By Kenney Kost/reporter
A program in central service technician work, a rapidly growing health care field with expanding job opportunities, will be offered at TR Campus starting this fall.

Employment of technicians grew faster than the average for all occupations in 2010, said program coordinator Velia Garcia, and is expected to continue growing as health care becomes more specialized.
Central service technicians are responsible for sterilizing and maintaining all hospital instruments and work beside surgeons, making sure doctors have the required instruments quickly and efficiently.

“Back in the day, all personnel were on-the-job trained, average people coming in just looking for work,” said Velia Garcia. “Now, we have several standards that require the employees to be certified.”

The program currently takes six months to complete, one of which is spent on-site at a clinic for hands-on training. Students completing the program are qualified to be a Sterile Processing Tech I at an average starting salary of $13.65 per hour.

After completion of the national certification exam and at least three years’ experience, technicians without a bachelor’s or associate degree can advance as far as supervisor at $25 per hour. With a bachelor’s degree, workers can become central service managers at $35 per hour.

According to the Mayo School of Health Sciences, hospitals are the primary employer of central service technicians, but employment growth is expected in offices, clinics and ambulatory surgical centers. Nursing homes and assisted-living facilities also have some need of technicians.

“The field is definitely growing tremendously,” Garcia said. “It is showing no sign of slowing over the next few years. It is an exciting field that allows people with experience to move up quickly.”

Experienced technicians, she added, can branch into other fields such as surgical technology, radiologic technology or even nursing.
Anyone needing more information can contact Garcia at the TR Campus continuing education office at 817-515-1202 or by email at velia.garcia@tccd.edu.