How to Become a Sterile Processing Technician in Alabama (Certification Programs & Salary Guide)

Becoming a sterile processing technician in Alabama means you’ll have an important job protecting patients as you clean and sanitize medical equipment and tools.

Alabama is also in a unique position, facing a nursing and physician shortage while the demand for such positions continues to grow.

The demand for nurses in Alabama is expected to increase by 54% by 2030.

Behind every nurse or doctor, sterile processing technicians work behind the scenes to make sure the providers have the tools they need to save lives and improve the health of the patients.

How hard is it to become a sterile processing technician in Alabama? Here’s everything you need to know.

Steps to Become a Sterile Processing Technician in Alabama

Becoming a sterile processing technician in Alabama can start as soon as you graduate from high school, but you’ll have a few tiers of training and education to consider.

1. Review the Job Duties

One thing that is important about pursuing a sterile processing tech job in Alabama is that you’ll be exposed to organic matter (blood and body fluids, for example) and chemicals used for cleaning and sterilization.

It will help if you watch some videos online about the layout of the workspace, the personal protective equipment (PPE) you have to wear, and the type of space you’ll be working in while standing much of the day.

2. Focus on STEM studies in High School

If you’re still in high school, you should know that you’ll need a diploma or equivalent, like the GED, to be a sterile processing tech in Alabama.

Since the sterile processing technician job requires a lot of chemistry, math, computer, and technology skills, it will help to have some of that under your belt.

3A. Apply for a Sterile Processing Tech Job

After high school graduation, you can choose the path that suits your needs.

One option is to apply for an assistant sterile processing tech or something similar to get into the workforce.

Most healthcare employers will require you to get certification in sterile processing within a year or two of being hired.

Expect to be at the low end of the salary range if you’re an entry-level employee.

3B. Take a Sterile Processing Tech Course

Another option is to get ahead of the certificate by focusing on a six-week to three-month course on sterile processing that will end with you taking the certification exam.

Some certification courses require you to have a certain number of hours of hands-on experience.

Look for courses that require an internship or apprenticeship in addition to classroom work.

3C. Attend Community College or Vocational School

Another option is to take a year or two of classes at a local community college or vocational school, where you can learn sterile processing and other associated courses.

While a four-year degree isn’t required and, quite frankly, won’t likely mean more money initially, sticking to a two-year program is about as robust as your education needs to be for a sterile processing tech job.

4. Apply for Sterile Processing Tech Jobs

Look for job openings in either the busy healthcare hubs of Birmingham, Huntsville, or Mobile.

You can also look at rural healthcare settings, where the demand for qualified candidates is always high.

Licensing Requirements to Become a Sterile Processing Technician in Alabama

Alabama is one of many states without legal certification requirements to become a sterile processing technician.

A change.org petition was started in 2023 to demand strict requirements for this important field, but it didn’t make progress.

You can also stay in touch with the Alabama Sterile Processing Association to see if new legislation appears or moves through the capital in Montgomery.

The Healthcare Sterile Processing Association offers the Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) certification for those just starting their career.

Renewals are required every five years.

The Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD) offers sterile processing technician exams.

If you pass that exam, you’ll have a Certified Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician certificate.

Sterile Processing Technician Programs in Alabama

Various education options are available in Alabama.

Alabama State University

The self-guided course for Sterile Processing Technician education at Alabama State University is ideal for those who like studying at their own pace.

The course costs $3,290, but discounts can make it as low as $2,795.

During the training, you’ll spend 190 hours learning about cleaning, sterilization, anatomy, and instruments used in the medical field.

Students also get a surgical instrumentation kit and the option to take part in hands-on clinical settings.

As long as you finish the course within 12 months, you can take as much or as little time as necessary to prepare for the CRCST exam.

Jefferson State Community College

Those in Birmingham can look at the Sterile Processing Course at Jefferson State Community College.

A drug screen, criminal background check, and specific immunizations are required to enroll in the course.

The cost is $1,795 and enrollment is taken on an ongoing basis.

The course runs for six months, with classes held one night a week for three hours.

Clinical experience is mixed in with the class, and attendance at all clinics is required.

I do want to note that many results for Surgical Technicians show up when looking for Sterile Processing Technician classes in Alabama.

However, the jobs are different in several ways.

A sterile processing tech might aim to become a surgical tech down the road.

Salary for Sterile Processing Technicians in Alabama

To look at salary expectations for a sterile processing tech position in Alabama, we went to Salary.com.

Please note that you can search by your experience level, education, performance, and various other factors.

However, in our research, we found that the salary doesn’t change much.

Statewide, the median wage is $36,430 or $17.50 an hour.

In a job interview, it would be important to ask how much overtime you would get in an average year, which could get you a higher expected salary.

Salary.com shows that the lowest 10% make around $29,000 and the top 90% make $45,278.

You would likely be expected to have several years of experience and certification, possibly additional certifications for more complex duties, to reach the high end of the range.

Huntsville pays the most of the three biggest cities, with a median of $38,000.

Birmingham’s median is $37,000 and Mobile is $36,500.

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that many Southern states have the lowest pay in the field, but then we look at the Cost of Living Index and see that Alabama is one of the top three lowest.

Regional Salary