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Aims surgical technology associate degree students get hands-on experience practicing using surgical equipment.

Surgical TechnologyCertificates

Earning a certificate in sterile instrument processing allows you to explore what it's like working in a healthcare setting while earning college credit. 

Important Details About the Sterile Instrument Processing Certificate Program

For a limited time, the Care Forward Colorado program may cover your tuition, fees and materials for this certificate.

To be placed on the waitlist, please get in touch with erin.miyoshi@aims.edu with your Aims#, Aims email address, personal email address, physical address and phone number.

This program is offered twice a year, during the spring and fall semesters.

Class is online, with in-person labs on the Greeley Campus in the Allied Health building five days/week for three hours/day for the first five weeks of the semester. Then students complete a clinical rotation for 40 hours/week for 10 weeks.

Clinical sites can range from Cheyenne to Aurora and from Fort Morgan to Estes Park. Students may need to drive an hour in each direction to their clinical site each day. Clinical sites cannot be requested and personal schedules for work or daycare cannot be accommodated.

Two forms will also be required for entrance:

  1. Background check acknowledgment
  2. Criminal background check with no disqualifying offenses 

Please note: students need to be in good academic standing and have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher to get onto the Sterile Processing waitlist.

A list of CPR classes that Aims Community College offers can be found on our Continuing Education website. 

Sterile Instrument Processing Certificate

Gain skills to work in healthcare materials management. Learn how to care for, handle and sterilize surgical instruments.

Row Groupings Prerequisites:
Prerequisites:
  • Current CPR card prior to clinical entry, criminal background check with no disqualifying offenses, and drug screen.
  • Must meet current minimum reading assessment.
Row Groupings Certificate Requirements: Credits
required

Reviews the job skills needed for the sterile processing technician. Includes the fundamentals of the central services department, instrument processing and important regulatory protocols. Includes a comprehensive review of medical terminology, anatomy and microbiology. Infection prevention and important environmental control and safety factors are included. The importance of professionalism, clinical advancement and workplace communication is presented. Differential tuition rates apply. Restricted to Sterile Processing Technician majors only. Course is not repeatable for credit.

Course Corequisites
SPI 1001
4
required

Reviews hands on knowledge and job skills needed by the sterile processing technician. Includes a comprehensive review of surgical instrumentation, including instrument categories, design and construction, assembly, care and maintenance. Tools and equipment utilized for instrument processing is presented. Instrument decontamination, cleaning, processing and various methods of sterilization is discussed. Differential tuition rates apply. Restricted to Sterile Processing Technician majors only. Course is not repeatable for credit.

Course Corequisites
SPI 1000
4
required

Complete 400 hours of clinical internship in the sterile processing department. Restricted to Sterile Processing Technician majors only. Course is repeatable with a maximum of 12 credit hours.

Course Prerequisites

SPI 1000 and SPI 1001 with grades of "C" or better

0 to 12
Note: *Students must complete 9 credits of SPI 1081
Total Credits for Certificate 17