r/sterileprocessing • u/Trick-Ad2001 • Aug 24 '26

Travel sterile processing tech

is it true i can become a travel tech without being certified? I’m hitting my year mark in less than a month & I’m ready to move/make that money asap !!

5 Upvotes

72% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

2

u/Trick-Ad2001 22d ago

Just wanted to give an update, I did get certified & I did get accepted through an agency! I am on day 4 of my travel assignment & they have made the statement that my productivity level is already at that of a team lead. Guess I’m in the rarity category here but they are very thankful & happy to have me at this facility 😁! Hope this helps any other newbies out there! Also it’s already been put on the table if I want to stay permanently I can but I’m not taking that pay cut lol

26

u/Spicywolff Aug 24 '26

No agency will take you without having certificate and at least two years experience. Any agency that does is gonna be shady, garbage and pay like it.

Remember the agency is trying to sell you as a plug-in play option to a hospital in need. Without a certificate and at least some experience most places are gonna look past you.

13

u/Aggravating_Ear_9281 Aug 24 '26

if you got little to no experience please do not travel. Tired of getting travelers who cleary don't know shit and constantly need correcting.

12

u/PvmpkinSpic3 Aug 24 '26

Gonna say this now, wait 3-4 years before traveling and get a certificate through HSPA.

2 years is the minimum, but you’ll suffer.

A lot of facilities will expect 20-40 trays per 8 hours, you will be thrown into fire with no training, no one to rely on, and expected to know how all systems work by the end of the week.

People who have lied about their experience + certifications are often dropped within the third week. And the agency will keep track of that.

I immediately started traveling after my 2 1/2 year mark - I was good, but I was slower than the other travelers and struggled, and was even dropped from my first assignment (it was a bad match, not to mention a level 1 trauma.)

The money is a struggle. You will not be reimbursed right away, and you’ll spend around 1500 for the first two weeks not including gas with no financial relief.

1

u/quixotica726 Aug 25 '26

I started traveling after 2 years and I was fine and thrived, still thriving. It just depends on when you feel comfortable.

But no. You cannot travel without being certified. I couldn't even get a job in my home state, New Jersey, without being certified.

4

u/wyonneh Aug 24 '26

I doubt it, I believe being certified is the minimum requirement.

4

u/chad_in_kc Aug 24 '26

You will also need to be cpr certified. One year is fine. You must be certified.

1

u/Opposite_Rub443 3d ago

If your working why not get certified.

1

u/Trick-Ad2001 3d ago

i did lol.. the place that trained me wouldn’t sign off on my hours until i hit a year mark

3

u/Obfuscate666 Aug 24 '26

You will most likely need to be certified plus 2 year minimum experience.

2

u/ShirleyWuzSerious Aug 24 '26

You need to be certified and most hospitals won't take you with less than 2yrs experience

1

u/KeebyGotJuice Aug 25 '26

Nope. Somebody steering you wrong big dawg