Do you dream of working in healthcare?
Does anxiety over medical school get in your way?
Believe it or not, you could work in a hospital, medical center, or clinic, helping prepare surgical tools for procedures, without ever having to go to med school.
Sterile Processing Technicians organize and prepare medical tools, sanitizing and decontaminating them to keep people from getting infections.
Here’s how to become an SPT in Louisiana.
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How to Become an SPT
Sterile Processing Technicians don’t face any sort of certification requirements in Louisiana, but it’s still highly recommended you have some sort of training before applying to Sterile Processing jobs.
After all, your application will be up against a lot of other competitive candidates, many of whom will have prior experience or some form of hands-on training.
That’s exactly why most Sterile Processing Technicians pursue certification through the HSPA, which has been certifying people since 1971.
The Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA)
You can obtain your certification through one of the HSPA’s four levels of certifications:
- Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) – the base-level certification for SPTs
- Certified Endoscope Reprocessor (CER) – an endoscope-specific certification
- Certified Instrument Specialist (CIS) – an advanced instrument certification
- Certified Healthcare Leader (CHL) – a certification for SPT management
Once you’ve submitted your complete application and passed a criminal background check (a necessity, since many healthcare facilities legally can’t hire people with certain criminal convictions), you can apply for your testing date.
The HSPA will give you all you need to study, like online courses, content outlines, reference materials, and their Certification Handbook.
Once you’ve passed, you won’t have to worry about certification for a year in total, after which you must pay a $50 renewal fee.
You’ll also need to provide evidence that you’ve been taking continuing education courses.
Sterile Processing Schools in Louisiana
Here are the available Sterile Processing courses in Louisiana:
University of Louisiana Lafayette 
University of Louisiana Lafayette provides an online, self-paced course.
The 190-hour course costs $3,290 in total and includes a voucher that pays for the HSPA’s certification test.
You’ll only need a functional computer, working internet, and access to a personal email account — other than that, all the materials you’ll need will be sent to you beforehand.
Though the course itself is fully online, the clinical experience portion is in person, and you can expect to be placed with a local healthcare facility to obtain the necessary hands-on hours for your certification.
Baton Rouge Community College 
Students who have been admitted to Baton Rouge Community College can apply for the one-semester, four-credit hour Sterile Processing course.
The course prepares students for the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution’s certification test, and it consists of 64 hours of classroom/lab training at the campus and 86 hours of clinical training offsite.
In order to be eligible for the course, you must have a high school diploma or GED and be eligible to take ENGL 1013 and MATH 1113/1213.
You’ll also have to pass a drug screen and a background check in order to be placed at a healthcare facility for the practical portion of the course.
Southern University Shreveport Louisiana 
SUSLA offers a Certificate of Technical Studies for Sterile Processing Technicians that prepares students for the HSPA’s CRCST exam.
You must pass a criminal background check and complete a mandatory health form in order to participate in this course.
During the course, students will be given the opportunity to pursue hands-on clinical hours, and you may even get the chance to apply for an internship to complete your required hours once you graduate.
The course is 27 credit hours in total, lasting two semesters.
SOWELA Technical College 
SOWELA offers a Certificate of Technical Studies program for Sterile Processing.
The course is 18 credit hours in total and prepares students for the HSPA’s CRCST exam.
The course is only available during the Fall semester.
Delgado Community College 
Delgado Community College offers a Certificate of Technical Studies program for Sterile Processing.
Graduates will be prepared for the CBSPD’s certification exam, and the course lasts 22 credit hours in total.
You can expect a full year of schooling to complete the course, with 12 units in the first semester and 10 in the second.
University of New Orleans 
The University of New Orleans’ Professional, Adult, and Continuing Education Division offers a 264-hour long course on Sterile Processing.
The program costs $3,499 and stretches over 8 months in total to get you ready for the HSPA’s CRCST exam.
In addition to the standard Sterile Processing techniques, UNO’s course also teaches their students digital literacy, keeping them up to date on all the technology they’ll need to practice.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| University of Louisiana Lafayette | 1606 Johnston St Lafayette, LA 70503 US |
| Baton Rouge Community College | 201 Community College Drive Baton Rouge, LA 70806 |
| Southern University Shreveport Louisiana | 3050 Dr Martin Luther King Dr. Shreveport, LA 71107 |
| Southwest Louisiana Technical College | 3820 Sen. J. Bennett Johnston Ave Lake Charles, LA 70615 |
| Delgado Community College | 615 City Park Avenue New Orleans, LA 70119 |
| University of New Orleans | 2000 Lakeshore Drive New Orleans, LA 70148 |
Salary
In Louisiana, Sterile Processing Technicians have reported that they make $42,991 a year on average.
However, some make nearly $48,000 a year.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| New Orleans | $44,267 |
| Baton Rouge | $42,493 |
| Shreveport | $41,571 |
| Lafayette | $41,226 |
| Lake Charles | $40,973 |
| Kenner | $44,243 |
| Bossier City | $41,571 |
| Monroe | $40,721 |
| Alexandria | $40,061 |
| New Iberia | $40,985 |
Regional Salary in Louisiana
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA | 120 | $36,150 | $17.38 | $40,570 | $27,320 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 150 | $38,290 | $18.41 | $47,980 | $29,190 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | 110 | $34,920 | $16.79 | $41,070 | $27,960 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be licensed to work as a Sterile Processing Technician in Louisiana?
No, Louisiana does not have any requirements or regulations for Sterile Processing Techs, but certification is recommended to help you get a job.
How much can I make as a Sterile Processing Technician in Louisiana?
On average, Sterile Processing Techs make $42,991 in Louisiana.
Does Louisiana have Sterile Processing Programs available?
Yes, Louisiana actually has quite a few Sterile Processing courses available, ranging in price, total length, and requirements to attend.
Sterile Processing Technician Info by State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
