Medical Equipment Preparers

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Career Profile

Medical Equipment Preparers

What they do

Prepare, sterilize, install, or clean laboratory or healthcare equipment. May perform routine laboratory tasks and operate or inspect equipment.

Also Called: 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), Sterile Technician, Sterilization Technician, 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), Sterile Technician, Sterilization Technician

RI Employment Data

*State data provided by O*NET & BLS
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$39,940
Starting Salary (2025)
$51,460
Median Salary (2025)
10.0%
Projected Job Growth
190
RI Employment (2025)

Typical Tasks

Report defective equipment to appropriate supervisors or staff.
Check sterile supplies to ensure that they are not outdated.
Attend hospital in-service programs related to areas of work specialization.
Clean instruments to prepare them for sterilization.
Organize and assemble routine or specialty surgical instrument trays or other sterilized supplies, filling special requests as needed.

A day in the life

What kind of work is this?

Realistic
Practical, Physical Work
Conventional
Organized, Procedural Work
Investigative
Studying, Research based work

What personality traits do you need to succeed?

Attention to Detail
Dependability
Cooperation
Independence
Stress Tolerance
Integrity

What key skills are needed for this job?

Critical Thinking
Quality Control Analysis
Monitoring
Active Listening
Operations Monitoring
Reading Comprehension

Expected Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Biology
Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.

Common Activities

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Documenting/Recording Information
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Education & Preparation

Some occupations may require additional education, advanced degrees, and years of experience in the field.
Talk to your support team on campus about this career pathway and additional degree information.
Job Zone 2

Some Preparation Needed

Education

These occupations usually require a high school diploma.

Experience

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed.

Training

Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Typical Education Required

Education a new hire may need

  • High school diploma 44%
  • Post-secondary certificate 31%
  • Bachelor's degree 15%
  • Some college 4%
  • Associate's degree 4%
  • Other 2%
Source: O*NET Education, Training & Experience data

Related Careers

Endoscopy Technicians
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists
Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians

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*Data on career profiles are based on information supplied by the O*NET Program, sponsored by U.S. Department of Labor, Employment, and Training Administration.