Sterile Processing Admissions Guide

Sterile Processing Occupational Skill Award

(Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admissions)

Application must be submitted online via: Apply Now
 

 Term 

 Applications Accepted Application Review Application Status Notification

Spring: January 2025

September 3, 2024 - November 29, 2024

September 3, 2024 - December 6, 2024

By December 2024

Application must be submitted online via: https://hccs.edu/coleman-apply

Program Duration, Study Mode and Class Schedule Information
Program Duration (Number of Semesters) Study Mode

Full Time: 2 semesters

(including 400 clinical hours in 2nd semester)

 Face-to-Face and Offsite Clinical Rotations

 

  • Program days and times may vary but you should plan to attend classes 4-5 days a week.  Day classes are generally between 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  Evening classes are generally between 4:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (if scheduled)
  • Clinical sites are 3 days per week from 6:15 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for a total of 400 hours.  Please plan accordingly to ensure you have proper transportation.

 

Program Admissions Statistics

On average, approximately 50 students apply for admission each application period. Of these, approximately 25 applicants are typically accepted.

 

How Do I Submit An Application?
  1. Apply to HCC:
    • If you are new to Houston Community College (HCC) or transferring to HCC, your first step is to become an HCC Eagle by submitting a free admissions application to HCC. Please create a profile and complete the application to obtain an HCC student ID: https://goapplytexas.org/. You will receive a welcome email response from HCC within 48 hours, be sure to save your HCCID-Number or P-Number/D-Number (if you are assigned one).  If you have filled out an HCC application at any point, or you already have an HCC student ID number, please do not submit another HCC application.  Multiple HCC new student applications and/or ID numbers are not allowed.
    • If you have not been enrolled for the past 3 semesters and are returning to HCC will need to reactivate your HCC student account: Returning Student Readmission | Houston Community College (HCC)
  2. My Eagle HCC account checklist:
    • Please visit: myeagle.hccs.edu, review and take action on the HCC Policy Checklist and On-Boarding Checklist. Your To-do List may have four types of checklist items in your Student Center including Meningitis Vaccine and Texas Success Initiative requirements:
    • Meningitis Vaccine – Required for all college students under the age of For more information on requirements, resources & any religious, medical, or online students exemptions, please visit: Meningitis
    • Texas Success Initiative requirements – If you have the "Texas Success Initiative College Readiness Requirements" Checklist on your pre-enrollment To-do List in the Student Center, you have to be placed into core courses one of two ways.
    • Have an approved exemption (reason) for not taking Texas Success Initiative Assessment 0 (TSIA2). Please visit: Texas Success Initiative Assessment/ Exemption for more information. OR
    • Take the Texas Success Initiative Assessment 0 (TSIA2). Please visit: Texas Success Initiative Assessment for more information.
  3. Meet with an HCC Coleman College Representative:

    At least once during the application acceptance period, an applicant must attend an In-Person/Virtual Program Information Session or must meet with an HCC Coleman Pathway Advisor or HCC Coleman Admissions Advisor via the phone or in-person or virtually at least once to ensure they are meeting all of the program admission criteria. To view up-to-date in-person hours for Coleman College Student Services https://www.hccs.edu/support-services/academic-advising/


  4. Program Information Session:
  5.  Program Application:
    • In addition to the HCC admission application, you must complete and submit the online Sterile Processing program application using your HCC student ID number https://hccs.edu/coleman-apply: with a copy of high school or GED equivalent transcript, college transcript/s showing completion of the prerequisite/academic courses, and applicable supporting documents.  This is the Occupational Skills Award (OSA) Certificate program and we do not need any official transcripts to process the application. However, if you wish to submit your transcripts, we recommend you submit the unofficial transcripts with the program application.  All foreign transcripts must be evaluated for US equivalency and foreign transcripts must first be evaluated course-by-course by an approved evaluating agency. To find a list of approved evaluation companies, please visit Foreign transcript/ Foreign Credit Evaluators. Then the official evaluation report must submit to HCC. The HCC Internal process can take up to 8 weeks for evaluation and transfer of course credits.
    • International Students: If you are an international student planning to attend HCC on a status F-1, (DACA, refugee, L visa, H visa, ), please visit https://www.hccs.edu/support-services/international- students/.
    • Veteran students: Please visit https://www.hccs.edu/support-services/veteran-affairs/ . Download and complete DDForm 214 & SF-180 Form and submit with the application.

 

Program Application: Academic Course Requirements
Course Description Credit Hours

Student Success Course

N/A

  

Placement Test Not required. However, if you prefer to take HCC courses from the recommended courses prior to applying to this OSA program, TSIA testing must be taken for placement.  

Placement Test 

  • All new students enrolling in a Texas Public Institution of Higher Education must take the TSIA2 to determine college readiness unless they qualify for an exemption. Visit TSIA Exemptions for a list of exemptions. If your TSIA scores or transcript do not indicate college-level proficiency in reading, writing, and math, you are required to complete INRW 0420 and one of the specified MATH courses with a minimum grade of 'C' or higher.
  • INRW 0420 - Integrated Reading and Writing
  • MATH 0432P - Basic Mathematics & Contemporary Mathematics OR MATH 0424P - Basic Mathematics & Introduction to Business Mathematics
  • OR MATH 0442P - Basic Mathematics & Introduction to Statistics

 

Cumulative GPA

N/A

 

Prerequisite Courses

N/A

 

Recommended Courses

HPRS 1201, HITT 1305 OR MDCA 1313, and ENGL 1301

 

Academic Courses

N/A

 

Testing

N/A

 

Pre-Enrollment Process & Requirements

When the number of eligible applications exceed program seat availability, selective criteria are used to determine which applicants are offered admission. Selective criteria are awarded based on the following:

  • 100% may be awarded based on the health program academic criteria (grades earned from pre-entry form, courses on this guide under “recommended” courses and general education requirements.
  • All application requirements must be satisfied by the close of the application window.

 

If you are offered admission you will need to complete the following pre-enrollment requirements by a specific due date to maintain eligible status:

  • Complete the Intent Form by the deadline stated in the admission acceptance offer email. The Intent form is within your online application and a link will be sent in your admission acceptance offer email.
  • Proof of personal health insurance
  • CPR American Heart Association Health Care Provider
  • Passing drug screen
  • Physical examination
  • Immunization record showing (Monitored By Complio: http://houstoncccompliance.com/): Completion of Hepatitis B immunization series (may take up to 6 months) and titer, MMR – 2 shots and titer, Tdap – every 10 years, TB – every year, Varicella – 2 shots and titer, Meningitis (required for students 22 years or younger) and Influenza – after September 1st
  • Cleared Criminal
  • Complete the mandatory Student Services Orientation and Program Orientation on the date provided in your admission email. (Please clear your calendar so you are available to attend the mandatory orientations if you are offered admission as follows: Fall Term – plan to attend Orientation in Spring Term – plan to attend December).

 

Clinical Requirements for Program Progression & Completion

To provide students with the most robust clinical educational experience and to ensure that students progress and graduate as scheduled, it is highly recommended that applicants weigh all of their options before agreeing to a conditional acceptance into their desired health science program. In order to facilitate this decision-making, students should understand all of the requirements of their program, including clinical education.

To be placed in a clinical educational experience, students must comply with the guidelines and requirements of HCC clinical sites, including health and wellness directives. Most clinical sites require background checks, health testing, drug screens and immunizations, including proof of COVID-19vaccination.

Students are required to provide to HCC proof that students meet all clinical requirements, with the exception of their COVID-19 vaccination status. Consistent with state law, HCC does not mandate the COVID-19 vaccination. Students have the choice to voluntarily disclose or not disclose their COVID-19 vaccination status through their HCC Complio account.

However, most healthcare facilities do require the vaccine as a condition of employment, volunteering, or student clinical placement. If a student chooses not to disclose their COVID-19 vaccination status or is not vaccinated, HCC may not be able to place the student in clinical rotations. HCC will work to place such students into a clinical site that does not require the vaccine, provided such a site is available and HCC has an active affiliation agreement in place that meets the necessary conditions to provide an appropriate learning opportunity for the student. However, HCC cannot guarantee that clinical sites that do not require the

COVID vaccine will be available at the time the student requires placement. At this time, many healthcare facilities are not accepting religious or medical exemptions for the COVID-19 vaccine for clinical students.

If a student chooses not to receive or to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination and no clinical sites are available to accept the student that do not require the COVID-19 vaccination, the student’s progression in the program and graduation will be delayed or stopped all together. If a student cannot be timely placed in a qualifying clinical site, a student may not be able to complete the program. Our affiliate partners’ expectations are the same for our students as they would be when our students ultimately become employees in their chosen field.

Students with questions about clinical requirements and placement may contact the program director of their program of interest.

HB 1508 requires the following information be given to students:

If you are applying for admission to a program that prepares an individual for an initial occupational license or certification and/or if you later decide to change to a program that prepares you for an initial occupational license or certification, in accordance with state law, please be advised of the following:

  1. An individual who has been charged or convicted of an offense or who is on probation may not be eligible for issuance of an occupational license or certification upon completion of the educational program.
  2. It is the responsibility of the individual to immediately report to the program any change in status that would affect that individual’s eligibility to apply for a license or certification.
  3. Local, state or national licensing and certification authorities may issue additional guidelines related to criminal Applicants should contact their respective licensing or certification authority for more details.

 

Most health care programs require all students - admitted to the program - to submit to a national background check which may include fingerprinting. Applicants are encouraged to review all applicable eligibility requirements related to the respective occupational license or certification. Questions related to eligibility requirements should be directed to the individual program and applicable licensing or certification authority.

 

Estimated Costs

Tuition is estimated using the Texas resident rates. Out-of-district and out-of-state residents will have higher tuition fees. Please visit http://www.hccs.edu/applying-and-paying/tuition-calculator/ for more information. Tuition is for core coursework only. General Education and Support courses are not included. These are high estimates; actual costs will vary depending on health insurance coverage.

Due to increases/decreases in books and supplements, please check the bookstore website at https://hccs.bncollege.com/shop/hccs-central/home for updated cost information. Only required books are included in the estimate.

STERILE PROCESSING PROGRAM COSTING SHEET (In-District) Amount $
Pre-Entrance  
Criminal Background/Drug Screening $95
Physical Exam  $100
Immunization $200
Medical Insurance Varies
Supplies $100
Sub Total $495
1st Semester (8 Semester hours) 
Tuition $682
Books $120
Uniforms $150
Parking (4months) Varies
SUB TOTAL $952
2nd Semester (5 semester hours) 
Tuition and fees $428.50
Books N/A
Parking (4months) Varies
SUB TOTAL $428.50
Total Program Cost $1,875.50

 

 

Paying For College

You can use a valid MasterCard, Visa, Discover, or American Express card to pay for tuition and fees. You can also use debit card with Visa or MasterCard logo, but not a non-USA credit card. Online payment via check is also available.

Check or echeck payments have a 10 day hold on release of official transcripts. International students or their parents can also pay online from their country of origin with their local currency, where applicable. Online payment from other countries can be made through “International Fund Transfer” payment option. 

Additional Options for Payment 

  • Financial Aid

If you need assistance paying for college, please visit the Coleman Financial Aid office for assistance or visit www.hccs.edu/applying-and-paying/financial-aid/ 

  • Scholarships

In addition to federal and state aid, scholarships are a great way to offset all or part of the cost of your education. Please visit https://www.hccs.edu/applying-and-paying/financial-aid/scholarships/ for more information.

  • Installment Payment Plan

If you are paying out of pocket and need assistance on how to setup a payment plan please visit Business Office at HCC Coleman or visit https://www.hccs.edu/applying-and-paying/student- financial-services/ for more information.

 

 

Program Information

Program Information

Certification Testing

Graduates are eligible to take the Certified Registered Central Service Technician

Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) [formerly the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management (IAHCSMM)]

International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management (IAHCSMM), 55 West Wacker Drive, Suite 501, Chicago, IL 60601

Employment Opportunities

Certified Registered Central Service Technician may find employment as a sterile processing technician in hospital operating rooms, delivery rooms, ambulatory care facilities and central supply departments

Average Salary

Entry-level salary range between $ 30,000 and $45,000 annually. Find out the entry-level wages, the medium wages and high wages for each career field in High School or less, Vocational Certificate, Associate's degree, Bachelor's degree and Graduate degree: Career Coach | Houston Community College (HCC) | We are  Houston's Community College (hccs.edu)

 

Required Essential Functions
Functional Capacity Standards (Tasks)


 Psychomotor Skills

 
Gross Motor

Stand and maintain upright posture and balance.

Perform work that requires frequent and/or prolonged standing, bending, reaching, squatting, kneeling, moving, lifting of patients/clients and/or equipment.

Safely maneuver self and/or move patients’/clients’ body parts to effectively perform assessment techniques.

Safely maneuver and manipulate clinical equipment from side to side, forward and backward, and from or to a lower or higher

position.
Fine Motor

Pinch, pick, operate, or otherwise manipulate surgical instruments in a time frame that does not impede the pace of the operating room environment.

Work in and around a microscope during an operation without bumping or moving the microscope.

Assemble delicate equipment (e.g., coordinate and maneuver objects as fine as a human hair).

Grasp and control surgical equipment and instrumentation for prolonged periods (e.g., up to six (6) or eight (8) hours) without breaks, and without the ability to stretch or move around while performing a long surgery.

Key/type and otherwise operate common desktop computer accessories.
Physical Strength & Endurance

Stand for long periods (e.g., up to six (6) or eight (8) hours) without breaks, and without the ability to stretch or move around while performing a long surgery. Work in tight/small areas and/or bend in awkward positions for prolonged periods without breaks, and without the ability to stretch or move around when performing a long surgery (e.g., such as in vaginal cases—holding retractors that hold tissue to expose a wound without moving).

Work in these conditions with two pairs of gloves on, a hat, a mask with shield, a gown, and shoe covers, under operating room lights that are warm/hot and bright.

Lift 10-50 pounds on average (e.g., position patients’/clients’ bodies on operating table).

Lift at least 50 pounds (e.g., maneuver heavy surgical instrumentation pans). Lift patients/clients from gurney or wheelchair to the operating room table.
Mobility Use all extremities to ensure patients’/clients’ safety when lifting, moving, and transporting patients/clients.

Cognitive Skills
Critical & Analytical Thinking

Recall information that is taught, explained, and demonstrated by the instructor, preceptor, and surgeon.

Use short-term and long-term memory to synthesize and

consistently apply knowledge and skills, both cognitively and physically.
Safety

Conduct oneself in a manner that promotes and ensures the health and safety of those in the clinical setting, at all times.

Abide by safety policies and procedures in classroom, laboratory, and clinical facility settings.

Maintain awareness of alarms and emergency signals, and respond appropriately (e.g., monitors, fire alarms, hospital codes, etc.).


Sensory Skills
Observation

Identify surgical needles finer than a human hair.

Distinguish color (e.g., color codes on instruments, pans, etc.).

Observe and recognize objects up to 20 inches away (e.g., access patient/client information on computer screens).
Perception

Recognize interpersonal communication in situations when faces are partially covered (e.g., lips are covered by surgical mask).
Interpretation Process understanding of content contained in written documents (e.g., surgeon preference cards, medication labels).

Social-Behavioral Skills
Communication

Demonstrate English language proficiency to communicate changes in patient/client status, and interact with health care team members (e.g., communication that is clear and easy to understand).

Converse effectively and sensitively in order to elicit patient/client information. Assess nonverbal communication and transmit information to all members of the health care team.

Use proper communication techniques (e.g., correct grammar,

punctuation, and spelling) in printed and typed correspondence. Demonstrate certainty and confidence in expressing ideas.
Adaptability

Demonstrate flexibility and learn to function in the face of uncertainties and ambiguities inherent in the clinical problems of many patients/clients.

Work quickly and adapt effectively to changes and increasing tension levels in a variety of situations within the operating room environment.

Accurately and safely perform assigned tasks in an orderly manner under extremely stressful circumstances.

Function in operating room environments which may vary widely in temperature (e.g., temperature in an operating room can range from 65-75 degrees but during some cases, the temperature may be increased to maintain a normal temperature of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit for the patient/client).

The surgical technologist must be able to work in temperature variances while wearing a surgical gown, gloves, hat, shoe covers, and a mask. (e.g., working under intense operating room lighting may add to these conditions).
Emotional Stability

Focus sustained attention and concentration on tasks (e.g., perform multiple responsibilities concurrently).

Establish therapeutic boundaries (e.g., provide client with emotional support).

Monitor and appropriately regulate own emotions to maintain composure, without prompting from others (e.g., control anger and avoid aggressive behavior, even in very stressful or demanding situations).

Tolerate taxing workloads and function effectively under stress. Recognize constructive criticism and performance feedback as avenues for improvement.
Interpersonal Skills

Develop and maintain mature, sensitive, effective, and therapeutic relationship with patients/clients, families, peers, and members of the health care team.
Ethics & Professionalism

Protect patients’/clients’ privacy and confidential information (e.g., adhere to HIPAA restrictions).

Professional demeanor is necessary to manage and navigate emergency situations that may arise.

 

Degree Plan

To view the degree plan, please visit the HCC Catalog for more information.