Developing a Sterile Processing Department Training Program as a Workforce Strategy

Background: Sterile processing departments (SPDs) support safe surgical and procedural care through the cleaning, inspection, assembly, sterilization, storage, and distribution of reusable medical devices. Persistent staffing shortages can disrupt these functions and complicate onboarding of entry-level technicians. Methods: This descriptive program evaluation examined an SPD technician trainee program implemented across a multihospital health system. The SPD enterprise included approximately 216 full-time equivalent positions, and the program was developed to expand the technician pipeline and standardize onboarding during a period of workforce instability. The 10- to 13-week curriculum used a competency-based educational framework that combined didactic instruction, simulation, supervised clinical practice, competency validation, and certification preparation informed by Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) educational content and ANSI/AAMI ST79:2017 principles. Results: Across seven cohorts, 92 trainees were selected and 88 completed the program (95.65% completion rate). Among completers, 63 applied for the HSPA's Certified Registered Central Service Technician examination and 51 passed (80.95% pass rate). Retention was lower, with 38 of 92 participants (41.3%) remaining in SPD roles at the time of analysis. Operational data also showed persistent baseline staffing strain and were used to assess vacancy trends and selected workflow indicators during implementation. Conclusion: A structured internal SPD training pathway was feasible to implement across a multihospital system and was associated with strong completion and certification outcomes. However, retention remained an important challenge, suggesting that training should be paired with broader workforce strategies focused on onboarding support, career development, and long-term workforce stability.