Central Sterile Processing Technology (Prerequisite: High School Diploma or GED)

This program offers a sequence of courses that provides coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in the Health Science career cluster; provides technical skill proficiency, and includes competency-based applied learning that contributes to the academic knowledge, higher-order reasoning and problem-solving skills, work attitudes, general employability skills, technical skills, and occupation-specific skills, and knowledge of all aspects of Health Science career cluster.

This program is designed to prepare students for employment as supervisors, central supply, central supply workers, ambulatory surgery processors, surgical instrument processors, gastrointestinal (GI) flexible endoscope reprocessors, case cart technicians, inventory technicians, processing technicians, stock clerks:  stock room or warehouse, sterilizers, central service technicians (medical equipment preparers).

The content includes but is not limited to central services departmental organization and function; basic anatomy, physiology, microbiology and chemistry related to central service activities; quality assurance; infection control and isolation techniques, principles of safety; principles, methods and controls of sterilization processes; cleaning, processing, packaging, distributing, storing, and inventory control of sterile goods, instruments, trays, and equipment; medical terminology; surgical instrumentation; basic computer skills, interpersonal and job seeking skills, fundamentals of communication, case cart management, laparoscopic specialty, orthopedic specialty, flexible scope processing, shift supervisory skills and procurement of supplies and equipment.

This program is a planned sequence of instruction consisting of 2 occupational completion points.

This program is comprised of courses which have been assigned course numbers in the SCNS (Statewide Course Numbering System) in accordance with Section 1007.24 (1), F.S.  Career and Technical credit shall be awarded to the student on a transcript in accordance with Section 1001.44(3)(b), F.S.

To teach the courses listed below, instructors must hold at least one of the teacher certifications indicated for that course.

The following table illustrates the postsecondary program structure:

Common Career Technical Core – Career Ready Practices

What you will learn

• Demonstrate characteristics of a healthcare professional by communicating using proper medical terminology with the interdisciplinary team
• Obtain knowledge of the healthcare delivery system and the legal, ethical, and professional standards within the role of the PCT
• Gather the knowledge and skills to provide individualized basic nursing care to a diverse population of patients
• How to apply problem-solving and critical thinking skills within the PCT scope of practice and in coordination with team members to foster positive patient outcomes
• Knowledge needed to pass either the NHA's Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant (CPCT/A) exam or the AMCA's Patient Care Technician (PCTC) certification exam

How you will benefit

• Jump-start your career in the medical field by learning how to care for patients in a variety of conditions and healthcare settings
• Develop the communication style needed to communicate positively and efficiently with patients, their family members or caregivers, and healthcare team members
• Understand how to create positive, efficient experiences for patients to make them more comfortable
• Learn your legal and ethical responsibilities for practicing patient care
• Obtain a certificate of completion and be prepared to sit for the professional certification that best aligns with your interests and career goals
• Your choice of a certifying exam voucher—either for the NHA's Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant (CPCT/A) exam or the AMCA's Patient Care Technician (PCTC) certification exam

Integrated Education and Training (IET) is an educational model that combines adult education and literacy activities with workforce preparation and training for a specific occupation or occupational cluster. The goal of IET is to help adults gain the skills and credentials they need for in-demand careers, and to advance their education and careers.