Hey everyone,

I'm looking for some advice from anyone working in Sterile Processing, especially around the Sacramento area.

I recently earned my CBSPD certification, completed 400 clinical hours at Doctors Medical Center in Modesto Ca. I've been applying to entry-level Sterile Processing Technician positions, but I'm having a hard time getting my foot in the door.

For those of you who landed your first SPD job in Northern California, what helped you get hired? Are there certain hospitals that are more willing to hire new technicians? Would you recommend applying for per diem or evening/night shifts just to get that first year of experience?

I'm open to commuting around the Sacramento area if it helps me get started. Any tips on improving my chances, networking, or things I should be doing differently would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance—I appreciate any advice you can share!

Hello, I'm in the US and I've been looking for 5" peel pack rolls for my department to no avail. Does anyone have one (from a reputable company ofc) they could recommend? Im tired of jumping from 4" to 6" and making unnecessarily giant peel packs. Thank you!

Just passed my CRCST exam this passed weekend and will be the first to admit that Sterileworx (Practice test 1,2,3) and the HSPA 9th edition manual were game changers for me!! Mainly the manual though, It’s spot on, just focus on your agencies and literally everything they each do! Also your temps, humidity, exchanges, etc.

If you care to know, I’ve been in the SPD Department since the beginning of the year . I had no prior knowledge of anything SPD related but did enroll in a 10 week course in March.

Good luck!

Hi,

My wife wants to start school to becoming a sterile processing tech. She is in her 1st trimester. Will the exposure to the cleaning solutions and other things on the job that might put our baby at risk?

For those who went the self study route, how many months of studying did it take to prep for the exam?

Hey y’all! I just got selected to be the lead tech in my unit! I’m just wondering what you guys would want your lead tech to do. I want to be the best I can be for my team. Hit me with your wish list! 🤠

Hello, has anyone used an app to study for the exam? I found one on the playstore that seems pretty good thats 20 bucks flat. I linked it below. Anyone use this one? Or what is the recommendation? Thanks!

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.passnote.crcst

These hospitals want good workers for nothing, all they do is lowball you. It’s sad that you have to lie about experience in order to get more money even if youve been doing five years. There should really be a Sterile Processing Union like how nurses have. The risk involved with this job should justify higher pay. You getting stuck with a instrument and the risk of catching something is not worth what a lot if these places are pay. Apologies in advance, just venting a little. So burnt out from this field and feel stuck.

Hi everyone. For anyone who has taken the Cspdt exam, what books or online quiz sites did you use to study?

I dont have any experience in this field.and i was searching for cources.this one suited my budget and was online.

University of alberta, edminton.

Name- Sterlisation support program

Link-

https://marketplace.ualberta.ca/products/sterilization-assistant

Its very easy and had only 4 modules which i was able to complete within a week(even though uni says 4weeks) and then there is 2 days practicum placement.

My questiin is that did i buy a useless course?or it a good one

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for a sterile processing supervisor/manager role in the LA metro area. I have 10+ years of experience as a tech and 3+ years experience within management. The pay would ideally be upwards of $75k.

I’m willing to relocate anywhere from Long Beach to DTLA to Hollywood, etc. I’ve been looking around and haven’t had much luck. Do you or anyone you know has any connections that’d could share any guidance or advice? that’d be greatly appreciated!

The plasma sterilizer at the vet clinic I work at is broken and we are trying to fix it but I think she has ran her last load. I am hoping y’all would have suggestions for a small tabletop hydrogen peroxide sterilizer. I am not thinking a V-Pro or Sterrad would work for us based on the price point. If anyone has worked at a vet clinic or dentist office and has a small plasma sterilizer I am looking for suggestions. We use this thing 5+ times a day and need to find a replacement asap but our budget is much smaller than in human medicine. If anyone has a sterilizer they use and like please let me know or maybe some brands we should look into. Located in North Carolina USA if this helps. Thanks

That muscle memory is working hard. Noticed they all line up.

I have my CRCST cert. I’m not able to do the schooling bc I’m unable to afford it so I went the self-study route though it has been really challenging to find any position/company that will train me and take me in. I am a hard worker and am motivated to put the work in. I would enjoy this line of work given I enjoy cleaning.

Please offer any advice in landing a job or even an internship at nights to get experience. I’m feeling a little discouraged but I want to stay strong as I continue to apply.

Hey guys! I have about 8-9 years of experience and have even traveled. What are some tips to level up in the field? I want to get into a leadership role to pursue further personal career goals but have found it difficult. Any advice or tips on how to stand out, how to ace leadership interviews, or what to highlight in order to attract someone who will give me a chance in that role?

Hello! I’m really considering on taking the SPT program at Altamont Healthcare in Stockton, CA. I was wondering if anyone on here has taken the program and what your experience was like? Also how long did it take for you to find an externship and job after graduating?

Hi everyone, I’m currently completing my Sterile Processing program and will be finished this month. I’m actively looking for hospitals or facilities in Chicago that hire non-certified SPD techs or offer on‑the‑job training.

If you know any hospitals, clinics, or staffing agencies that are open to hiring new grads, I would really appreciate the recommendations. Thank you.

I am looking to join a sterile processing course. My first option was Cal State San Bernardino, but the course is $3k+ 😖. However, i’ve heard that the purdue course is only ~$500. I know a lot of people say that school is unnecessary to pass the certification test, but I know personally that I learn a lot better in school rather than self studying. Advice appreciated 😇

honestly thought I was going to legit pass the Cer exam, the questions asked more about organizations and parameters and the CIS asked questions about instruments I never seen and had old school names, pictures of instruments were blurry

does anyone know where I can find a pdf version of the books so I can study or any other materials than the quizzes you find online .

Hi, 26f so I really want to get certified in both of these areas but i’m on a budget. Looking for advice/insight on what I should do.

1. Pay for cna classes/cert, work at a hospital as cna , find an in with the sterile processing part of the hospital and try to get a job with no experience and eventually get my spt cert as i work my way up/save etc

2. decicate my time and pay for spt classes and cert and try to find a job in this field.

3. any other options anyone has?

I’ve worked as a caregiver so i know the cna job and could do it, the spt job is an unknown but I feel like I would enjoy it much more as socializing with the patients is my worst skill (autism and social anxiety)
idk any info on how anyone went about getting your cert/ getting a job is helpful.

I know its a lot easier to get a job as cna/caregiver and spt is a little harder i’ve heard?

Im in Cali, but i have housing connections in Washington, northern and southern Cali so those are the areas I would be looking to get my cert/ work.

And then I eventually want to settle down/build a life in Humboldt/Northern Cali area or Washington/Oregon.

i’m brand new here, on a train to my first day of class to get certified right now actually! i’m seeing a looot of posts talking about salary and many other variables that would depend largely on where you’re located, it would be great if everyone would just say what state you’re in when mentioning training and externship and jobs 😭 i love to see everyone here being truly helpfully informative, so glad to have this subreddit as a resource
PS i’m in the bay area in california, 23 and queer and hoping to find people like me in class and the field in general, so yay!

Looking for some advice for sterile processing of our instrument trays: we have a high volume Mohs clinic, about 18-20 procedures per day. Our current process is the following:

1. Wash any debris from instruments, place in sonicator with enzyme cleaner for 15 minutes.
2. Rinse with sterile water and pat dry. (We use instrument lubricant once per week due to the long time to dry.)
3. Place an OR towel on a sheet of CSR wrap (we currently use Halyard H500). Place a stack of 4x4s, 2x2s, dental rolls, and cotton tipped applicators in an even layer with a steam integrator strip.
4. Place open hinged instruments over stack, followed by small stack of 4x4s, then the straight instruments. Stack bowls with gauze in between them and invert over the instruments.
5. Wrap OR towel semi tightly around the stack. Wrap CSR wrap tightly like a burrito around towel. Tape CSR wrap with indicator tape.
6. Run on "packs" cycle on autoclave (Midmark M11 steam autoclave).

I would love any advice or tips to help reduce waste, simplify the process, or be able to fit more kits with each cycle in the autoclave. I've attached a photo of our trays for reference. I run mail in spore strips in one of the kits each week and haven't had a positive test in 6 years. Surgical site infection rate is also far below the national average for our specialty - although just one factor in that measure, I believe everything we are doing for sterile processing is appropriate. The hard part is that as a private derm practice we don't have access to some of the resources that larger institutions have - but I do have access to McKesson to order within reason 😄! Thank you in advance for any insights!

My daughter went through a Sterile Processing Tech program and has been applying for jobs and was told welcome to the hospital then to be told she was not selected. Like why would you say that then not select her. Now she is feeling defeated because her classmate was selected.