Oct. 2, 2020 (Middletown, Conn.) — Middlesex Community College (MxCC) announced a no-cost central sterile processing technician training course available for prospective students who qualify as unemployed or underemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic economic impact. The free accelerated program is funded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
The online asynchronous course begins October 18 and runs through December 20, with on-campus labs on November 10 and 12, December 15 and 17, from 5–7 p.m.
“Sterile processing technicians play a critical role as members of the healthcare workforce. Our surgical teams rely on them to provide the necessary sterile instruments used in operating rooms. The sterilization knowledge and skills students learn in this program lead directly to decreased infections and improved patient outcomes. Major health systems throughout Connecticut have identified sterile processing technicians as one of the most in-demand roles,” said Diane Bordonaro, RN, who is the chief regional workforce development officer for the Connecticut Community Colleges, Capital-East Region, which includes Middlesex.
Through this training program, students can become certified technicians in 9 weeks. The 60-hour class covers decontamination and sterilization processing; anatomy and physiology; microbiology infection control, and identification of surgical instruments.
“I was looking to stay in the medical field but move away from the hands-on patient care aspect of it,” said Nicole Bennett, a certified nurse aide who completed the program last spring. “When I heard about this course, I was very interested in it.”
Central sterile processing technicians are responsible for the packaging of surgical instruments in hospitals, medical offices, surgical centers and clinics. Job requirements include organizing and assembling instrument trays, sterilizing supplies, operating sterilization equipment including sterilizers, aerators and washers, and maintaining records and inventory.
Upon completion of the course, students are eligible to take the certification exam through the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution Inc. (CBSPD). Certification is mandatory for employment.
To qualify for the no-cost program, including books and supplies, please call 860-343-5782 or email jmueller@mxcc.edu. Prospective students who don’t qualify for the free training can still apply to enroll in the course, pay the tuition or seek other funding.
For more details about the course, please visit mxcc.edu.
Since 1966, Middlesex Community College has provided high-quality, affordable, and accessible education to a diverse population, enhancing the strengths of individuals through degree, certificate, and lifelong learning programs that lead to university transfer, employment, and an enriched awareness of our shared responsibilities as global citizens. A part of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system, MxCC offers more than 70 degree or certificate programs at the main 35-acre campus in Middletown, MxCC@Platt in Meriden and online.
