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Patient Care Technician

About Patient Care Technician
A Patient Care Technician can expect to come across several career opportunities due to the increased demand of health care facilities in the US. The primary tasks of a Patient Care Technician may include providing assistance to doctors, nurses and medical experts. They are expected to have advanced knowledge and expertise in areas such as:

  • Basic Patient Care
  • Phlebotomy
  • Sterile dressing changing
  • Glucose Monitoring

Patient Care Technician Courses
To pursue a career in this field, you may need to meet certain educational requirements. A number of universities and schools offer Patient Care Technician programs which can equip you with the following skills:


  • Communicate effectively with patients and other health care professions
  • Carrying out diagnostic procedures
  • Accessing documented patient information
  • Proper body mechanics when positioning patients

These skills can only be learned through the coursework taught at the Patient Care Technician Schools. The commonly taught courses are:

  • Medical terminology
  • Clinical laboratory procedures
  • Patient Care techniques
  • Clinical Medical Assisting
  • Phlebotomy
  • EKG
  • Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation

These courses are meant to provide the students with the basic and advanced medical techniques that are applied in Patient Care. Typically Patient Care Technicians are expected to be excellent at multitasking and communicating with the medical professionals. Practical lab sessions and clinical work can enable the students to work under the direct supervision of registered nurses. The practical knowledge made available to students can largely enhance their analytical and clinical skills. During these courses, you are trained to carry out tasks like catheterization, blood collection and recording vital signs. Interaction with well qualified health professionals broadens your knowledge base and problem solving skills as well.

Several accredited universities and colleges offer online courses to facilitate distance learning and to make Patient Care education more accessible to the aspiring professionals.

Career Prospects
Patient Care Technicians have considerable career prospects in the US. You can benefit from several high-profile career options in areas such as:

  • Rehabilitation Clinics
  • Hospitals
  • Nursing Homes
  • Wound Care Centre
  • Medical laboratories

Specialized training in Patient Care can prepare you to work flexibly in these areas. Employers generally prefer employees with advanced educational credentials, background training and experience. The salaries of patient care technicians can vary in different capacities and work environments. For instance, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) mentions on its website that as of May 2010, psychiatric aides and technicians can earn annual salaries at a median level of $28,710, with the top ten percent lot having salaries upwards of $50,430.

How Long Does It Take to Become a Patient Care Technician?

There are no specific degrees for becoming a Patient Care Technician. However, there are various certifications one can opt for after completing a high school diploma. The certification courses are offered by many institutions in the U.S. For example, the Manhattan Institute’s certificate of Patient Care Technician is 120 hours long that can be completed in 4 to 7 weeks. These certifications can be taken either on campus or online.

What Are the Requirements for Becoming a Patient Care Technician?

To become a Patient Care Technician, you must:

  • Complete a high school diploma
  • Fulfill the state requirements
  • Complete a formal certification from an accredited institution
  • Get clinical experience
  • Clear the Certified Patient Care Technician (CPCT) exam with the National Health-career Association (NHA)

How Much Can I Make After Becoming a Patient Care Technician?

After completing all the requirements and certifications, you can work as a Patient Care Technician (commonly known as Nursing Assistants and Orderlies) in hospitals, clinics and elderly homes etc. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor & Statistics (2018), the annual median income of Nursing Assistants and Orderlies was $28,530.

Frequently Asked Question(s)

Q:What does Patient Care Technician Training Online entail?

A:Online patient care technician training will teach you to effectively communicate and interact with patients of different ages and personalities. You will be able to perform diagnostic procedures to aid doctors in the treatment of the patients and you will also be able to asses the nurses' documentation of a medical patient.

Q:How long does it take to be a patient care technician?

A:Becoming a patient care technician requires meeting certain education and training requirements. In most cases, the whole process may take one year or less. Candidates are required to fulfill degree requirements in patient care by enrolling into a patient care technician school. On-the-job training is also usually required which may be obtained by working under a licensed nurse or nurse aide.

Q:Can I obtain Patient Care Technician degree online?

A:Yes, many different schools offer patient care technician degrees online. If you are interested in pursuing online education, you must go for accredited programs, as they can greatly affect the quality of education you receive as well as your career. You can browse through our website to find out more about patient care technician degrees online.

Q:Can I obtain Patient Care Technician degree online without ever having to go to college?

A:Yes, you can earn a patient care technician degree online. There are a number of online colleges that offer degrees in this field. However, in some cases, you may have to attend a few campus based classes for practical training. It is best that you go through our page or search online too which colleges are currently offering this program, and what the course structure is.

Q:What will I study for patient care technician online programs?

A:Patient care technician programs are generally preferred on site at campuses. Online program may offer the theoretical part online or there may be an arrangement for practical training. You would study human anatomy, medical terminology, diseases and treatments, fundamentals of patient care and management of medical equipment. Taking vitals and blood and carrying out diagnostic processes also comes under this program.

Q:I am planning to enroll in a patient care tech training online course. But I am not sure how will I learn about the tasks and clinical services online. Can you help me?

A:Many students ask the same question when enrolling in online training programs. The coursework is usually divided into theoretical work and practical subjects that can only be studied at the institute. Students learn through video tutorials and online lectures. But for the practical subjects, it is necessary to visit the campus.

Q:How long does it take to be patient care technician?

A:To become a patient care technician, you will have to enroll in a relevant degree program. It is important to remember that you must have a CNA license before you can apply for a PCT program. Many vocational schools offer training programs for this profession. After you have completed the program which may take anywhere from 6 to 12 months to complete, you can apply for a license and pursue your goal as a patient care tech.

Q:What kinds of basic duties are included in a patient care technician job description?

A:A patient care technician is basically a health professional who works alongside doctors, assisting them with patient care. The basic duties that are expected to be performed by patient care technicians include recording health information, collecting samples from patients, assisting patients with mobility issues, checking vital signs of patients, and managing records.

Q:What is Patient Care Technician Training all about and what is its job description?

A:A Patient Care Technician is a professional who is trained specifically in providing special care to patients. Their training is more specific than nursing. These professionals can expect to have several career opportunities open up for them after doing this course since the demand for such professionals has increased dramatically across the U.S. Even though their primary duties include assisting doctors, nurses and medical experts, they are responsible for providing: Basic Patient Care, Phlebotomy services, Sterile dressing changing, and Glucose Monitoring services.

Q:What are the necessary prerequisites of being a patient care technician?

A:Only a good and certified Patient Care Technician School will prepare you for what is to come in your career as a Patient Care Technician. The skills taught in any Patient Care Technician program are: • Ability to Communicate with patients and fellow health care professionals • Trained to perform diagnostic procedures • Accessing documented patient information • Capable of handling body mechanics when positioning patients

Q:What is a patient care technician?

A:A patient care technician is a medical professional who assists physicians and nurses in health institution. They are qualified to perform certain clinical tasks and basic routine measures. They are required to help patients in the following ways: administer medication, monitor and record vital signs, perform emergency procedures if necessary, help patients move around, exercise change etc.

Q:Tell me about patient care technician job description?

A:The job description of a patient care technician depends on the where he/she is hired. However generally patient care technicians look after injured and ill individuals under the supervision of doctors and nurses. They are supposed to take notes and assess the level of care a patient is getting. They may use their experience to pursue more advanced health careers jobs.

Q:I am a BSN wanting to opt for Patient Care Technician certification. Can you tell me something about the course?

A:Patient Care Technician programs range from certifications to degree programs. However, if you want to opt for Patient Care Technician certification, you will get to study four major courses. These are phlebotomy practice, introduction to the patient care technician, EKG techniques and nursing process. On completion of these courses you will get the certification.

Q:What is taught in the course on CPR in patient care technician training in Michigan?

A:CPR is an essential part of patient care technician training in Michigan. CPR or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation guides students on how to respond in cases of emergencies. Students are trained on how to perform basic CPR and essential medical procedure in case of an emergency. After the completion of this course, students are certified in CPR.

Q:What is taught in the online courses for Patient Care Technicians?

A:The online Patient Care Technician programs teach students a bunch of core and elective courses. They qualify students to efficiently carry out tasks such as carrying out diagnostic procedures, communicating efficiently with patients and healthcare professionals, knowing proper body mechanics when positioning patients, analyzing and assessing patient information, and many others.

Q:Which are some of the important areas covered in patient care tech online classes?

A:Students enrolled in online patient care tech classes study a number of different areas throughout the course duration. Some courses require further physical training for which students must attend the training school, while some courses can be learnt online. Important topics included in the PT course are: fundamentals of anatomy course, patient handling course, basic medical technique course, and nutritional elements course.

Q:Why is it important to clear the patient care technician certified exam?

A:The patient care technician exam is also known as the CPCT (Certified patient care technician) and CPT (certified patient technician) exam. It is conducted by a legal accrediting body that is responsible for all licensing and examinations. Individuals must obtain these licenses in order to become professional patient care technicians.

Q:What courses are taught in the Patient Tech programs?

A:Patient Care Technician programs offer a wide variety of courses, which include Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation, Patient Care Techniques, Medical Terminology, Phlebotomy, Clinical laboratory procedures, EKG, and Clinical Medical Assisting. Alongside there courses, students are also required to complete specific number of hours in the clinic for practical exposure to the procedures.

Q:How soon can the online patient care tech programs be completed?

A:The online patient care technician programs offer unlimited flexibility. This means there is no fixed duration of the online degree program. Students plan their online patient care technician degree themselves. Thus, the completion of the program depends on the student's own pace.

Q:Which Patient Care Tech School is considered to be the best?

A:Patient Care Tech Schools need to be accredited with the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) or the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) to. These accredited Patient Care Technician Schools enable you to take the National Certified Patient Care Technician (NCPCT) exam to become a Certified Patient Care Technician.

Q:How long does it take to complete Patient Care Tech Training?

A:Patient Care Tech Training course takes about one year or less to be completed. The exact time duration is dependent upon every institute's own policy. However, if the Patient Care Technician training is pursued online, there is not time limit on the completion of the training. Students can take as long as they wish to complete the training.

Q:From where can I get a Patient Care Tech Degree?

A:You can look for Patient Care Technician Degree at various institutes like Grand Canyon University, Fortis College, Florida Career College, Brookline College, Illinois School of Health Careers and Pittsburgh Technical Institute.

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