Owensboro Community and Technical College now offering eight-week course for national certification in sterile processing prep
The new course at OCTC will prepare students to take the Association of Healthcare Central Service Material Management exam. Administrators say the certification program can lead to higher wages and career advancement at healthcare facilities.
The first session of the new Sterile Processing National Certification Prep Course at Owensboro Community and Technical College is scheduled to begin in April 2021. While administrators state that this course is not considered entry-level, it can help those already in the field, or those with current knowledge of sterilization techniques, gain a certification that will lead to greater income potential. The courses will be held virtually. Financial assistance will be available for groups of students who sign up through eligible Kentucky companies.
OCTC recently published a news release about the program. Over the span of the eight-week course, students will attend weekly virtual class sessions taught by an industry expert. The course will teach the sterilization techniques used in healthcare settings that help combat the spread of infections to ensure patient safety. Learning the methods of sterilizing medical equipment and surgical instruments are part of the preparation for taking the Association of Healthcare Central Service Material Management examination. Upon passing the exam, students will earn the Certified Registered Central Service Technicians (CRCST) national certification.
This certification can lead to a variety of career paths, including surgical technologists, which, according to a report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, is a field seeing above average growth with a median pay in 2019 of $48,300 annually. Cindy Fiorella, OCTC's vice president of workforce and economic development, said of the program, "This is an exceptional opportunity for our workforce since demand for these careers are projected to grow through 2026 due to the increased demand for medical exams, tests, and procedures."
The cost of the program is a little under $1500 and up to 50% of costs may be covered by KCTCS TRAINS funding for students registering as a group from eligible Kentucky companies.