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Sterile processing technician training in California

10 sterile processing programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

10 schools offer these sterile processing programs, and California has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Medical equipment preparers, with job titles such as sterile processing technician, clean and sterilize surgical instruments and other healthcare equipment and assemble instrument trays. The job usually asks for a high school diploma or equivalent and a few days to a year of on-the-job training, though some employers ask for a postsecondary certificate.1

In California, 2 of the 10 programs take students without a high school diploma and 8 ask for a diploma or equivalent.

By kind, the 10 programs here are sterile processing technician course (8 programs), sterile processing certificate or diploma (1 program) and sterile processing apprenticeship (1 program).

See the 10 programs

How much does sterile processing training cost in California?

$3,506 to $4,744 is what most sterile processing programs in California cost if you pay yourself

That is the middle half of the 10 programs with a price. All of them: $2,500 to $16,077

In the typical program

Finished the program
76%
Working 6 months later
60%
Earned a year, estimated
about $35,700
Length
12 to 18 weeks

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in California may also offer sterile processing training. How these figures are made

Is there free sterile processing training in California?

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

All 10 sterile processing programs in California approved for WIOA funding

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10 programs

  • Sterile processing technician courseHybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Sterile Processing Technician Course

    Silicon Valley Surgi-Tech Institute dba SVSTI

    Milpitas

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Silicon Valley Surgi-Tech Institute dba SVSTI, MilpitasSterile processing technician course · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$41,500
    Price if you pay yourself$3,750

    3 students trained with WIOA funding

    Program website, Sterile Processing Technician Course at Silicon Valley Surgi-Tech Institute dba SVSTI
    More details about Sterile Processing Technician Course at Silicon Valley Surgi-Tech Institute dba SVSTI
    Finished
    83%
    Working at 6 months
    60%
    Earned in a quarter
    $10,371
    Length
    13 weeks, 13 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $272
    Students counted
    369
    Earned a year, estimated
    $41,500
    Price if you pay yourself
    $3,750
    students trained with WIOA funding
    3
    Program website, Sterile Processing Technician Course at Silicon Valley Surgi-Tech Institute dba SVSTI

  • Sterile processing technician courseIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Sterile Processing Technician

    Contra Costa Medical Career College

    Antioch

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Contra Costa Medical Career College, AntiochSterile processing technician course · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$33,300
    Price if you pay yourself$10,710

    8 students trained with WIOA funding

    More details about Sterile Processing Technician at Contra Costa Medical Career College
    Finished
    85%
    Working at 6 months
    71%
    Earned in a quarter
    $8,332
    Length
    18 weeks, 20 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $951
    Students counted
    338
    Earned a year, estimated
    $33,300
    Price if you pay yourself
    $10,710
    students trained with WIOA funding
    8

  • Sterile processing certificate or diplomaIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Hospital Central Service Technician

    Premiere Career College

    Irwindale

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Premiere Career College, IrwindaleSterile processing certificate or diploma · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$7,300
    Price if you pay yourself$4,993

    14 students trained with WIOA funding

    Program website, Hospital Central Service Technician at Premiere Career College
    More details about Hospital Central Service Technician at Premiere Career College
    Finished
    76%
    Working at 6 months
    51%
    Earned in a quarter
    $1,831
    Length
    30 weeks, 26 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $2,008
    Students counted
    117
    Earned a year, estimated
    $7,300
    Price if you pay yourself
    $4,993
    students trained with WIOA funding
    14
    Program website, Hospital Central Service Technician at Premiere Career College

  • Sterile processing technician courseIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Central Service Instrument Technician

    Glendale Career College

    Glendale

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Glendale Career College, GlendaleSterile processing technician course · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$43,800
    Price if you pay yourself$16,077
    Program website, Central Service Instrument Technician at Glendale Career College
    More details about Central Service Instrument Technician at Glendale Career College
    Finished
    74%
    Working at 6 months
    70%
    Earned in a quarter
    $10,956
    Length
    34 weeks, 25 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $238
    Students counted
    102
    Earned a year, estimated
    $43,800
    Price if you pay yourself
    $16,077
    Program website, Central Service Instrument Technician at Glendale Career College

  • Sterile processing technician courseIn personNo diploma needed

    Sterile Processing Distribution Technician

    Southern California Regional Occupational Center

    Torrance

    No diploma needed

    Southern California Regional Occupational Center, TorranceSterile processing technician courseIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$3,000

    6 students trained with WIOA funding

    School website, Sterile Processing Distribution Technician at Southern California Regional Occupational Center
    More details about Sterile Processing Distribution Technician at Southern California Regional Occupational Center
    Finished
    81%
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    18 weeks, 11 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    44
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $3,000
    students trained with WIOA funding
    6
    School website, Sterile Processing Distribution Technician at Southern California Regional Occupational Center

  • Sterile processing technician courseIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Sterile Processing Technician

    Medtek College Hayward

    Hayward

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Medtek College Hayward, HaywardSterile processing technician courseIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$3,725
    Program website, Sterile Processing Technician at Medtek College Hayward
    More details about Sterile Processing Technician at Medtek College Hayward
    Finished
    75%
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    10 weeks, 16 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,275
    Students counted
    40
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $3,725
    Program website, Sterile Processing Technician at Medtek College Hayward

  • Sterile processing technician courseIn personNo diploma needed

    Sterile Processing/Central Service Technician

    Fairfield Suisun Adult School

    Fairfield

    No diploma needed

    Fairfield Suisun Adult School, FairfieldSterile processing technician courseIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimated$35,700
    Price if you pay yourself$2,500

    9 students trained with WIOA funding

    School website, Sterile Processing/Central Service Technician at Fairfield Suisun Adult School
    More details about Sterile Processing/Central Service Technician at Fairfield Suisun Adult School
    Finished
    71%
    Working at 6 months
    50%
    Earned in a quarter
    $8,927
    Length
    12 weeks, 12 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,130
    Students counted
    17
    Earned a year, estimated
    $35,700
    Price if you pay yourself
    $2,500
    students trained with WIOA funding
    9
    School website, Sterile Processing/Central Service Technician at Fairfield Suisun Adult School

  • Sterile processing technician courseIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Sterile Processing Technician

    International School of Nursing

    Vallejo

    High school diploma or equivalent

    International School of Nursing, VallejoSterile processing technician courseIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$3,475
    More details about Sterile Processing Technician at International School of Nursing
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    12 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,445
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $3,475

  • Sterile processing apprenticeshipHybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Sterile Processing Technician Apprenticeship

    Dental Tech LLC

    Vallejo

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Dental Tech LLC, VallejoSterile processing apprenticeshipHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$3,600
    More details about Sterile Processing Technician Apprenticeship at Dental Tech LLC
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    7 weeks, 25 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $400
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $3,600

  • Sterile processing technician courseOnlineHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Sterile Processing Technician

    Pacific Union College

    Based in Angwin, CA

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Pacific Union College, based in Angwin, CASterile processing technician course · Accredited schoolOnline · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$4,000
    More details about Sterile Processing Technician at Pacific Union College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    14 weeks, 16 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $500
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $4,000

How to pay for sterile processing training in California

WIOA funding can pay for sterile processing training in California

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for sterile processing training

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.67

GI Bill for sterile processing training

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.8

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Quick facts: Sterile processing technician training in California

lowest typical price among the states with enough programs to compare
12th of 14
sterile processing programs here, against the typical state's 4
10 vs 4

State comparisons use the same figures as the sterile processing training by state table: the middle program of each state, and only states with three or more schools for prices. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025).

Sterile processing technician training in Los Angeles, Vallejo, San Francisco and other California cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above. 1 program is online.

Other training in California

How sterile processing training compares with the rest of allied health: Allied health programs in California

Where the California sterile processing program numbers come from

Which California sterile processing programs are on this list?

These are the sterile processing programs California approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).9 The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what California offers.

How the prices and results of California sterile processing programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

Sources for the facts about sterile processing training in California

Show the 9 sourcesHide the sources
  1. US Department of Labor, O*NET OnLine: Medical Equipment Preparers
  2. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
  3. US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
  4. Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, part 680, sections 680.220, 680.230 and 680.310: career services before training, other grants such as Pell Grants first, and limits on Individual Training Accounts (GovInfo, 2024 edition)
  5. US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
  6. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Eligibility for Federal Student Aid
  7. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Don't Miss Out on Federal Pell Grants
  8. US Department of Veterans Affairs: GI Bill benefits for non-college degree programs
  9. US Department of Labor, Training and Employment Guidance Letter 8-19, Attachment I: Requirements for Training Providers, Program Eligibility, and the State Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List