SPD Technician Certification Exam - Earn an International 5 year certification for SPD technician from CBSPD.
The Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution, Inc. (CBSPD), formerly the NICHSPDP, is a non-profit Certification Board which plans, develops and administers competency-based "International" certification examinations for personnel performing cleaning, disinfection, sterilization and inventory management activities, regardless of the setting. The CBSPD does not discriminate among applicants as to age, sex, race, religion, national origin, disability, or marital status. The examination is only offered in English in the United States. Candidates must be able to interpret, speak, and write English.
Central Service Technician" (CST), which recognizes individuals who have demonstrated the experience, knowledge, and skills necessary to provide competent services in sterile processing, as a central service technician, and the distribution of manufactured supplies and equipment.
Sterile processing occurs in the Sterile Processing Department (also known as Central Supply or Sterile Supply) within a dental or medical healthcare facility. This is where all medical and surgical supplies and equipment are sterilized, cleaned, prepared, processed, stored, and issued for patient care.
It was not until the 1940’s that the Sterile Processing Department was born, and since then, favorable patient outcomes have only increased. When it comes to medicine, cleanliness and sterilization mean progress and prosperity.
The sterilization process can be broken down into four major categories:
Decontamination: The process of removing pathogens from an object to make it safe for handling.
Assembly and Packaging: Once an instrument has been decontaminated, it’s assembled into a set or tray with corresponding instruments and packaged.
Sterilization: A physical or chemical process that ensures all pathogenic microorganisms are effectively destroyed.
Quality Assurance: Measures taken to monitor and ensure the success of the sterilization process.
SP technicians have to meet a higher professional standard than ever before. Many states, such as New York, require sterile processing technician certification through a professional organization. These professionals are also being published in industry magazines and aiding medical advancements. Even social media has played a role in allowing technicians to network and exchange meaningful ideas and information in ways we’ve never seen before.
In the last ten years, we have realized that SP technicians are the unsung heroes of hospitals. Sterile Processing Departments and technicians are held to higher standards than ever before and produce better results than ever before. HAIs are decreasing as equipment and procedures that support the sterilization process are improving.
