Sterile processing technician training in Washington

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

9 schools offer these sterile processing programs, and Washington 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 Washington, 2 of the 9 programs take students without a high school diploma, 5 ask for a diploma or equivalent and 2 ask for earlier courses first.

By kind, the 9 programs here are sterile processing technician course (4 programs), sterile processing certificate or diploma (4 programs) and sterile processing apprenticeship (1 program).

See the 9 programs

How much does sterile processing training cost in Washington?

$3,120 to $3,770 is what most sterile processing programs in Washington cost if you pay yourself

That is the middle half of the 7 programs with a price. All of them: $2,383 to $4,709

In the typical program

Finished the program: Not enough data; 2 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Working 6 months later: Not enough data; 2 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Earned a year, estimated: Not enough data; 2 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Length: 12 to 26 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 Washington may also offer sterile processing training. How these figures are made

Is there free sterile processing training in Washington?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.²³⁴
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁵ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.⁴
Or pay yourself. Most sterile processing programs in Washington cost $3,120 to $3,770. Prices on this page run from $2,383 to $4,709.

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

How to pay for sterile processing training in Washington

WIOA funding can pay for sterile processing training in Washington

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 Washington

lowest typical price among the states with enough programs to compare: 11th of 14
sterile processing programs here, against the typical state's 4: 9 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 Seattle, Kennewick, Yakima and other Washington cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above.

Other training in Washington

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

Where the Washington sterile processing program numbers come from

Which Washington sterile processing programs are on this list?

These are the sterile processing programs Washington 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 Washington offers.

How the prices and results of Washington 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 Washington

Show the 9 sourcesHide the sources

Nursing and patient care

Medical office and lab

General healthcare

Skilled trades

Transportation and logistics

Computers and IT

Business and office

Beauty and personal care

Public safety

Food and hospitality

Education and social services

Sterile processing technician training in Washington

How much does sterile processing training cost in Washington?

Is there free sterile processing training in Washington?

All 9 sterile processing programs in Washington approved for WIOA funding

Central Service Technician

Central Service/Sterile Processing