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  • Sterile Processing Technician Certificate

    • Sterile Processing Technician Certificate

    Overview

    This program provides supervised clinical experience in sterile processing at an approved hospital or healthcare facility. Students apply the knowledge and skills acquired in SPT 100 and SPT 101 in a real-world clinical setting, working alongside trained professionals in a Sterile Processing Department (SPD).

    Core Focus Areas

    • Safe handling of contaminated and sterile surgical instruments
    • Decontamination, packaging, and sterilization
    • Operating washers, ultrasonic cleaners, and sterilizers
    • Inventory management in SPD
    • Infection prevention and regulatory compliance
    • Teamwork and communication within a healthcare environment

    Student Learning Outcomes

    Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

    1. Demonstrate safe handling practices for contaminated and sterile instruments
    2. Perform decontamination, assembly, and sterilization under supervision
    3. Operate washers, ultrasonic cleaners, and sterilizers per facility protocol
    4. Document processes accurately and adhere to QA guidelines
    5. Communicate effectively with surgical, nursing, and SPD staff
    6. Apply infection prevention practices and regulatory standards in clinical settings

    Required Skills & Expectations

    To succeed in this course, students must:

    • Possess basic computer literacy (email, Blackboard, document editing)
    • Attend all clinical sessions and actively participate
    • Complete assignments by their deadlines
    • Demonstrate professional behavior and effective team collaboration

    Clinical Placement

    All clinical hours are conducted at approved partner hospitals or healthcare facilities. Students are expected to follow the dress code, punctuality, and behavioral standards of the host site.

     

    • Pre-requisites

      Before enrolling in this clinical course, students must meet the following requirements to ensure they are prepared for hands-on experience in a healthcare environment. These prerequisites are designed to promote safety, compliance, and readiness for clinical practice.

      • Completion of SPT 100 and SPT 101 with a grade of “C” or higher
      • Updated immunizations and background check clearance
      • CPR certification (current)
    • Required Textbook(s) & Resources

      To support student success in both classroom and clinical settings, the following materials and resources are required. These tools provide essential knowledge, hands-on practice, and access to digital learning platforms used throughout the course.

      • Textbook: Central Service Technical Manual, 8th Edition (HSPA)
      • Workbook: Central Service Workbook, 8th Edition (HSPA)
      • Recommended: HSPA Online Learning Modules (myhspa.org)
      • Technology: Reliable internet access, Blackboard access, Microsoft Office

      Required Materials

      • Maria College Clinical Handbook (provided)
      • Scrubs (per Maria College Policy), closed-toe shoes
      • Required vaccinations and health records
      • Photo ID badge (Maria College and facility-issued)
    • Grading Policy

      Grades will be calculated on a weighted average. Therefore, your grade will be based upon the scores received from each category multiple by its percentage and all the new values added together.

      Course Grading Breakdown:
      Lecture Assignments – 50%
      15% – Four (4) Lecture Exams (~400 points)
      10% – Ten (10) Quizzes (~50 points)
      15% – Attendance and Discussion Board Assignments (~90 points)
      10% – Cumulative Lecture Final Exam (~160 points)

      Laboratory Assignments – 50%
      (~200 points)

      Letter grades follow Maria College’s grading scale.

      Numerical average Grade Quality Points
      92.5 – 100 (93 – 100) A (4.0)
      89.5 – 92.4 (90 – 92) A- (3.7)
      86.5 – 89.4 (87 – 89) B+ (3.3)
      82.5 – 86.4 (83 – 86) B (3.0)
      79.5 – 82.4 (80 – 82) B- (2.7)
      76.5 – 79.4 (77 – 79) C+ (2.3)
      72.5 – 76.4 (73 – 76) C (2.0)
      69.5 – 72.4 (70 – 72) C- (1.7)
      66.5 – 69.4 (67 – 69) D+ (1.3)
      62.5 – 66.4 (63 – 66) D (1.0)
      62.4 and lower F (0.0)

    • Attendance & Engagement

      Attendance in this professional course will be monitored throughout the semester to ensure students are actively engaged and meeting the expectations of the clinical host. Attendance is tracked through participation in the weekly Discussion Board Assignments. Each week, students are required to post one (1) original response to the discussion prompt and reply to at least one (1) classmate’s post, totaling a minimum of two (2) discussion interactions per week. Over the 6-week semester, students are expected to complete approximately 12 discussion interactions to meet attendance and participation requirements.

      Students should make every attempt to keep the professional obligation of attendance for this clinical experience course. Clinical practice prior to award of the certificate is required by New York State. Any absences must be documented with the instructor and the missed hours completed before the end of the course. Delay in completing the required clinical hours will result in delay of certification.

    • Course Outline

      Below is a week-by-week breakdown of topics covered in the Sterile Processing Technician Clinical Experience course. Each module builds on prior knowledge and supports hands-on clinical practice.

      Weeks 1–2: Introduction to Central Sterile Services

      • Technician roles and responsibilities
      • Workflow overview and regulatory bodies (FDA, AAMI, AORN)

      Weeks 3–4: Environmental & Personnel Considerations

      • Work-area conditions (temperature, humidity)
      • Cleaning protocols, PPE, ergonomics

      Weeks 5–6: Documentation & Quality Assurance

      • Record-keeping, audits, standards
      • Lean & Six Sigma in sterile processing

      Weeks 7–8: Microbiology & Infection Control

      • Bloodborne pathogens, chain of infection
      • Prions, PPE, contamination prevention

      Weeks 9–10: Decontamination Procedures

      • Transportation and point-of-use care
      • Manual cleaning, ultrasonic washers

      Weeks 11–12: Cleaning Agents & Disinfection

      • Spaulding classification, chemical agents
      • Rinsing, drying, MEC documentation

      Weeks 13–14: Troubleshooting & Equipment Maintenance

      • Preventive maintenance, equipment checks
      • Efficacy testing and documentation

       

      Course Calendar

      The calendar can be found in your Blackboard SPT100L course in the menu on the left-hand side under Course Calendar. You can download a copy to your computer from there.

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