Sterile Processing Technician Apprentice

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Join Cleveland Clinic and experience world-class healthcare at its best. Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital is a proud Magnet Hospital awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the highest honor an organization can receive for professional nursing practice. Here, you will work alongside a dedicated team of caregivers, receive endless support and appreciation, and build a rewarding career.

Cleveland Clinic’s Sterile Processing Technician Apprenticeship will provide you with the world’s best experience in all areas of sterile processing. You'll have the opportunity to work alongside and learn from leading experts in the field. At the end of your apprenticeship, you will successfully complete a Sterile Processing Distribution training program and pass the Certified Registered Central Service Technician test.

This position includes a combination of on-site work hours and morning classes as part of the apprenticeship program. The apprentices will serve with our team at Hillcrest Hospital while also attending classes at New Bridge. The apprenticeship will be from November 9, 2026 - March 19, 2027.

Classes will be held at New Bridge on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, you will work at Hillcrest Hospital from 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Upon successful completion of the New Bridge program, apprentices will work an evening schedule Monday - Friday from 3:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. Apprentices are also required to take nursing education courses at Cleveland Clinic Administrative Campus in Beachwood, your schedule will be provided to you.

The flat rate hourly pay for this position is $15.75. with a shift differential rate of $1.75 per hour.

A caregiver in this position works Monday - Friday from of 3:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. after completion of the New Bridge program.

In this apprenticeship, you will:

• Become familiar with all areas of sterile processing and portions of the Surgical Suite, including decontamination and sterilization of house table and operating room instrumentation, sterile storage, running, case cart picking, packing rooms. and equipment testing.

• Become proficient in identifying and inspecting instrumentation to recognize missing or malfunctioning parts.

• Assist with collecting and cleaning instruments and equipment after use on patient procedure.

• Assist with wrapping or placing equipment or instruments needing sterilization in containers.

• Identify and use all methods of sterilization available in the Sterile Processing/OR department.

• Become familiar with SPD inventory processes and assist in maintaining an adequate inventory of instruments, equipment and supplies.

• Prepare for the Central Service Technician test.

What’s in it for you:

• Paid, full-time position with the ability to advance to Certified Registered Central Service Technician after passing the exam

• Life-changing healthcare, retirement and paid time off

• Training on-site at Hillcrest Hospital

• Support and mentoring from experienced caregivers

• Nationally recognized credentials in a high-demand career - Certified Sterile Processing Technician

Minimum qualifications for a caregiver in this role:

• Positivity, reliability, professionalism, initiative, respect, gratitude and integrity

• Desire to care for patients, be a part of a team and care for the community

• High school diploma or GED
• Maintain good standing in the partnered school’s Sterile Processing Certification program by maintaining good attendance and punctuality and completing assignments

• Sterile Processing Distribution Certification (e.g., CRCST, CSPDT, CFER, or CER) within 18 months of hire date

Preferred qualifications for a caregiver in this role include:

• Sterile processing or surgical technician experience

• Working knowledge of Operating Room instrumentation

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to perform duties while standing, sitting, stooping, and reaching for prolonged periods of time. Requires standing and walking for extended periods of time.
• Ability to lift and carry items weighing 25 pounds on a continual basis; ability to push, pull, and navigate carts weighing up to 100 pounds.
• Possible exposure to biological and chemical contamination.
• Manual dexterity sufficient to perform basic functions of position day to day instrument counting, sorting and assembly. Requires corrected hearing and vision to normal range.
• Must be able to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors to utilize color-coded systems used for instrument identification. All applicants will be required to be prescreened for color blindness by our Occupational Health Department.

Personal Protective Equipment:

• Follows standard precautions using personal protective equipment as required

The policy of Cleveland Clinic Health System and its system hospitals (Cleveland Clinic Health System) is to provide equal opportunity to all of our caregivers and applicants for employment in our drug free environment. All offers of employment are followed by testing for controlled substances.

Cleveland Clinic Health System administers an influenza prevention program. You will be required to comply with this program, which will include obtaining an influenza vaccination on an annual basis or obtaining an approved exemption.

Decisions concerning employment, transfers and promotions are made upon the basis of the best qualified candidate without regard to color, race, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, ancestry, status as a disabled or Vietnam era veteran or any other characteristic protected by law. Information provided on this application may be shared with any Cleveland Clinic Health System facility.

If applying for a Florida position, please see the following website for more information on the background screening requirements required by the Agency of Health Care Administration: https://info.flclearinghouse.com/

Please review the Equal Employment Opportunity poster.

Cleveland Clinic is pleased to be an equal employment opportunity employer.