Attendance to an in-person Central Sterile Supply Processing Technician Advanced TCC Information Session is a requirement for admission. These sessions will be held on the main campus, located at 1560 Metropolitan Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30310, in the Brenda Watts-Jones Health Complex (Building H), in room H226.
Attendance to the entire session is required for the student to receive credit. Doors will open at 9:45am. Doors will close at 10am and no students will be permitted admittance after the start time. Please be early.
Program Description
The Central Sterile Supply Processing Technician Advanced Technical Certificate of Credit is designed to provide entry-level training that will prepare graduates to function in the sterile supply processing and distribution areas of healthcare facilities. The program is based on theory and clinical instruction that will apply scientific principles to the specific work area. Theory classes with laboratory participatory classes will prepare students for clinical application of skills and knowledge in healthcare facilities. Together with practical experiences, provide students with the preparation necessary to be eligible to sit for the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) exam.
Career Information
Occupation
Medical Equipment Preparers
Career Projections
The number of jobs in this field is expected to increase by 14.4% nationally and 6.7% in the State of Georgia over the next several years. Estimated salaries in this field start at $38,000 a year.
Labor market data was compiled using Economic Modeling Specialists, international and is updated annually.
Career Coach
Please select the following link to review additional career information on Career Coach.
Admission Requirements
General College Admissions Requirements
Additional Central Sterile Supply Program Admission Requirements:
- Must be 18 years of age
- Information session is required for admissions
- Must pass all required courses with a C or better
- Must complete 400 hours of practicum to be eligible to sit for the certification exam
Vaccination and Titer Requirements
Some vaccines may require multiple doses or a booster to ensure adequate immunity. For multi-dose vaccines, a minimum waiting period of 28 to 30 days is typically required between doses before the next dose can be administered.
If immunization records are not available, students must submit titer results to verify immunity. Please note that the CSSP program cannot accept historic or childhood immunity as sufficient documentation—a current titer is required in these cases.
Students can request a copy of their official immunization record from the Georgia Department of Public Health or through the Georgia Registry of Immunization Transactions & Services (GRITS).
- TB: skin test or chest x-ray within the last 12 months
- MMR: must have two (2) doses or immunity titer
- Varicella: must have two (2) doses or immunity titer
- Tdap: a booster may be required if the last immunization is more than 10 years old
- Hepatitis B Vaccine: must have three (3) doses (may require booster or titer)
- COVID-19 Vaccination (determined by practicum site, if required)
- Influenza vaccine
- CPR (American Heart Association only)
- National Background Check applicant must not have a felony or be currently serving any court-imposed order of supervised probation.
- Drug screen: must be clean (no illicit and/or prescription drugs without a prescription) for clinical
- Advantage Student: must complete the National Background check and Drug Screen. Once complete, you will send the receipt with the other required documents to the Program Coordinator. The report will go to the practicum site. Use this link to access Advantage Student: https://app.advantagestudents.com/login
**All required documents must be provided in ONE complete submission (no exceptions). Documents can be submitted via email in PDF format using their ATC email address, or the student can bring a clean copy of the documents to H218-F in the BWJC on or before the submission deadline announced in the information sessions.
NOTE: All students must be admitted to ATC and enrolled with a student email address.
Important Information
- ALL required documents are due on or before the announced deadline date that will be provided during the information sessions.
- Students with background checks and drug screens that are not clean may be denied acceptance to clinical sites. Drug screens and background checks may take up 7-14 days.
- Clinical site partners reserve the right to deny any student accepted into the program based on their organization’s criteria. This is a mandate from the clinical sites and not Atlanta Technical College.
Statement Regarding Vaccines and Immunizations
Students are required to comply with the medical clearance policies set by their assigned clinical and/or practicum sites. Please note that some sites may require vaccinations for specific diseases, such as COVID-19 and influenza, or testing for conditions like tuberculosis. Students who choose not to receive the required vaccinations or undergo necessary testing will not be permitted to attend those clinical or practicum sites.
Failure to meet these health requirements will result in limited access to clinical/practicum placements, which may delay or prevent program completion. While vaccinations and testing are not required for program admission, each clinical or practicum site reserves the right to deny student participation based on its own health and safety policies. If a student is denied entry to a site due to non-compliance with vaccination or testing requirements, they will be unable to complete the associated course. As a result, successful completion of the program will not be possible. Students are encouraged to review individual program materials for detailed information regarding specific vaccine and testing requirements.
Readmission Policy
Students who are not successful in their first attempt or who withdraw for medical reasons may request readmission based on the program’s admission policy. Please note:
- Readmission is not guaranteed and is limited to a one-time readmission opportunity.
- For students who completed CSSP 1010 more than one semester ago but did not continue into CSSP 1020 and CSSP 1022:
- You must complete an assessment and achieve a passing score of 70% or higher before being considered for readmission.
- For students returning to CSSP 1020 and CSSP 1022:
- Clinical placement is dependent on the availability of our clinical partners and cannot be guaranteed.
- Clinical site availability may change without advance notice to Atlanta Technical College.
- You will be required to restart your practicum hours; previous hours earned will not carry over. Students must complete the full 400-hour practicum requirement again.
- Course Offerings:
- We strive to offer all courses in the program. However, course availability may vary from term to term and by campus.
Note: We strive to offer all courses, they may vary from term to term and campus.
Blood and Airborne Pathogens
Students enrolled in Category I and II programs at Atlanta Technical College will be performing tasks in which there is a normal occurrence for exposure to blood, other potentially infectious body materials, and airborne pathogens.
These tasks will be performed in the classroom, laboratory, and clinical activities for each occupational training program/course. Students will be required to present documentation of Hepatitis B and Tuberculosis immunizations as a result of potential occupational exposure. Students should contact their program directors for more information. Policies and procedures regarding blood and airborne pathogens may be reviewed at https://tcsg.edu/tcsgpolicy/tcsg_policy_manual.pdf.
Program Contact Information
Ms.Crystal Miller
Program Coordinator
404.225.4668
cmiller@atlantatech.edu
Program Length and Cost
Minimum Program Length in Semester Terms: 2 Terms
Credit Hours: 20
Estimated Program Cost: $4,098
ATC accepts various forms of financial aid which may be applied to cover cost of tuition and other fees depending on regulations associated with funding. Please contact the financial aid department on campus for resources. Students are responsible for any fees and or cost associated with the following: books, uniforms, shoes, background check, History & Physical/immunization, CPR certification(American Heart Association only), AceMapp or Symplr (depending on clinical site), and certification exam.
Required Courses
General Education Courses
Select one of the following (2 Credits)
Occupational Courses (18 Credits)
The CSSP courses are currently offered daytime only and in consecutive terms. CSSP 1010 is offered first term on campus. CSSP 1020 and CSSP 1022 are offered together in the second term as a hybrid course off campus at the clinical site and web-based assignments. The courses cannot broken up and must be take in sequential order from one term to the following term. For students to progress from CSSP 1010 to CSSP 1020 and CSSP 1022, a minimum grade of C must be achieved in the CSSP 1010.
| ALHS 1090 | Medical Terminology for Allied Health Sciences | 2 |
| CSSP 1010 | Central Sterile Supply Processing Technician | 5 |
| CSSP 1020 | Central Sterile Supply Processing Technician Practicum I | 6 |
| CSSP 1022 | Central Sterile Supply Processing Technician Practicum II | 5 |
Total Credit Hours: 20
Program Outcomes
1. The graduate will be able to prepare, sterilize, install, or clean laboratory or healthcare equipment.
2. The graduate will be able to perform routine laboratory tasks and operate or inspect equipment.
3. The graduate will be able to perform as a member of the healthcare team.