Patient Care Technician
This program will prepare you to work directly with patients in a variety of healthcare settings. Watch our program sneak peek below!
Start
Anytime
100%
Online
Exam Fee
Included
Connect with an Education Consultant Today!
By submitting this form, you are also agreeing to receive marketing communications in the form of text, email and phone call.
Some MedCerts programs are restricted in certain states or regions. Please review our State Restriction page to view what restrictions there may be in your state/region or residence of employment and ensure you are eligible for enrollment.
These restrictions may not apply to students taking programs through an employer, academic or government-sponsored model – including MyCAA and Army, Air Force or Coast Guard.” Credentialing Assistance. To determine eligibility, please confirm with your sponsor or review our military spouse MyCAA-approved or Military Credentialing Assistance-approved programs
Watch our Patient Care Technician Program Sneak Peek!
MedCerts programs are developed with collaboration from our in-house production team, industry-recognized subject matter experts and our education technology design team. From interactive simulations, interviews with real world experts, game based learning and more, our Instructional Design education model is created to meet the needs of every type of learner.
Is Patient Care Technician Training Right For You?
Take the MedCerts Online Career Training Readiness Quiz
This fun, online quiz takes just 3 minutes to complete and provides you with a personalized report to find out if short-term online career training is right for you. The report identifies your strengths and social style, plus the training and positions you’re best suited for.
Patient Care Technician Online Training
MedCerts Tuition Advantage
We believe everyone should have access to higher education. With the option to pay in full, break down payments or utilize government grant funding, we help expand that access.
Monthly Payment Options as low as
$
346
Payment Plans for Every Student
Talk with an Education Consultant to pick the perfect payment plan, from paying in full to installments with interest rates from 0-12%.
Total Tuition
$
4,000
Pay in Full
The total tuition can be paid immediately or through a number of grant-funded or monthly payment plan options.
No Credit Check
MyCAA, Department of Defense Credentialing Assistance/COOL and Workforce Grants
MedCerts offers financial aid options through these government grant-funded programs – MyCAA, Workforce Funding (including WIOA), and Department of Defense Credentialing Assistance or COOL funding for the Army, Air Force and Coast Guard. Those eligible include Military Spouses; active duty Army, Reserves, and National Guard members; active duty Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Air Force National Guard, and US Space Force; active duty Coast Guard and SELRES members (enlisted and officers); or workforce-funded qualifying job seekers. Speak to an Education Consultant to see if you qualify.
What Does a Patient Care Technician Do?
399,654
Entry Level Jobs in the US
All available job and salary information is from Burning Glass Labor Insights and is updated annually to reflect industry changes.
- Understand the responsibilities of basic patient care — bathing, feeding, catheter care, etc.
- Perform safety checks and ensure cleanliness in patient rooms
- Recognize the importance of special care, concerns, and settings
- Understand EKG readings and monitoring vital signs
- Perform phlebotomy procedures, lab tests, blood glucose tests, and exercise/nutrition/diet monitoring
- Demonstrate an understanding of the soft skill expectations of an allied healthcare professional
Enrollment Requirements
- High School Diploma or GED
- Web browser with internet connection
- Course registration & payment
MEDCERTS-COVERED MATERIALS*
- Expert-led video based training
- eBooks: Phlebotomy Worktext and Procedures Manual, Electrocardiography for the Healthcare Professional, and Fundamental Concepts and Skills for the Patient Care Technician
- Competency assessments
- National Certification exam fee
STUDENT SERVICES
- Dedicated Student Success Advisors
- Tailored support based on performance & behavior
- Exam preparation process
- 1 yr. post-program access to Career Center & Career Coaches
CLINICAL REQUIREMENTS
- CPT Certification: 30 venipunctures and 10 capillary sticks on a live person, which must be completed within 90 days of passing the CPT exam.
- CET Certification: 10 live EKGs, which must be completed within 90 days of passing the CET exam.
*The cost of all materials needed for this program are covered by MedCerts. They are not included in the tuition costs and the student is not liable for any costs or fees related to the above materials.
Patient Care Technician
Job Opportunities
Entry-Level
$21,000 – $34,000
Estimated Salary
Career Potential
$23,000 – $35,000
Estimated Salary
Career Potential
$24,000 – $67,000
Estimated Salary
Disclaimers
- This program is approved in CA and WA, but individuals who intend to work in those states should be aware that this program is not approved to prepare students to draw blood.
- While MedCerts training and related target certifications may be accepted and/or approved by your state of residency, employers reserve the right to dictate prerequisite education, experience, or certification/licensure requirements for their positions. We strongly advise students to research target job posts from area employers and relevant state requirements, barriers, or restrictions prior to enrollment to ensure eligibility upon graduation.
FAQs for MedCerts’ Online Patient Care Technician Certification Training Program
A Patient Care Technician supports doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals by providing essential day-to-day care to patients. This includes tasks like bathing and feeding patients, as well as performing clinical duties such as EKGs, drawing blood and assisting with medical procedures. They also play a role in illness prevention, rehabilitation and educating patients and families, making them integral to comprehensive patient care.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment for Patient Care Technicians (PCTs) will increase by 5% from 2021 to 2031. A significant portion of these job openings will arise from the need to replace workers who move to other professions or retire.
The average starting salary for patient care technicians is $34,434. Salaries can vary based on location, experience, and the specific setting in which they work.
To become a Patient Care Technician, you need a high school diploma or equivalent and specialized training through an institution such as MedCerts. Upon completion of the program, you’ll have met the training requirements to sit for the Certified Patient Care Technician (CPCT) exam, sponsored by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
In the Patient Care Technician program, you’ll learn:
- The Responsibilities of Basic Patient Care — Bathing, Feeding, Catheter Care, etc.
- The Importance of Special Care, Concerns and Settings
- EKG Readings and Monitoring Vital Signs
- Phlebotomy Procedures, Lab Tests, Blood Glucose Tests and Exercise/Nutrition/Diet Monitoring
To enroll in the Patient Care Technician program, you will need a high school diploma or GED, a web browser with an internet connection and course registration & payment.
The cost of the program is $4,000. The cost includes all of your materials and certification exam fees for the PCTC examination.
MedCerts offers various payment options for the Patient Care Technician program, including monthly payments as low as $346 or the option to utilize government grant funding.
While MedCerts does not offer financial aid, students may be eligible for options through government grant-funded programs like:
This program is 24 weeks long if completing 15-20 hrs of coursework per week.
MedCerts’ certification programs are fully online and designed for remote learning, allowing students to progress at their own pace. The instructional design incorporates interactive elements, simulations and expert instruction. Required courses for this program include Professionalism in Allied Health, Introduction to Human Anatomy and Medical Terminology, Phlebotomy, Electrocardiography and Fundamentals of Patient Care.
MedCerts includes exam fees and preparation materials in the program cost. The courses are designed to prepare students to take and pass the CPCT, CET and CPT certification exams.
Yes, the program includes exam preparation resources and support to help students successfully pass the Certified Patient Care Technician (PTTC), Certified EKG Technician (CET) and Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) exams. Additionally, MedCerts students are provided access to a Student Success Advisor team, Subject Matter Experts and Career Coaches to assist with exam prep.
The program includes expert-led video training, eBooks and competency assessments. MedCerts-Covered Materials also include exam fee coverage. Students get access to additional services like dedicated advisors and tailored support as well.
Some MedCerts programs are restricted in certain states or regions. Please review our State Restriction page to view what restrictions there may be in your state/region or residence of employment and ensure you are eligible for enrollment.
We’re not institutionally accredited as a training provider, but the certifications you’ll earn in this program are accredited through the exam-issuing authority, the National Healthcareer Association. So while our school itself doesn’t hold accreditation, you’ll earn an accredited certification upon passing your national exam.
There are no clinical requirements for the primary certification Certified Patient Care Technician. Students wishing to sit for the Certified EKG Technician exam will be required to complete a minimum of 10 EKGs on a live person, which must be completed within 90 days of passing the CET exam. Those interested in sitting for the Certified Phlebotomy Technician exam will be required to complete a minimum of 30 venipunctures AND 10 capillary sticks on a live person, which must be completed within 90 days of passing the CPT exam. Certifications are issued once the exam(s) have been passed and clinical requirements have been met.
*All available job and salary information is pulled from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, when possible, or compiled from national reported averages and is updated annually to reflect industry changes.
