Patient Care Technician
Vitals, EKGs, drawing blood, oxygen, and medications, for work in hospitals, rehab, and long-term care.
- Hours300
- Length5 to 6 months
- Cost$4,000
- Exam fee$169
Patient Care Technicians work in hospitals, clinics, rehab centers, assisted living, and nursing homes. You work under a nurse or a doctor, caring for patients and keeping their records.
What you learn
- Basic Anatomy and Physiology
- Phlebotomy and Specimen Collection
- EKG Lead Placement and Basic Interpretation
- Vital Signs and Patient Observation
- Oxygen Administration
- Medication Administration and Application
- Record-Keeping and Patient Documentation
How the program runs
Minimum 300 hours, with hands-on practice and an externship with local healthcare providers. The training is spread over several weeks so you have time to practice.
What it costs
$4,000, plus a $169 exam fee. We do not give out financial aid ourselves, but we do take outside grants, including One-Stop Career Center and NJ Department of Labor funding.
What you need to start
High school diploma or GED.
What people earn
PCTs usually earn between $35,000 and $48,000 a year, or about $17 to $23 an hour. In hospitals, experienced PCTs earn over $52,000. These figures start from the Bureau of Labor Statistics nursing assistant median of $38,200 and account for the wider PCT role.
Where it leads
The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects these jobs to grow 4% over the next ten years. Many PCTs go on to train as practical nurses or registered nurses.
Support while you train
You can talk through your options with us, we help you look for work, and we have staff who speak Spanish.
Paying for it
We do not give out financial aid ourselves. We do take outside grants, including One-Stop Career Center and NJ Department of Labor funding. Bring us what your caseworker gave you and we will show you how to use it.
Our credentials are listed publicly. Verified on Credential Finder.