Become a Patient Care Technician
Provide hands-on care and essential support to patients across hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities.
What Is a Patient Care Technician?
Patient Care Technicians (PCTs) play a critical role in supporting patient recovery and comfort. They help patients with mobility, take vital signs, collect lab specimens, assist with EKGs, and provide compassionate care under the supervision of nurses.
PCT roles offer a fast-entry path into healthcare with strong job demand and opportunities to grow into nursing, phlebotomy, or other clinical careers. If you are patient, caring, and want to work directly with people, this path provides highly meaningful work.
Course-to-Career Coaching Included
Get certified faster with our preferred training program. Includes 310 hours of PCT training, 18 SIMTICS virtual labs, AMCA certifications (EKG & Phlebotomy), and dedicated career coaching.
What You'll Learn in Patient Care Technician Training
Core Skills
- Vital signs and patient monitoring
- Phlebotomy and specimen collection
- EKG testing
- Patient mobility and safety
- Infection control
- Basic wound care
- Medical terminology
- Communication and documentation
Safety & Compliance
- Patient safety
- Infection prevention
- Privacy and HIPAA awareness
- Professional ethics
- Basic emergency response
Tools & Technology
- EKG Technician Certification
- Phlebotomy Technician Certification (varies by program)
- BLS Certification
Admissions Requirements for Patient Care Technician Training
Most Patient Care Technician programs have accessible entry requirements designed to help motivated students start their career.
Requirements vary by program and training provider. Career-Bond partners will confirm specific requirements during enrollment.
Certifications for Patient Care Technician
This program prepares you for nationally recognized certifications that employers value.
EKG Technician Certification
NHA
Exam Focus: Core competencies; Safety; Professional practice
Phlebotomy Technician Certification (varies by program)
American Heart Association
Exam Focus: Core competencies; Safety; Professional practice
BLS Certification
allied health credentialing bodies (state-dependent)
Exam Focus: Core competencies; Safety; Professional practice
Certification requirements vary by state and employer. Career-Bond partners will help you understand the requirements in your area.
Patient Care Technician Salary & Job Outlook
Strong demand driven by increased healthcare utilization, aging populations, and expanded need for hands-on patient support across hospitals, long-term care, and outpatient settings
Career Outlook for Patient Care Technician
Work Settings
Hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, rehab centers, outpatient clinics, community health
Advancement Path
Advance to related certifications; specialize in a care setting; progress to supervisory roles with experience and additional training.
What Is the Difference Between a Patient Care Technician and a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)?
TL;DR: Patient Care Technicians have a broader clinical scope that builds on CNA-level care by adding advanced patient monitoring and technical skills, while CNAs focus on foundational bedside support.
Patient Care Technician programs expand beyond basic caregiving to include clinical skills such as EKGs, phlebotomy, blood glucose monitoring, and more advanced patient observation. PCTs often work in hospitals, dialysis centers, and specialty units where technical competence and versatility are required. Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) programs focus on essential bedside care including mobility assistance, hygiene, feeding, and vital signs, most commonly in long-term care or residential settings. Choose PCT if you want wider clinical exposure and flexibility across healthcare settings; choose CNA if you want a faster entry into hands-on caregiving roles centered on daily patient support.
Expanded clinical support with advanced patient monitoring skills
Foundational bedside care and daily living assistance
Certificate programs building on basic caregiving skills
Short-term state-approved CNA training programs
EKGs, phlebotomy, glucose monitoring, advanced patient observation
Mobility assistance, hygiene, feeding, vital signs
Patient Care Technician (PCT) credential depending on program
Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) credential
Hospitals, dialysis centers, specialty units
Long-term care facilities, residential and rehabilitation settings
Frequent hands-on patient interaction with added clinical procedures
Frequent hands-on patient interaction focused on daily support
Patient monitoring equipment, EKG machines, phlebotomy tools
Basic patient care equipment and documentation systems
Broader clinical support roles or pathway to advanced healthcare positions
Advanced caregiving roles or entry point into clinical pathways
Students wanting wider clinical exposure and flexibility
Students seeking fast entry into hands-on caregiving roles
Patient Care Technician
Choose PCT if you want wider clinical exposure and flexibility across healthcare settings.
Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)
Choose CNA if you want a faster entry into hands-on caregiving roles.
Benefits of Patient Care Technician Training
Patient Care Technician Student Reviews
"The program taught me hands-on skills and gave me confidence working right beside nurses."
"Career-Bond matched me with training that led directly to a job on a medical-surgical floor."
"I love helping patients get stronger every day — becoming a PCT changed my life."
Patient Care Technician FAQs
Related Programs
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