Five out of ten of the fastest-growing industries in the United States are in the health field, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The population of the US is aging and the need for healthcare professionals is estimated to grow at a rate of 6% over the next five years.
The chances of finding a good-paying job as a sterile processing technician in Nebraska are excellent.
Steps to Become a Sterile Processing Technician in Nebraska
Those who apply to school as a sterile processing technician should have a high school degree or the equivalent.
Complete one of the in-person or online programs for sterile processing.
Licensing Requirements to Become a Sterile Processing Technician in Nebraska
There is no licensing requirement to become a sterile processing technician in Nebraska.
However, most employers will require certification, which has requirements:
- At least 400 hours of work experience.
- It can be on the job or through a training program.
- 120 hours of equipment packaging and preparation experience
- 120 hours of decontamination experience
- 96 hours of experience in disinfection and sterilization
- 24 experience hours in storage and distribution
- 24 hours of experience in quality assurance and processing
- 16 hours of equipment maintenance
A proctored test is given to receive certification and a payment of $125.
Sterile Processing Technician Programs in Nebraska
Nebraska Methodist College The Josie Harper Campus
https://www.methodistcollege.edu/allied-health/certificates/sterile-processing-technician
Candidates for this program must have a high school diploma or a GED.
All applicants must be at least 18 years of age.
To take this course, you must be proficient in English and able to understand, write, and speak the language.
The cost of the program is $780.00.
All applicants must be fully vaccinated.
It takes six weeks to complete the course.
Clinical training will be at Methodist Hospital.
Scrubs are required but are provided for students at the clinical.
Students must wear closed-toed shoes.
The classroom part of the program is online.
The program is in modules, and one will be completed each week.
A test will follow the completion of each module.
To attend the clinical each week, the test must be passed.
Hands-on clinicals take place on Saturdays at Methodist Hospital.
This is a non-credit course.
Successful course completion entitles students to a certificate, and they become eligible to take the Sterile Processing Technician exam.
The exam is through The Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution, Inc. (CBSPD)
Students passing the CBSPD exam can use CSPDT credentials.
Southeast Community College
https://www.southeast.edu/academics/programs/healthcare-services/sterile-processing.php
Students must be at least 16 years of age to take this course.
The course is a certificate course.
A total of 12 credits must be earned to complete the course.
It is offered in person, hybrid, and online.
The cost of the program is $2106.
It can be taken full-time or part-time.
It should be completed in between six months and one year.
Union Adventist University
This is a 14-week online program.
Tuition is $4,000 which may be paid monthly.
Students must have an internet connection with a web browser.
A high school diploma or GED is required.
When you have completed the program, you are eligible to take the provisional certification exam for Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST).
Herzing University
https://www.herzing.edu/healthcare/sterile-processing/nebraska
This program has 6 start dates per year.
The Sterile Processing Technician course is online.
It is an 8-month-long program.
Courses are 8 weeks in length.
Students wanting to take this course must pass an entrance exam.
22 credits are required to get the diploma for this course.
The cost of the program is $515 per credit.
Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology must be passed with at least a C to continue in the course.
Western Nebraska Community College
This course is 190 course hours.
The cost of the course is $2795.00
Open enrollment, sign up when you want.
Completely online course.]Students have 12 months to complete the course.
Prepares students for the Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) certification offered by the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA).
Students can take part in clinical opportunities as well.
The course may be taken on either a Mac, a PC, or a Chromebook (with some storage).
Updated operating programs are required as well as Firefox or Chrome.
Microsoft Edge and Safari also work with this program.
5 Sterile Processing Technician Schools in Nebraska
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Nebraska Methodist College The Josie Harper Campus | 8800-8848 California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68114, United States |
| Southeast Community College | 8800 O St, Lincoln, NE 68520, United States |
| Union Adventist University | 3800 S 48th St, Lincoln, NE 68506, United States |
| Herzing University | 275 W Wisconsin Ave Ste. 210, Milwaukee, WI 53203, United States |
| Western Nebraska Community College | 1601 E 27th St, Scottsbluff, NE 69361, United States |
Salary
The median salary for a Sterile Processing Technician in Nebraska is $37,341.
The top salary is $46,411 and the lowest salary is $29,796.
Salary is commensurate with education, and experience.
Some areas in Nebraska pay better than others,
Large cities usually have the highest end salaries.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Sterile Processing Technicians in Nebraska
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Alexandria | $36,469 |
| Arlington | $37,103 |
| Auburn | $36,469 |
| Bennington | $37,579 |
| Bloomington | $36,469 |
| Cambridge | $36,469 |
| Columbus | $36,469 |
| Farwell | $36,469 |
| Hastings | $36,469 |
| Cedar Rapids | $36,469 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln, NE | 100 | $38,590 | $18.55 | $39,000 | $36,130 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA | 340 | $38,920 | $18.71 | $46,220 | $31,730 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find employment as a sterile processing technician in Nebraska?
The health industry in Nebraska is growing.
With this growth, the need for sterile processing technicians for hospitals and clinics is expected to rise.
Jobs are also available in dental offices, eye offices, birthing centers, and dermatologists’ offices.
How do salaries for sterile processing technicians in Nebraska compare to other states?
Average salaries for sterile processing technicians in Nebraska are on par with the national average which is $31,630 to $49,268.
Areas where pay is higher often have higher costs of living.
What is the best school for getting the training you need to be a sterile processing technician in Nebraska?
All of the schools will get you trained and into the field relatively quickly.
If you want fast, choose the shortest course.
If you want cheap choose the one with the lowest tuition.
They all have many different reasons to choose them.
