Sterile Processing Technician Schools in Nashville

This program leads to a Technical Certificate and provides specialized training in the handling, use, and maintenance of surgical instruments for a range of procedures. Students will spend time in the classroom and in a clinical setting.

They will be able to graduate in one year, after which they will qualify for employment and certification.

The curriculum includes medical terminology, psychology, anatomy and physiology, introduction to surgical services, microbiology, sterilization techniques, surgical instrumentation, and more.

Graduates will be able to leave with a certificate and sufficient proficiency to pass any certification examination. Areas covered in the curriculum include decontamination, instrumentation storage and distribution, assembly and packaging, low-temperature sterilization, case cart introduction, tray assembly, regulations and ethical standards, and more.

Individuals must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or GED to enroll in this program.

This program allows students to earn while they learn. It is offered in partnership with Nashville State Community College and the Center for Programs in Allied Health.

Training begins in the classroom before moving to the hands-on, clinical portion, which takes place at Vanderbilt Health’s Case Cart Operations Center off Briley Parkway.

It also ensures that students can apply at any time thanks to the open enrollment policy. The curriculum includes 190 course hours of study covering medical terminology, vital systems, infection control, case cart introduction, sterile storage, ancillary department support, and instrumentation identification.

There are no prerequisites for admission.

Students complete their education in 8 months after 864 clock hours of instruction. They will be able to graduate with certificates and develop proficiency in topics ranging from low-temperature sterilization and quality assurance to effective communication and professional development.