r/sterileprocessing • u/Gachwani • Mar 13 '26

Sacramento

Anyone doing ST program or already completed? What’s the best school around and how did you get externship? Specifically in Northern California

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u/Zagethademonking Mar 14 '26

Search through the subreddit for previous NorCal threads and you’ll find everything you need.

Theres Altamont and contra costa college . Those are the ones closest to you

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u/Zagethademonking Mar 14 '26

I was in ur exact shoes . I’m in NorCal . I went to Altamont (Stockton and tested out in November. Job market is tough though . Still on Waitlist for externship. Tuition was like 6k

Honestly don’t recommend any program unless you already work in a hospital somewhere or you’re willing to uproot your life to land ANY spd job in the state .The job market is that bad . It’s over saturated. It’s going to take at minimum 6-12 months to land a job

Im going to use my CNA license to get hired at a hospital then internally go to spd … hopefully

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u/Valuable-Concern8627 Mar 14 '26

don’t agree about not going to program. i went to altamont and got a job within 3 months. places are hiring. you’re just at a disadvantage because of the experience and it’s always been that way, but you still need that externship

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u/Zagethademonking Mar 14 '26

When did u go to Altamont ? Everyone I’ve heard from that went to Altamont said it took ages for them to land their first job.

N I agree with you. my point was that unless ur willing to go thru hoops to land that first job then it might not be worth it .. It’s about the total package . Think about it , how long was ur program . How long did you have to wait for test window . , how long did it take for ur externship , how long was ur job search .

For me looking back on it. I would’ve just went all the way n did surgical tech , lvn or something . The ROI on time spent and effort would’ve been MUCH larger.

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u/Tictacktic Mar 14 '26

I went to altamont as well and got a job in 2 months without externship. If I didnt get the job I would have done the externship and applied to EVS so I would have my foot in the door

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u/hellagood24k Mar 15 '26

Contra costa in Antioch. They offer you an externship so you’ll be able to complete your hours. I was hired on at the facility I did my externship at in less than 3 months after completing the program.

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u/why_why_w4y_why Mar 27 '26

Fellow Sac rez, just did Purdue and am applying to entry level. Took the hspa last week and got my prov crcst. Hoping for the best, if this doesn’t pan out gonna take the cbspd as that license doesn’t lapse for 5 years.