ADVANCE YOUR

PATIENT CARE TECHNICIAN

CAREER

Gain the knowledge and skills you need to launch your new career assisting doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals caring for sick and injured patients.

The Patient Care Technician program from Professional Workforce Development sponsored by Southern Adventist University offers you the ideal opportunity to get trained and ready for a fast-growing healthcare career. Overall, healthcare jobs are expected to grow 13% through 2031, and medical support positions like home health and personal care aides are projected to grow even faster, at 25%. And through our Professional Workforce Development programs, you can get qualified for entry-level roles in this field in just six months.

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

CPCT, CET, CPT

CERTIFICATIONS

$4,000.00*

Pay in full

TUITION

NHA Logo

ISSUING AUTHORITY

This program is NOT available to students who plan to work in the state of GA.

*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?

A Patient Care Technician works as support for doctors, nurses, and other medical staff and helps with patient care including both physical and mental health issues. Patient care technicians perform a wide range of duties including, but not limited to, measuring patients’ vital signs and drawing a patient’s blood for tests. Often, if a patient is hospitalized, a patient care technician will help them with their daily activities.

health care worker helping patients

WHERE DOES A PATIENT CARE TECHNICIAN WORK?

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

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

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for nursing assistants and orderlies, which is where Patient Care Technicians are categorized, is $30,290 per year and is projected to grow by 8% over the next ten years. This means that over 118,500 jobs will be created in this field beyond what is currently there and there is a projection of 192,800 other openings per year.

Skills Learned

Upon completion of this certified 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

Certified Nursing Assistant

$23,000 – $35,000
ESTIMATED SALARY

Home Health Aide

$21,000 – $34,000
ESTIMATED SALARY

Personal Care Aide

$24,000 – $67,000
ESTIMATED SALARY

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 Healthcareer Association (NHA) CPCT exam will set you up for success. 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.

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 knowledgable and fully prepared to work as a phlebotomy technician in a clinical environment. 

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 Sallie Mae or 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. 

Download the free brochure below to your HR representative or manager and show them the benefits of gaining additional education!

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
$5,000 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!

Tracey is your Workforce Training Specialist. She is here to help you understand your program of interest, payment options and succeed! Get in touch with Tracey to learn more about your program, Southern Adventist University 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.

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.

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 CERTIFICATE PROGRAM?

Founded in 1892, Southern Adventist University provides a quality, Christ-centered undergraduate and graduate education to approximately 2,700 students each year. Caring professors, hands-on training, and a wide selection of academic options prepare students for success, as demonstrated by our graduates’ impressive job placement numbers and high median starting salaries. Located in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, Southern’s 1,300-acre campus features nearly 40 miles of hiking and biking trails, a top-notch fitness center, and much more.

VIEW SOUTHERN'S DEGREE PROGRAMS

In addition to our certificate programs, Southern offers traditional college degrees with more than 100 academic options. View Southern’s Degrees

INVESTING IN A SOUTHERN DEGREE

Investing in a college degree is an important decision. Southern’s traditional degrees offer financial aid options for students. Learn about Southern’s Student Finance Options.