How to Pass the Certified Patient Care Technician (CPCT) Exam

The role of Certified Patient Care Technicians (CPCTs) is becoming increasingly vital. As hospitals face a shortage of LPNs and a rise in patient hospitalizations, PCTs are stepping up to meet the growing demand and responsibilities.

NHA-Certified Patient Care Technicians are especially equipped to handle these challenges, offering them more job opportunities and responsibilities compared to their non-certified counterparts.

This guide will help navigate you through the process of preparing for and passing the CPCT exam, ensuring you're well-equipped for a rewarding career in patient care.

What Is a Patient Care Technician?

Patient Care Technicians, or PCTs, are indispensable in assisting doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals with essential day-to-day patient care.

Their responsibilities range from basic patient care, like bathing and feeding, to more specialized tasks, such as obtaining EKG readings, performing phlebotomy procedures and providing crucial emotional support to patients and their families.

What Is the Certified Patient Care Technician (CPCT) Exam?

The patient care technician exam is a professional certification test designed for individuals aspiring to work in healthcare as patient care technicians.

This is administered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). It assesses the candidate's knowledge and skills in various aspects of patient care, including:

Medical terminology
Basic patient care responsibilities
Safety checks
EKG readings
Phlebotomy procedures

NHA CPCT Exam Requirements & Eligibility

To be eligible for the patient care certification test, candidates must have a high school diploma or equivalent and be at least 18 years old.

In addition, you must either:

Complete a patient care technician training or education program within the last 5 years plus complete 1 year of supervised work experience in a patient care technician field within the last 3 years, or;
Complete 2 years of supervised work experience in a patient care technician field within the last 5 years.

CPCT Exam Sections and Content

The Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant (CPCT/A) exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions, including 20 pretest questions. Candidates are allotted a time limit of 2 hours to complete the patient care tech exam.

To pass, you’ll need to score at least a 390 (on a scale of 200-500). According to the NHA, the estimated pass rate for the exam is 71.2%.

The CPCT exam covers five domains of topics essential for patient care technicians:

Patient Care - 45%
Compliance, Safety, and Professional Responsibility - 20%
Infection Control - 11%
Phlebotomy - 14%
EKG - 10%

Each domain of the patient care tech exam focuses on critical aspects of patient care and requires specific technical knowledge and practical skills essential for patient care technicians.

Here's a structured breakdown of the Certified Patient Care Technician (CPCT) exam domains, including example tasks and knowledge statements for each. (You can see the full list of CPCT exam sections here).