Medical Device Reprocessing Technician Certificate

Learn the necessary skills and procedures to proficiently reprocess medical devices. This course covers elements of decontamination, preparation, assembly, sterilization, storage and distribution of instruments and medical devices.

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Campus

  • Kelowna
  • Distance
View schedule and campus details
Legend:
  • Full program offered
  • Partial program offered

Credential

Certificate

Delivery options

Online, Full-Time

Tuition and fees

2023-24: $5,365.97

  • Fees include all mandatory fees: Activity fee, Health & Dental, Student Association fee, Education Technology fee, Development fee.

  • All amounts are approximate and are subject to change.

  • Detailed domestic tuition and fees information

Program details

The 814-hour Medical Device Reprocessing Technician Certificate provides students with the knowledge and practical skills required for a career as a Medical Device Reprocessing Technician (MDRT).
The program includes theory, demonstrations, practical skill training in the classroom, and a 400-hour supervised practicum at accredited facilities. Topics include: decontamination, cleaning, processing, assembly, sterilization, storage, and distribution of surgical instruments and medical devices within a quality assurance framework. Students will learn and demonstrate the handling and packaging of over 100 basic surgical instruments.
Graduates of the Okanagan College Medical Device Reprocessing Technician Certificate are qualified to write the Canadian Standards Association Certified Medical Device Reprocessing Technician Personnel certification exam as well as an international certifying agency exam, the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Material management (IAHCSMM).
Practicum Experiences:

Practicum experiences are an integral component of this program. Locations are throughout the province. Okanagan College will assign the placement. While every effort will be made to accommodate a student's preference for locations of practicum experiences, Okanagan College reserves the right to determine the appropriateness of any placement. All agencies and institutions serving as practicum sites must be approved by Okanagan College. Okanagan College reserves the right to change a student's practicum placement. The student has the right to be informed in writing of the reasons for a change in placement.
Practicum host sites may require students to work all shifts and therefore, students must plan to make the necessary time adjustments with daycare, part-time employment or other commitments.
Students must arrange for their own transportation to and from practicum sites. Travel and accommodation expenses associated with practicum experiences are entirely the student's responsibility. Attendance at practicum sites is mandatory.
A student may be denied a practicum if their preparatory work is deemed unsatisfactory or if their participation in a practicum puts the receiving agency or its clients at unreasonable risk. A student may be required to withdraw from a practicum on the basis of poor performance or poor attendance in a practicum setting, or if the state of her/his health impairs ability to perform competently or poses a potential risk to the practicum host or its clients.
A student may be suspended from a practicum site if her/his behaviour contravenes that of the established code of conduct for the site or if her/his behaviour is deemed to compromise the normal functioning of the practicum site.

  • The booklist can be searched from the bookstore website. Search the term you are entering and choose the Kelowna campus. There are three required textbooks and are approximately $400 for all. 
  • You will need a computer or laptop with a camera, microphone and speakers.   
  • Students are placed in Interior Health Authority (IHA) Regions (Kelowna, Vernon, Penticton, Trail, Kamloops).  If you want a placement outside of these hospitals, please contact the Program Coordinator first.  NOTE: The hospital must be big enough to meet practicum competencies and must be willing to provide you with a training preceptor(s) and supervisor in the department.
  • After you start your program, we reach out to find out where you would like to attend a practicum.  We do our best to place students close to home, but that is not always possible as hospital sites can only take so many students at a time.  Therefore, students must be prepared to move for the 400 hours (approximately 10 weeks).
  • The program will be online for the first three modules for both face to face and online options. There will be an instructor available who will hold regular check in meetings, but you are doing the course work independently online.
  • Courses run Monday to Thursday with some scheduled Friday's.
  • This course is full-time. 
  • Practicum (approximately 10 weeks) will be held at an Interior Health hospital site
Campus Start date Schedule
Kelowna May 21, 2024
Distance Oct. 07, 2024

Live online Lectures held in the am Mon - Thurs (and some Friday's).

Kelowna May 01, 2025

Admission requirements

  • B.C. Secondary school graduation, or equivalent, or 19 years of age and out of secondary school for at least one year as of the first day of classes.
  • English 12 with a minimum of 60% or alternatives.
  • Applicants must have an absence of health problems that affect their ability to lift, stand for long periods or perform repetitive movements. Applicants should also have the absence of allergies to substances on the skin and be able to wear gloves and other PPE for extended periods. A self-declaration form will be provided.

  • Applicants must provide proof that they meet current immunization/vaccination schedules as per health care organization policies/guidelines or have a signed vaccination exemption form (except TB). Details will be provided.
    Applicants are advised that if they are unable to provide proof of immunization or immunity, they may be restricted or even excluded from practice settings based on the Health Facility or Health Authority policies and procedures for non-immunized students.

  • Negative TB skin test or chest x-ray no more than 6 months before the start of the program or adequate follow-up in the case of a positive test.
  • A criminal record check clearance from the B.C. Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General's Criminal Records Review Office. Okanagan College's admission offices will provide applicants with instructions and forms for applicants to submit to the Solicitor General's Office and a deadline for the College to receive the clearance letter. Applicants should only initiate their criminal record check when instructed by Admissions. Failure to submit the letter by the deadline will result in a cancellation of the applicant's admission application.

Program outline

Complete All of the following:
MEDR 110 - Anatomy and Physiology
MEDR 111 - Human Workplace Relations
MEDR 112 - Introduction to Medical Terminology
MEDR 113 - Microbiology and Infection Control Concepts
MEDR 114 - Decontamination Procedures and Recommended Practices
MEDR 115 - Packaging Instruments and Patient Care Equipment
MEDR 116 - Sterilization Concepts and Techniques
MEDR 117 - Quality Assurance and Introduction to Surgical Instrumentation
MEDR 118 - MEDR Workshop
MEDR 119 - Practicum
  • Students must pass the practicum and attain a minimum grade of 70% in all other courses in the program.
Additional information

View the official Calendar details and policies
Learn more about the department
View the Tuition and fees page

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