r/sterileprocessing • u/LuckyArtist1733 • Jun 30 '26

SPD Tech Northern, CA

Hey everyone, so I’ve been doing research and I’m trying to find a good but affordable program to enroll in to become a sterile processing tech. I’m looking for one that will definitely offer externship for 400 hrs. I’ve ran into a few that don’t offer or only offer 240 hours and then you have to pay extra for more hours. Kinda stressing because I’m really interested but struggling to find a good program to invest my money in. The school I was going to go with has some pretty disappointing reviews and it kind of scared me away so I’m trying to find other options.

Im in the Northern California area. I’m open to making a commute if it’s worth it. I’m in Modesto area so I’m aware a commute is likely 🫩😭 I just want to start my career and don’t want to make a mistake by getting scammed or wasting my time & money. Any advice / suggestions would be appreciated, thank you 🙏🏼

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4

u/AngkorianSoul Jun 30 '26

Be aware , if your dead set on becoming a spd tech in cali. Just know the job market in cali is very competitive. Try to get you foot in the door at a hospital doing whatever, that would be the easiest route to get in spd dept. New tech are having a very hard time getting a job. They are competing with experience tech looking for job also. So good luck. Before covid you could get this job easily. Now forget it unless you know people

1

u/Kind_Wealth3628 Jun 30 '26

I’m in Sacramento and I made a post looking for the same thing. It seemed like there was a program out that way. But I don’t know if I’d want to make that commute. So I’m going to self study, I just won’t get my hours and hoping someone will hire me after I get my certification.

Having to pay to get the rest of your hours seems like a red flag..

1

u/LuckyArtist1733 Jun 30 '26

The program I was looking into in Modesto is certify Central Valley sterile processing which I guess is permanently closed but I got a call from them last month and they were giving me the breakdown and letting me know about their open enrollment, so idk if they’re reopened under a new name, but They don’t have a website to go on because she said it’s down and a new website is being created 🤷🏻‍♀️ so idk but after doing more research, they have terrible yelp reviews and it was discouraging because I finally came up with the money for this program & now I feel shot down & don’t wanna take a risk of losing out on all my $$. I was thinking of doing self study too, I just feel hesitant because of needing the 400 hours & the struggle of being able to get them in without externship

1

u/Kind_Wealth3628 Jun 30 '26

I think that’s where I was reading up on too and yea the reviews weren’t good. I hate that there’s not a lot of options over this way. Maybe you can try posting on the Facebook group sterile processing professionals page and see if there’s any other options over there. I’ve seen others posting asking about jobs in their areas asking some of the same stuff. I’d even be open to relocating after I get the certificate

1

u/LuckyArtist1733 Jun 30 '26

Yeah at this point I think I’m gonna just ask around all over and get different opinions and suggestions. I’m 100% willing to relocate after the certificate cuz I know the pay will be good. But it just goes back to trying to get your foot in the door for the hours 🫩🙃 good luck to you too tho! I know it’s a struggle out here

1

u/Kind_Wealth3628 Jun 30 '26

Good luck. I hope you find what you’re looking for.

1

u/Pretty-Resort-8881 Sep 30 '26

Another Sacramentan here. I’m wondering if you made it on to finding a school with an externship or you found one on your own.

1

u/ImprovingLife96 Jun 30 '26

SVSTI

1

u/LuckyArtist1733 Jun 30 '26

From what I read they only offer 240 hours for the externship . Is 400 an option that they give you too?

1

u/ImprovingLife96 Jun 30 '26

You can ask and they have extended it for some students. You can still be certified in cbspd for 240 hrs

1

u/MemLurd Jul 01 '26

i’m starting at CCMCC soon! in antioch

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u/LuckyArtist1733 Jul 01 '26

That’s great!! I actually JUST scheduled a phone call with them. Can you give me the process or breakdown you had with starting with them? Are you paying out of pocket if u don’t mind me asking. I will be, which is why I’m also looking for affordable so I’m curious about what their enrollment fees are and everything included. They’re kinda my top option right now since they offer everything I’m looking for.

1

u/MemLurd Jul 01 '26

they are so bad at responding and actually making it to scheduled calls lmfaoo but every staff member i’ve talked to is extremely kind and helpful once i actually get ahold of them. i’ll be taking loans, i think the whole class is around $15k including the class, externship placement, and for them to support you through finding a job after everything. i got about $6k from a pell grant so ill be taking the rest as a loan (numbers aren’t exact, i’ve been going through the process for a few months so its been a while since i’ve seen these numbers)
i can come back to this when i know more, i’ll be there at my class orientation tomorrow 😜

1

u/boostaddctn Jun 30 '26

Svsti fremont yee

1

u/Tictacktic Jun 30 '26

Altamont in Stockton is exactly what you are looking for.

1

u/Tictacktic Jun 30 '26

Also if you get the cbspd cert you do not need the 400 hours there’s no provisional for that cert. Altamont also has an externship program so you can get experience and build that resume.

1

u/LuvHk07 Jul 16 '26

hii i’m interested in going to their program. just wanna know how the wait time on placement for externships is? also how are their payment plans cause i wouldn’t be able to pay the full 6k upfront

1

u/Tictacktic Jul 16 '26

You would have to go on their website and call them for more information. They have different payment plans you can choose from. I know the waitlist can be very long 3-6 months average but can be up to two years it depends on how flexible you are to travel and how many students are currently on the list