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Sterilization technicians are in charge of sterilizing, preparing, and assembling healthcare equipment and surgery trays. They’re required to be attentive and efficient and work with great patience and care when sterilizing equipment to ensure the medical equipment is safe for use.
When interviewing potential candidates look for those who demonstrate patients and have good attention to detail. Avoid candidates who seem to lack responsibility and organizational skills.
Skill | Why it’s important |
Detail Oriented | To be a successful sterilization technician, you must demonstrate great attention to detail. You should always be attentive because if you overlook something it can cost a patient's life. Stay on top of every detail and make sure all tools are sterilized correctly at all times. |
Analytical | Sterilization technicians should have great critical-thinking and judgment skills, this is why it’s also good to be analytical. Being in charge of organizing, sterilizing, and preparing surgical tools and instruments is a task that requires great responsibility. |
Compliant | There are rules and regulations to which one sterilization technician must operate in order to keep the environment safe and proper. If sterilization technicians do not follow these rules they are directly endangering patients and are compromising their health and safety. Sterilization technicians must wear PPE (known as personal protective care) while working and must follow all the guidelines and know all the techniques needed to sterilize correctly. |
Cautious | Sterilization technicians are the first line of defense against infections in healthcare. Hospitals and other medical institutions would not be able to function without these meticulous individuals. Sterile techs should always be cautious and take their job seriously. There are extra steps to sterilization such as a test that confirms if the sterilization parameters are met and are safe to use. |
Patient | In order to be as effective as possible, a sterilization technician must have patience. It is necessary for this role since you will spend a long time carefully sterilizing equipment and preparing it for procedures and surgeries. Taking your time to make sure everything is in order is a good thing. You don’t want something going wrong in the surgery because of your lack of patience to sterilize tools properly. |
We are currently looking for a vigilant and meticulous sterilization technician who will be in charge of cleaning and sterilizing medical equipment, supplies, and other instruments. In this position, you will be responsible for delivering sterile supplies and retrieving contaminated supplies, preparing strike instruments for trays for examinations, surgeries, and procedures, as well as managing inventory.
To be a successful sterilization technician, you should demonstrate good critical thinking and judgment, and great attention to detail. You should have an in-depth knowledge of sterilization techniques and have a certificate.
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Picking out suitable candidates can be difficult. We’ve created a list of sample interview questions for Sterilization Technician to make this process easier for you. Check out our ultimate list of interview questions if you feel that these are not enough.
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Technical Skills and Knowledge
In order to become a Sterilization Technician, you have to earn a certificate in sterile processing and distribution. You can enroll in this program after you’ve obtained your high school diploma or GED. This certification program can be found in training schools, community colleges, or even online to gain the necessary skills for this position. Some sterilization technicians gain knowledge through on-the-job training, but you still must pass the certification exam regardless of this.
Sterilization Technicians can earn between $14 and $22 per hour. Their median annual salary is $36,040, meaning $17 per hour. The wages, of course, depend on where you are employed, how much experience you have, and your educational background.
Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) | 75% | 90% |
Hourly Wage | $14 | $15 | $17 | $20 | $22 |
Annual Wage | $28,131 | $31,900 | $36,040 | $40,720 | $44,981 |
The tasks are similar for both a sterilization technician and a surgical technologist; however, they are two different roles. The main difference is that veterans in this field of work have better and flexible hours.
Some similar jobs to a sterilization technician are as follows:
This job could be a good fit for someone who has no work experience entering the job market. Advancements from this position are possible by gaining expertise; you could advance to a managerial role or take a surgical technologist path.
There is a pretty good demand for this position, primarily because of health insurance services. The growth rate is high, meaning you shouldn’t have significant difficulties finding a job.