Advance Your

Patient Care
Technician

Career

INQUIRE TODAY
Ready to begin your career journey or have more questions? Connect with a Workforce Training Specialist today!
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24 Weeks

PROGRAM LENGTH

$4,000.00*

Pay In Full

TUITION

*You can pay as little as $262 per month. For full payment options and different financing plans, including interest rates from external lenders, please talk to our enrollment team.

What Does A Patient Care Technician Do?

The role of a Patient Care Technician is to work with doctors, nurses, and health care professionals to give primary care to patients. They work on the front lines of patient care and help with essential daily care for some patients. 

Patient Care Technicians have multiple different responsibilities ranging from basic care tasks to medical tasks. These tasks could include bathing, feeding, taking vital signs for patients, and more. Patient Care Technicians’ most significant duties are providing emotional support to families and patients and helping with communication regarding the patient’s needs.

healthcare worker taking care of patient

Where Does A Patient Care Technician Work?

Patient Care Technicians work alongside other healthcare professionals in hospitals, physicians’ offices, nursing homes, assisted living communities and long-term care facilities. 

female healthcare worker taking care of female patient

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED

Web browser with internet connection

Course registration & payment

Training Materials Provided

Expert-led video based training

eBook: Phlebotomy Worktext and Procedures Manual

eBook: Electrocardiography for the Healthcare Professional

eBook: Fundamental Concepts and Skills for the Patient Care Technician

Competency assessments

National Certification exam fee

PATIENT CARE TECHNICIAN

Outcomes

Patient Care Technicians, nursing assistants, and orderlies (healthcare professionals that give basic care to patients and assist with daily living activities) are under the same umbrella according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). By 2020-2030, the jobs placed in this category are expected to grow by about 8%. 

In 2020, the median annual wage of those in this professional group was $30,830, reports the BLS. However, salaries may vary depending on geographical location, years of experience, and the type of facility.

Skills Learned

Upon completion of this Patient Care Technician program you’ll learn a number of skills, including:

  • Knowing medical terminology, disease processes, anatomy and physiology
  • Understanding the responsibilities of basic patient care — bathing, feeding, catheter care, etc.
  • Performing safety checks and ensure cleanliness in patient rooms
  • Recognizing the importance of special care, concerns and settings
  • Understanding EKG readings and monitoring vital signs
  • Performing phlebotomy procedures, lab tests, blood glucose tests and exercise/nutrition/diet monitoring
  • Understanding the responsibilities of communication and professionalism
  • Administering medication, assisting with minor procedures and handling laboratory specimens
  • Assisting doctors and nurses with physical examinations

COURSES - 24 WEEKS

Professionalism in Allied Health
Introduction to Human Anatomy and Medical Terminology
Phlebotomy
Electrocardiography
Fundamentals of Patient Care

PROGRAM PREVIEW

PATIENT CARE TECHNICIAN JOB POSSIBILITIES

$23,000 – $35,000
ESTIMATED SALARY

Certified Nursing Assistant
Sterile Processing Tech entering in data in computer for processing.

$21,000 – $34,000
ESTIMATED SALARY

Home Health Aide
Sterile Processing Technician starting sterile machine.

$24,000 – $67,000
ESTIMATED SALARY

Personal Care Aide

CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Upon completion of this program, you’ll have met the training requirements to take the Certified Patient Care Technician (CPCT) exam which is sponsored by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

More and more patients require special care, sometimes around-the-clock and a Certified Patient Care Technician (CPCT) has a diverse range of knowledge and skills vital to that care. Earning your Patient Care Technician credential and passing the National Health career Association (NHA) CPCT exam will set you up for success.

ISSUING AUTHORITY

NHA Logo

CPCT

Certified Patient Care Technician

Earning this certification will ensure that understand and are able to provide basic patient care.

CET

Certified EKG Technician

Earning this national certification demonstrates to future employers that you have mastered the skills and knowledge necessary to work successfully as an EKG technician.

CPT

Certified Phlebotomy Technician

The CPT ensures you are knowledgeable and fully prepared to work as a phlebotomy technician in a clinical environment. 

Disclaimer: Graduates of this program are strongly encouraged to pursue supervised administration of required Phlebotomy and EKG tasks required for certification. These are additional requirements after obtaining employment in the field as a prerequisite to gaining additional certification as a Certified EKG Technician (CET) or a Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) and are not included in this program.

PATIENT CARE TECHNICIAN PAYMENT OPTIONS

In addition to the following payment options, we offer special corporate volume pricing. Visit the Corporate page for details.

Pay in full using any major credit card, PayPal, or Venmo. Select “credit card” as your payment option.

Apply for PayPal Credit and pay zero interest if your balance is paid in full within 6-months. Complete a quick application and you’ll receive a credit decision within seconds.

Pay for your training with an education loan through Meritize.

Complete the course registration process to reserve your seat using one of these options.

 

Many employers have education programs or will pay for continued education! Select “Corporate Invoice” if you need an invoice to process payment through company training tuition assistance/reimbursement plans. 

DO YOU NEED HELP PAYING FOR YOUR CERTIFICATION PROGRAM?​

Many employers offer education assistance programs. Download the brochures to show your employer the benefit of upskilling their employees.

PROGRAM COMPARISONS

PROFESSIONAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT Community College
Program & Tuition Cost
$4,000 average
Up to $20,000
Exam Fees, Books & Materials
Included
Up to $750
Job Ready In
3–6 months
24–48 months
Schedule Flexibility
On-demand 24/7
Set class schedule
Travel Requirements
None: 100% online
On-campus classrooms
Student Support
Personal Advisors: text, call and email access
Professors: scheduled office hours
Career Coaching
Exam-tailor + soft-skill training to build well-rounded careers
Exam-based + prerequisites and electives to meet credit
Content Delivery
3D animations, immersive environments, interactive activities, game-based learning
Professor lectures

MEET YOUR WORKFORCE TRAINING SPECIALIST

April is your Workforce Training Specialist. She is here to help you understand your program of study, payment options, and succeed! Get in touch with her to learn more about your program, Professional Workforce Development, and how to achieve your workforce development goals!

FAQ

​​You can! Many Patient Care Technicians have little to no healthcare experience prior to beginning their training. If you possess a passion for helping others in a healthcare setting, then you’re able to become a Patient Care Technician.

Many Patient Care Technicians work full-time. The schedule varies as health care facilities such as hospitals and assisted living homes are open 24/7. It may be necessary to work weekends, nights and some holidays. The daily schedule of a PCT does vary as the needs of the patient largely dictate what will be done.

Patient Care Technicians should have good communication skills, compassion, patience and physical stamina. If you’re lacking in one or more of these areas, it doesn’t necessarily mean you wouldn’t be a good PCT, and it may be an area you wish to focus on as part of your training.

Many Patient Care Technicians find enjoyment in caring for patients. Healthcare is very social and it affords the opportunity to build lasting bonds with co-workers and patients alike. It is also an environment that is fast-paced with little down time.

Patient Care Technicians and CNAs have very similar job descriptions. They both provide basic patient care such as bathing, feeding, lifting and turning patients, giving catheter care, monitoring vital signs and managing room cleanliness. However, Patient Care Technicians can also perform electrocardiogram readings and perform blood draws and other phlebotomy procedures (as long as they earn the certification). Another difference is CNAs work under the supervision of registered nurses, and Patient Care Technicians do not.

Interested In Another Program?

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Washington Adventist University provides the highest quality training in order to best serve students and surrounding communities. Our specialized career training programs provide up-to-date and in-demand skills, preparation and certification, ensuring that everyone who completes our programs is of the highest caliber.