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Medical Equipment Preparers
Prepare, sterilize, install, or clean laboratory or healthcare equipment. May perform routine laboratory tasks and operate or inspect equipment.
Other titles employers use
Central Processing Technician (CPT) · Central Service Technician (CST) · Central Sterile Supply Technician (CSS Technician) · Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) · Instrument Technician · Sterile Preparation Technician · Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician (SPD Tech) · Sterile Processing Technician (Sterile Processing Tech)
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Operate and maintain steam autoclaves, keeping records of loads completed, items in loads, and maintenance procedures performed.
- Clean instruments to prepare them for sterilization.
- Record sterilizer test results.
- Organize and assemble routine or specialty surgical instrument trays or other sterilized supplies, filling special requests as needed.
- Examine equipment to detect leaks, worn or loose parts, or other indications of disrepair.
- Report defective equipment to appropriate supervisors or staff.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to practical, organizing and analytical work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Quality Control Analysis
- Active Listening
- Operations Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
Subjects to know
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Biology
- Production and Processing
- Public Safety and Security
Useful strengths
- Near Vision
- Problem Sensitivity
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Expression
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 4.1 | Arm’s length or closer, most of the day |
| On your feet | 4.1 | Standing or moving for most of it |
| Talking face to face | 4.7 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 4.3 | Handling tools, instruments or materials |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a high school diploma. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- High school or less 44%
- A certificate or some college 36%
- A four-year degree 15%
- A two-year degree 3%
- A master's degree 2%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Medical software
- Electronic mail software
- Document management software
- Time accounting software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Presentation software
- Word processing software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 8,900
- Job openings each year
- 1,210
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 11.3%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 8,900 | 1,210 | 11.3% |
| New York | 6,870 | 150 | 26.8% |
| Texas | 4,300 | 590 | 16.2% |
| Florida | 3,620 | 500 | 11.7% |
| Ohio | 2,950 | 400 | 3.1% |
| New Jersey | 2,740 | 370 | 7.9% |
| Pennsylvania | 2,730 | 370 | 3.0% |
| North Carolina | 2,670 | 370 | 17.1% |
| Michigan | 2,520 | 340 | 2.0% |
| Illinois | 2,360 | 320 | 1.7% |
| Missouri | 2,190 | 300 | 9.0% |
| Washington | 2,160 | 330 | 15.5% |
| Georgia | 1,840 | 250 | 15.7% |
| Virginia | 1,720 | 230 | 2.4% |
| Arizona | 1,600 | 220 | 21.2% |
| Oregon | 1,540 | 210 | 11.6% |
| Indiana | 1,530 | 210 | 4.8% |
| Minnesota | 1,480 | 200 | 5.0% |
| Maryland | 1,470 | 200 | 6.5% |
| Tennessee | 1,450 | 200 | 14.2% |
| Colorado | 1,420 | 200 | 18.3% |
| Wisconsin | 1,020 | 140 | 6.3% |
| Kentucky | 970 | 130 | 6.6% |
| Alabama | 920 | 120 | 7.0% |
| Connecticut | 870 | 120 | 11.5% |
| South Carolina | 850 | 120 | 9.0% |
| Oklahoma | 800 | 110 | 3.9% |
| Utah | 690 | 100 | 25.5% |
| Iowa | 670 | 90 | 8.1% |
| Massachusetts | 640 | 90 | 8.5% |
| West Virginia | 620 | 80 | 3.3% |
| Louisiana | 540 | 70 | 8.0% |
| Maine | 520 | 70 | 2.0% |
| Kansas | 510 | 70 | 4.1% |
| Idaho | 440 | 60 | 22.2% |
| Nebraska | 430 | 60 | 7.5% |
| New Hampshire | 410 | 60 | 5.1% |
| South Dakota | 370 | 50 | 15.6% |
| Arkansas | 340 | 50 | 9.7% |
| Nevada | 340 | 50 | 21.4% |
| Mississippi | 330 | 50 | 6.5% |
| Montana | 300 | 40 | 11.1% |
| Rhode Island | 300 | 40 | 7.1% |
| Delaware | 270 | 40 | 17.4% |
| New Mexico | 260 | 40 | 18.2% |
| North Dakota | 260 | 40 | 13.0% |
| Puerto Rico | 260 | 40 | 18.2% |
| District of Columbia | 220 | 30 | 4.8% |
| Alaska | 130 | 20 | 18.2% |
| Vermont | 110 | 20 | 10.0% |
| Wyoming | 100 | 10 | 11.1% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
- Degrees each year
- 163
- Admit rate
- 88%
- Annual cost after aid
- $12,000
Program entryApply after enrollment
Open college OHUniversity of Cincinnati-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 152
- Admit rate
- 88%
- Annual cost after aid
- $22,000
Program entryDirect to major
Open college OHCleveland State University
- Degrees each year
- 142
- Admit rate
- 95%
- Annual cost after aid
- $15,000
Program entryOpen major
Open college MIMichigan State University
- Degrees each year
- 68
- Admit rate
- 84%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
Program entryOpen major
Open college NCWinston-Salem State University
- Degrees each year
- 54
- Admit rate
- 69%
- Annual cost after aid
- $15,000
Program entryOpen major
Open college TNAustin Peay State University
- Degrees each year
- 49
- Admit rate
- 96%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
Program entryOpen major
Open college KYUniversity of Kentucky
- Degrees each year
- 46
- Admit rate
- 92%
- Annual cost after aid
- $16,000
Program entryDirect to major
Open college NYCUNY Hunter College
- Degrees each year
- 45
- Admit rate
- 54%
- Annual cost after aid
- $6,000
Program entryApply after enrollment
Open collegeCompare every college offering clinical/medical laboratory science/research and allied professions