1. The Foundation Course is a 5-hour workshop with a short 30-minute competency exam at the end. In order to be issued with a SafMed certificate, students must attain at least 80%.

The Foundation Course will cover the following:

• History of Sterile Services
• Standard of Care and Legal Implications
• Infection Prevention
• The Decontamination and Sterilization Process
• The Principles of Cleaning
• Principals of Inspection of Medical Devices
• Principles of Assembly and Packaging
• Steam Sterilization Practice
• Storage and Distribution

2. The Advanced Foundation Course is aimed specifically at managers and supervisors, runs over 2 days, and has a practical component on risk assessment.

The Advanced Foundation Course will cover the following:

• Relevant Legislation
• Health and Safety assessment
• Basic Microbiology
• Sterilization Methods
• Monitoring, Tracking and Recording
• Risk Assessment
• Quality Assurance

3. University Short Basic course in decontamination and sterilization

This is a 5-week course one week is contact teaching. The course provides all levels of SSD workers with a basic understanding of practice and procedure. It serves as an introduction to sterile services and clarifies misconceptions in the workplace. It is highly recommended that senior staff is sent on the course first so that they can train and assist more junior staff.

4. University Short Intermediate course in decontamination and sterilization

This is a 10-week course of which two weeks is contact teaching. It is offered separately or as a module of the Postgraduate Diploma Course in Infection Control. Aimed at a higher level of infection control practitioners, hospital engineers and sterile service staff who have successfully completed the Basic Course in Sterilization and Decontamination, it includes decontamination of heat labile equipment, endoscopes, use of disinfectants, principles of sterilization and validation. A significant component is practical demonstrations and activities.

5. University Short Advanced course in decontamination and sterilization

This is a 10-week course of which two weeks are contact teaching. The module provides an in-depth understanding of equipment, standards, packaging, wrapping and legal aspects of Sterilization and Decontamination.