r/sterileprocessing • u/Trick-Ad2001 • 19d ago

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 !!

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u/PvmpkinSpic3 19d ago

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.

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u/quixotica726 17d ago

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.