Sterile Processing Apprentice

Location: Boston-MA

Site: The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc.

Mass General Brigham relies on a wide range of professionals, including doctors, nurses, business people, tech experts, researchers, and systems analysts to advance our mission. As a not-for-profit, we support patient care, research, teaching, and community service, striving to provide exceptional care. We believe that high-performing teams drive groundbreaking medical discoveries and invite all applicants to join us and experience what it means to be part of Mass General Brigham.

Job Summary Build a career in healthcare while you learn and get paid while you train.

Are you interested in starting a career in healthcare but don't have prior healthcare or sterile processing experience?

The Sterile Processing Apprentice program at Mass General Brigham gives you the opportunity to learn a specialized healthcare profession through a combination of classroom education and paid, hands-on, on-the-job training.

We are looking for interested individuals for Mass General Hospital at 55 Fruit Street and Brigham and Women’s Hospital at 75 Francis Street in Boston, MA.

As an apprentice, you'll earn $22 per hour while you learn and develop your skills. You'll receive classroom instruction and work alongside experienced Sterile Processing professionals to learn how medical instruments and equipment are cleaned, inspected, assembled, sterilized, and prepared for use in patient care.

No previous sterile processing experience is required. We provide the training you need to get started.

How the Training Works: This program combines one day of classroom training with four days of hands-on, on-the-job training each week: Schedule is Monday to Friday 7:00am - 3:30pm • 1 day per week: In-person classroom training at 399 Revolution Drive at Assembly Row, where you'll learn the fundamentals of sterile processing, infection prevention, sterilization, equipment operation, and safety. • 4 days per week: Paid on-the-job training at Mass General Hospital or Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where you'll work alongside experienced Sterile Processing professionals and put what you've learned into practice.

What You'll Learn: Through classroom instruction and supervised on-the-job training, you will: • Learn the fundamentals of sterile processing, infection prevention, and patient safety. • Gain hands-on experience cleaning, inspecting, assembling, and preparing surgical instruments and medical devices. • Learn how sterilization equipment and processes are used, including steam and hydrogen peroxide sterilization. • Develop skills in instrument inspection and quality control. • Learn to identify damaged, incomplete, or improperly processed instruments and escalate concerns appropriately. • Maintain accurate records related to sterilization cycles, equipment, inventory, and quality control. • Work as part of a team to support an efficient sterile processing workflow. • Develop the knowledge and skills needed to pursue CRCST (Certified Registered Central Service Technician) certification.

What We're Looking For: You don't need previous healthcare or sterile processing experience. We're looking for individuals who are: • Interested in building a career in healthcare and sterile processing. • Detail-oriented and committed to accuracy. • Able to follow detailed instructions and established safety procedures. • Reliable, punctual, and willing to learn. • Comfortable working in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment. • Able to communicate effectively and accept feedback. • Willing to learn infection prevention, patient safety, and sterile processing standards. • Able to stand for extended periods and lift or move equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.

Education: High school diploma or equivalent preferred but not required.

Your Career Path: The apprenticeship is designed to build the foundational skills and experience needed to progress into a Sterile Processing Technician I position.

As you develop your skills and experience, you'll have the opportunity to pursue CRCST certification and explore continued career growth within Mass General Brigham.

Why Sterile Processing? Sterile Processing professionals play an essential behind-the-scenes role in healthcare. They help ensure that the instruments and equipment used in patient care are properly cleaned, sterilized, inspected, and ready when needed. If you're looking for a hands-on healthcare career where you can learn new skills, make an impact, and grow — without providing direct patient care — this could be the opportunity for you.

Qualifications

Education: High School Diploma or Equivalent preferred

Can this role accept experience in lieu of a degree? Yes

Licenses and Credentials

Experience: No Experience necessary

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: - Ability to follow detailed instructions with a high level of accuracy when cleaning, inspecting, and assembling medical instruments, while identifying issues (e.g., damaged or incomplete sets) and escalating appropriately. - Capacity to learn and apply sterile processing procedures—including decontamination, sterilization methods, and proper instrument handling—in a structured training environment. - Understanding of, or willingness to learn, infection control standards and patient safety principles. - Ability to work effectively as part of a team, communicate clearly with supervisors and staff, and accept feedback to adjust to changing priorities or processes. - Strong reliability and work habits, including punctuality, responsibility, consistency, and the ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment with defined turnaround expectations.

Additional Job Details (if applicable)

Physical Requirements

Standing Frequently (34-66%)

Walking Frequently (34-66%)

Sitting Occasionally (3-33%)

Lifting Frequently (34-66%) 35lbs+ (w/assisted device)

Carrying Frequently (34-66%) 20lbs - 35lbs

Pushing Occasionally (3-33%)

Pulling Occasionally