Sterile Processing Technician Schools in Mississippi

Individuals in Mississippi who want to enter a healthcare profession without spending years and significant money on training can consider a career as a sterile processing technician. Those who work in this field ensure the proper sterilization of medical instruments and can assume their professional duties in just a few months.

Of course, candidates are expected to meet a few requirements before they can start their careers. The following guide explains these requirements and how Mississippi residents can make the most of them.

We also provide additional relevant information, including recommended training programs, average annual salaries, and career projections.

How to Become a Sterile Processing Technician in Mississippi

The following framework can help you start a successful career as a sterile processing technician in Mississippi.

Step 1: Preparing for Training

To enroll in the best programs in Mississippi, aspiring sterile processing technicians typically need a high school diploma or a GED. They may also have to complete a criminal background check and provide proof of vaccination.

Transferable attributes like organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills are also vital in this profession.

Step 2: Academic Training

Academic training is typically the first step toward acquiring the skills required to become a successful sterile processing technician in Mississippi. This is where candidates develop the foundation upon which they will continue to build not only when they secure employment, but throughout their careers.

For academic training, candidates can choose between online and campus-based programs. They can also pursue certification preparation and surgical technology courses.

Step 3: Finishing an Internship

After completing foundational academic training, individuals can continue learning and build real-world confidence through an internship. Most internship programs for sterile processing technicians contain around 400 hours of rigorous instruction.

Candidates who do well during their internship can also leverage this opportunity to secure a full-time placement.

Step 4: Job Placement

Job placement is usually straightforward for individuals who have the right technical and practical sterile processing skills. Certification can give candidates a huge advantage in securing employment, and we explore this aspect of the process below.

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Licensure & Certification Requirements

Anyone in Mississippi can become a sterile processing technician by completing the steps above without obtaining a government license. Neither licensing nor any form of official registration with a state body is mandatory.

Certification has been shown to lead to valuable career opportunities. This is why virtually all professionals do it.

There are two major organizations with the best credentials in this field. These are the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association and the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution.

Both organizations require candidates to complete training at a training institution or in a work environment to qualify for certification. Those who meet these requirements can then sit for the certification exam, pass, and officially become certified.

Top Sterile Processing Technician Schools in Mississippi

All of the schools listed below offer top-notch training programs for future sterile processing technicians in Mississippi.

Explore Sterile Processing Technician Schools in Mississippi by city:

• Sterile processing technician schools in Jackson

Salary & Career Outlook

Corinth, with an average annual salary of $82,753, and Meridian, with $76,169, are the cities with the highest average annual salaries for sterile processing technicians in Mississippi. Those in Jackson rank third, with an average annual salary of $74,332.

The salaries of professionals in this field can also be affected by factors such as experience, work environment, and professional credentials. Generally, those who have optimized these factors can be in the top 10% making an annual office salary of $85,445.

Those still in the process may be in the bottom 10%, with an average annual salary of $39,966. The most common category, however, belongs to the median earners.

In this bracket, sterile processing technicians in Mississippi earn an average annual salary of $58,437, according to Indeed.