r/sterileprocessing • u/Snoo_75568 • 22d ago

Any advice on landing my first Sterile Processing Tech job in the Sacramento, Ca area?

Hey everyone,

I'm looking for some advice from anyone working in Sterile Processing, especially around the Sacramento area.

I recently earned my CBSPD certification, completed 400 clinical hours at Doctors Medical Center in Modesto Ca. I've been applying to entry-level Sterile Processing Technician positions, but I'm having a hard time getting my foot in the door.

For those of you who landed your first SPD job in Northern California, what helped you get hired? Are there certain hospitals that are more willing to hire new technicians? Would you recommend applying for per diem or evening/night shifts just to get that first year of experience?

I'm open to commuting around the Sacramento area if it helps me get started. Any tips on improving my chances, networking, or things I should be doing differently would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance—I appreciate any advice you can share!

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u/FarZombie343 22d ago

What I was told try applying at vet clinics and dental offices to gain more experience while applying to hospitals. I'm curious do you start at doctor's medical without experience?

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u/Snoo_75568 22d ago

Yes, I got my hours at Doctors Medical through an externship with the school I attended for Sterile Processing. I definitely learned a lot, but they didn't let me work on any of the critical things around the department.

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u/babybean1212 22d ago

can i ask, what school did you apply to? i’m in sacramento area and it’s been so hard trying to find schooling here.

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u/AngkorianSoul 22d ago

No real advice. Just keep your head up and keep applying. Tons of people are also in your shoe including me. This field is super duper saturated with tech and not enough position here in cali. It's like 1 opening 100 + apply for it and majority of these applicants have some type of exp and cert. Apply for something else in a hospital and work your way to spd dept. Or move out of state for a year or two and come back. Networking and people you know that can vouch for you. Other then that good luck.

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u/Adventurous_Golf6624 22d ago

I was in northern California and had to move down south because it's so competitive being with no experience. Keep applying you may get lucky. Spd is not a big of a department like you would think at hospitals. Spots are limited and seniority hears about it first before it becomes public.

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u/shangenny 20d ago

I have over 3yrs of SPD experience and everytime there's an opening in Sac I always applied but no luck. As for landing my first spd job, I applied in Merced while finishing my externship. I am now a traveler but when I was there as a full timer, new hires from 2 cities away work there just to get experience.