The Patient Care Technician Roadmap: 23 Weeks to Graduation

If you want to launch your career in healthcare and change lives, a job as a patient care technician could be the perfect fit. So, what is a patient care technician (PCT), and what do they do?

In short, a PCT monitors and cares for patients while under the supervision of doctors, nurses, or other healthcare professionals. This role is ideal for someone who wants to get familiar with clinical care and kickstart their life in the medical field.

Many people work as a PCT while pursuing higher education for other goals, such as becoming a registered nurse. But a PCT role is incredibly rewarding even on its own — and all you’ll need is a 23-week certification to get started.

How to Become a Patient Care Technician

You’ll need to join a certification training program to get certified as a PCT. MedCerts' course can help you get credentialed and land your desired role. An advantage of this program is that it takes less than six months to complete and opens up a world of opportunities in the competitive job market.

This 23-week training helps you master everything you’ll need to know about the clinical duties of a patient care technician. After program completion, you’re able to receive your Certified Patient Care Technician certification from the Nation Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Skills You’ll Learn

Throughout this program, you’ll learn:

• The basics of patient care

• Medical terminology, disease processes, anatomy, and physiology

• How to understand EKG readings and vital sign monitoring

• How to assist with physical exams

• How to handle laboratory specimens, help with minor procedures, and administer medication to patients

• All about phlebotomy procedures, lab tests, blood glucose tests, and exercise/nutrition monitoring

For a complete overview of what you’ll learn during your PCT training, be sure to visit the program page.

Certifications

Here are the certifications you’ll be eligible for after you complete this program:

• Certified Patient Care Technician (CPCT)

• EKG Technician (CET)

• Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT)

• Customer Service Certified (CSC)

Eligible Career Options and Salaries

Getting certified paves the way to a career that involves working closely with patients in various settings. With this program, you could become a:

• Certified nursing assistant: This position involves caring for patients’ basic needs in hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare settings. The estimated salary is $23,000-$35,000.

• Home health aide: In this role, you’ll help people who need extra assistance live independently at home. The estimated salary is $21,000-$34,000 per year.

• Personal care aide: This position often means working inside client households, assisting people with their day-to-day lives. Because of the hands-on nature of this work, your earning potential increases. You can expect salaries ranging from $24,000 to $67,000.

Ready to Kickstart Your Career in Healthcare?

All in all, becoming a patient care technician is an excellent way to learn about clinical duties and set your healthcare career in motion. However, you’ll need to be certified to get started.

Fortunately, our program offers accessible, efficient training so you can get on track to becoming a patient care technician — and doing the work you love — in no time. To learn more about career pathways in the medical field, be sure to check out our full list of online healthcare training programs.