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 Alabama

bottom tenth
$30,180
median
$35,800
top tenth
$45,670
employed
1,000

Alabama's median of $35,800 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 Alabama

Programs Near Alabama Cities

Questions About Sterile Processing Technician Programs in Alabama

What Is the Best Sterile Processing Technician Program in Alabama?

Sterile Processing Technician (Fast Track Healthcare Academy) at Jefferson State Community College ranks first with a score of 37 of 100, ahead of Bevill State Community College (25). 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 Alabama Have?

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

Which Alabama Programs Include Clinical Hours?

Bevill State Community College and Jefferson State Community College 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 Alabama?

Sterile Processing Technician (Fast Track Healthcare Academy) at Jefferson State Community College publishes a price of $1,795.

How Much Do Sterile Processing Technicians Make in Alabama?

The median for medical equipment preparers in Alabama is $35,800 a year, with the bottom tenth earning $30,180 and the top tenth $45,670, across 1,000 jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The national median is $47,700. Pay in every state.

Can Alabama 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 2 Alabama 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