If you’re one of those seeking employment in the healthcare industry, you have come to the right place!
Did you know that one of the easiest jobs to get in this industry is that of a patient care technician?
This article will explain how you can get hired for this position, as far as the requirements are concerned.
If we got you curious, don’t stop reading!
Go to Section:
- The Best Online PCT Classes and Schools
- #1 Molloy University
- #2 Arcadia University
- #3 US Career Institute
- #4 Stepful
- #5 Advanced eClinical
- #6 ProTrain EDU
- #7 Heart to Heart Career Training Center
- #8 Saint Francis University
- #9 Americation Career and Training School
- PCT Job Description and Duties
- PCT Job Requirements
- PCT Education and Certification
- Considerations for the Online PCT Training Programs
- Conclusion
The Best Online PCT Classes and Schools
#1 Molloy University
About the School
Molloy University is a private institution dedicated to preparing students for careers in healthcare and other fields.
Their Patient Care Technician program is designed for people interested in building hands‑on healthcare skills that apply directly to roles like phlebotomist, EKG technician, and patient care assistant.
Molloy emphasizes compassionate care and equips learners with knowledge of anatomy, infection control, mobility assistance, and documentation in healthcare.
Courses Offered
The online Patient Care Technician program covers vital sign monitoring, infection control, mobility support, and personal hygiene assistance.
Students also learn medical terminology, body system anatomy, and how to support patients with daily living activities.
Graduates are prepared to take national certification exams such as the Certified Patient Care/Assistant (CPCA) or Clinical Medical Assistant (CMAC).
Program Cost
The total tuition for the Patient Care Technician certificate is about $4,000.
Molloy offers payment plans with a minimum deposit of around $500 and installment payments that begin after the course starts.
Contact Information
- Address: 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre, NY 11571
- Phone: 516-323-3000
- Website: Visit School Website
#2 Arcadia University
About the School
Arcadia University is known for flexible online certificate programs geared toward adult learners and working professionals.
Its Patient Care Technician certificate focuses on both technical skills and the soft skills needed to support patients and medical teams in a range of healthcare settings.
Courses Offered
Students in the online program study vital signs, personal hygiene support, infection control, human anatomy, and medical terminology.
The curriculum also includes instruction on professionalism, patient safety, and the documentation needed in clinical environments.
Graduates are prepared to pursue national CPCT/A certification.
Program Cost
The tuition for the Patient Care Technician certificate is around $4,000.
Arcadia typically includes a voucher for the certification exam as part of the program cost, and payment plans are available.
Contact Information
- Address: 450 S. Easton Road, Glenside, PA 19038-3295
- Phone: +1 877-272-2342
- Website: Visit School Website
#3 US Career Institute
About the School
US Career Institute offers affordable, self‑paced online training programs in healthcare and other career fields.
Its Patient Care Technician certificate is designed to be accessible and flexible, allowing students to complete the program at their own pace from home while accessing virtual labs and instructor support.
Courses Offered
The curriculum includes medical terminology, anatomy and physiology basics, patient care techniques, and safety regulations.
Students also work through interactive exercises, virtual labs, and career support modules.
Completion prepares learners for the national CPCT/A certification exam administered by the National Healthcareer Association.
Program Cost
When paid in full, the tuition is about $979.
A monthly payment plan is also offered, typically around $69 per month, with additional career support included.
The cost generally includes study materials and exam preparation resources.
Contact Information
- Address: 2001 Lowe St, Fort Collins, CO 80525, United States
- Phone: +1 970-207-4555
- Website: Visit School Website
#4 Stepful
About the School
Stepful provides an online Patient Care Technician program that combines live online classes with job support services.
The focus is on preparing learners to pass the national certification exam and transition into a healthcare role quickly.
Courses Offered
This program runs about 8 weeks, with live sessions several times per week.
Topics include foundational patient care, infection control, vital signs, phlebotomy fundamentals, electrocardiography (EKG), and extensive certification exam preparation.
Career coaching, resume help, and job search support are also included.
Program Cost
Tuition varies based on available grants and payment plans, and many students can reduce costs with financial assistance options provided by Stepful.
There is typically a money‑back guarantee offered within a short trial period.
Contact Information
- Address: 19 Clifford St, Detroit, Michigan, 48226
- Phone: (332) 334-8285
- Website: Visit School Website
#5 Advanced eClinical
About the School
Advanced eClinical offers a self‑paced online Patient Care Technician certification program with a broad curriculum designed for flexible study.
The course includes virtual simulations and instructor support to help students gain confidence before certification testing.
Courses Offered
Students learn medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, patient care procedures, vital signs, EKG basics, phlebotomy techniques, and emergency response skills.
The course prepares learners to take national certification exams such as AMCA or NHA CPCT/A.
Program Cost
Standard tuition for the online Patient Care Technician course is about $3,300 with options to pay in installments.
Some packages include additional tools like a practice kit for basic clinical skills.
Contact Information
- Address: 133 Clarendon St, Boston, Massachusetts, 02117
- Phone: +1 (617) 336-6104
- Website: Visit School Website
#6 ProTrain EDU
About the School
ProTrain EDU is an online career training provider that offers a Patient Care Technician course designed for learners seeking certification preparation.
Their format includes instructor‑led online lessons along with self‑paced study.
Courses Offered
The program includes about 193 hours of training, with both synchronous and online content covering ethical practices, patient interaction, clinical care basics, and exam preparation for the national CPCT/A certification.
Program Cost
Tuition for the live online Patient Care Technician course is approximately $2,499.
This generally includes access to course materials and instruction over the duration of the program.
Contact Information
- Address: 2621 Bradford Grove Place, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606
- Phone: 1.800.371.2963.
- Website: Visit School Website
#7 Heart to Heart Career Training Center
About the School
Heart to Heart Career Training Center offers a hybrid Patient Care Technician training bundle that combines online learning with in‑person labs.
This approach gives students hands‑on experience in addition to remote coursework.
Courses Offered
The bundle includes modules in nurse aide skills, phlebotomy technician, and EKG technician.
Students complete online coursework as well as hands‑on practice, preparing them to take several certification exams, including the national PCTC exam.
Program Cost
The total tuition for the bundled program is about $6,357, with a deposit required to secure enrollment.
This cost covers three separate certifications and associated lab fees.
Contact Information
- Address: 12050 Wake Forest Rd, Suite 104, Williamsburg, VA 23188
- Phone: (757) 229-0919
- Website: Visit School Website
#8 Saint Francis University
About the School
Saint Francis University’s Patient Care Technician program mixes online coursework with practical labs and clinical rotations.
It is aimed at those seeking a strong foundation in allied health skills and prepares students for certification and further healthcare education.
Courses Offered
The curriculum includes medical terminology, phlebotomy, EKG training, anatomy and physiology, and core patient care techniques.
Students complete supervised clinical experiences in real healthcare settings.
Program Cost
Tuition is about $5,000 for the full certificate, and includes books, scrubs, equipment, and certification exam fees.
Clinical requirements such as immunizations and background checks may also apply.
Contact Information
- Address: 132 Franciscan Way, Loretto, PA 15940
- Phone: (814) 472-3100
- Website: Visit School Website
#9 Americation Career and Training School
About the School
Americation Career and Training School offers an instructor‑led Patient Care Technician program that equips students with a variety of healthcare skills.
This program emphasizes preparing learners for multiple certifications.
Courses Offered
Students in this program learn core patient care techniques, phlebotomy, electrocardiography (EKG), and other allied skills.
Completing the course can make graduates eligible for several national certification exams, enhancing job prospects.
Program Cost
The program typically takes about 3 to 4 months with an estimated weekly commitment of around 15 to 20 hours, though exact tuition details are best confirmed directly with the school.
Contact Information
- Address: 24 Commerce St #401, Newark, NJ 07102, United States
- Phone: +1 973-642-4160
- Website: Visit School Website
Schools Summary Table
PCT Job Description and Duties
Patient care technicians are medical personnel spending a lot of time around patients, taking care of them.
These professionals can’t work without being supervised by a nurse or a doctor.
Compared to nurses or doctors, patient care technicians might spend more time around patients.
Their duties include:
- Maintaining the rooms clean
- Helping the patients with their hygiene
- Monitoring the vitals of the patients
- Collecting blood or urine samples
- Taking the samples to the lab
- Escorting the patients to the various places for investigations
- Performing catheter care – where needed
- Talking to the patients’ families
- Feeding patients
- Performing CPR if needed
As one could expect, not all patients have the same needs.
Therefore, these duties will be adapted based on the needs of the patients in the PCT’s care.
PCT Job Requirements
Like any other job, that of a patient care tech also has some requirements to meet.
These prerequisites relate to various aspects, such as the candidate’s knowledge and skills, and not only.
For instance, it’s easy to see that some of the tasks of the job mandate specific medical procedures.
Let’s have a look at the ideal candidate.
She or he will need to:
- Be detail-oriented
- Be registered with the Nurse Registry of the state they work in
- Have a clean criminal record
- Pass a drug test
- Have several certifications
- Be compassionate
- Have physical stamina
- Have very good communication skills
One should expect the prerequisites to change slightly depending on where one applies for a patient care technician position.
PCT Education and Certification
If you want to become a PCT, you might not know that to be recorded in the Nurse Registry, you actually need to be certified for the position.
However, you can’t earn the certification without first undergoing some training or receiving some formal education.
Let’s first learn more about the training or formal education you’ll need.
PCT Classes and Schools
Before anything else, you’ll have to complete and graduate from high school.
However, a GED diploma is also accepted for this field.
The next step is to enroll in a training program designed for certified nurse assistants.
However, there are programs for patient care technicians as well.
An alternative is to enroll in a program for medical assistants.
The majority of the courses must be attended in class.
Students do have the option to sign up for online or hybrid classes as well.
Online Classes for PCTs
It’s important to know that regardless of the type of classes you’ll choose, you’ll still have to attend practice classes in a clinical setting.
The advantage of studying online is that you can take your time to learn the subjects, as some aspects can be more difficult to understand than others.
Many of the schools offering courses that need to be attended in-person offer online schooling as well.
Additionally, many institutions that offer any type of course online will make the coursework mobile-friendly, too.
US Career Institute
One such institution is the US Career Institute that has 40years of experience in distance learning and offers monthly tuition payments.
Additionally, the tuition also includes the fee for the certification exam.
The course offered by this institution has a duration of just 4 months.
You’ll only earn a certificate upon completing the program.
Ultimate Medical Academy
The program offered by the Ultimate Medical Academy has a duration of 12 months.
This academy offers practice hours on its campus in Tampa, FL.
Upon graduation from this program, you’ll earn a diploma instead of a simple certificate.
Midlands Technical College
This college is located in South Carolina, and the class it offers lasts for 9 months.
Unlike other institutions, the Midlands Technical College has specific requirements for those interested in this training program.
These include obtaining at least a “C” in the medical terminology course.
Saint Paul College
Should you choose Saint Paul College in Minnesota, you have the option to earn an Associate’s Degree diploma.
You’ll be studying for 2 years, full-time.
Furthermore, this college is open to accepting everyone applying from across the country.
No matter which school you choose, these will be some of the topics you will learn:
- Medical terms
- Nutrition
- Patient charting 101
- Introduction to anatomy
- Patient cleanliness
- Vital signs
- Patient care
PCT Certifications
Patient care technicians don’t need to become certified.
Doing so will set you apart from other candidates in the eyes of the employers.
Those who seek to earn any type of credential in this field need to pass the Patient Care Technician Certification exam.
This test is offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), though it is organized at various testing centers across each state.
The certification exam has a duration of 1 hour and 50 minutes.
Candidates will have to answer a total of 120 questions, 20 of them being pre-test.
This certification is also available for those who didn’t complete a training program but accumulated 1 year of related experience instead.
Patient care techs will also have to earn some additional certifications.
These credentials might be included in some of the training programs, especially those with in-person attendance.
The extra certifications you might need include:
- CPR
- EKG
- Phlebotomy
While EKG and drawing blood can be learned while working, it’s better to already know these procedures.
This will make you a more efficient employee and allow you to ask for a higher salary, too.
Considerations for the Online PCT Training Programs
Online training programs for PCTs are a great choice for those who want a healthcare-related career but don’t have other options in their state.
These programs are usually cheaper when compared to traditional classes.
While online learning does have many advantages, there are some things one needs to consider before choosing.
For starters, you’ll need to figure out some way of completing the clinical practice hours.
PCTs have a hands-on type of job that can be better learned through practice.
Not all of the online programs offer the additional certifications you might want to obtain, as mentioned above.
Another thing to pay attention to is the accreditation or recognition of the course or school you opt for.
By doing so, you’ll be certain the course is legit and that you won’t spend money in vain.
Meeting some requirements at the time of enrollment into a class is to be expected with all schools, including those offering online education.
You might also want to reach out to former students if possible, to find out a bit more about the school before you sign up.
Conclusion
Patient care technicians complete some tasks that can only be learned through specialized training.
Luckily, for those interested in such a job, training is offered in a handful of different ways.
Depending on the duration of the program, an online program can be cheaper.
It’s also a good option for those who have already been hired in the medical field but require certification for the position.
