Occupation
Sterile processing technician
Sterile processing technicians decontaminate, inspect, assemble, and sterilise the instruments and equipment used in surgery and other procedures. The role is invisible to patients but directly determines infection risk, and every step is documented and traceable. Work is standard-driven, repetitive, and physically active in hot, noisy departments.
Also known as: Medical device reprocessing technician · Central service technician · Sterile services technician · Decontamination technician
Occupation content
Part of Healthcare and clinical services
What the work involves
- Receive used instruments and sort them by decontamination requirement.
- Operate washer-disinfectors, ultrasonic cleaners, and sterilisers to validated cycles.
- Inspect instruments for damage, residue, and function before reassembly.
- Assemble instrument trays to set lists and package them for sterilisation.
- Run and record biological, chemical, and mechanical cycle monitoring.
- Track sets through the traceability system and manage stock rotation and distribution.
How people commonly enter
- A medical device reprocessing or sterile processing certificate at a college or training provider.
- An employer training route in a hospital sterile services department, often with a certification examination.
- A decontamination or healthcare-support apprenticeship route where the jurisdiction offers one.
Typical training: Certificate or college diploma
Licensing: Certification common, not usually required
Typical work context
Team based · Lab or workshop · Shift work · Physically active · Predictable routine
Related interests
Realistic (hands-on) · Conventional (organizing)
Related aptitude preparation
These are preparation links only. They do not measure eligibility for this occupation and no score here qualifies or disqualifies anyone.
Skills to practise
Practice suites
Related learning
Family-level learning links for Healthcare and clinical services.
Official sources
Labour-market facts such as pay and employment projections are not reproduced here. Open an official source below for figures, with its own geography and reference period.
- O*NET OnLine — Medical Equipment Preparers (31-9093.00) · United States
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- Canada Job Bank — Explore an occupation (search: medical device reprocessing technician) · Canada
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- ESCO — Occupations classification (European Commission) · European Union
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Labour-market context (not part of exploration match)
This is broad family-level context for Healthcare and clinical services in Canada, not a figure for Sterile processing technician. It does not affect matching scores and is not an eligibility determination.
This is a broad Healthcare and clinical services family. Explore the official profile for the chosen occupation; entry education and training can differ within the family.
Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period
Healthcare and clinical services: education pathways
Some roles in Healthcare and clinical services may be regulated. Confirm whether the specific role requires registration, certification, or a jurisdiction-specific licence.
Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period
Healthcare and clinical services: licensing
Find jobs
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- Search Canada Job Bank · Canada
- Search USAJOBS · United States federal
- Search EURES · European Union / EEA
- Search Indeed · International (choose location on Indeed)