7 Best PCT Schools in Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix College is a public community college located near central Phoenix.

Its healthcare short-course division offers one of the most direct Patient Care Technician programs in the city, making it a practical choice for beginners and current healthcare workers who want focused training without completing a full degree.

Students should check the upcoming class schedule before applying because the PCT course is offered intermittently rather than every semester.

Programs Offered

The Patient Care Technician course includes classroom instruction and hands-on laboratory practice.

Students learn basic bedside care, vital signs, personal hygiene, infection control, medical terminology, anatomy, phlebotomy, specimen collection, and EKG administration.

The program includes 120 course-contact hours.

Eligible students may also participate in a 40-hour clinical externship for work-based experience.

Phoenix College notes that this PCT course is different from its Nurse Assisting program and does not automatically provide CNA preparation.

Tuition and Cost

Phoenix College does not publish a current all-inclusive PCT price on its main program page.

A reasonable planning budget is approximately $1,000 to $2,000 for tuition, course fees, books, supplies, screening requirements, and a certification exam.

Students should request the current noncredit course price before enrolling, since ordinary Maricopa Community College tuition rates may not apply to every healthcare short course.

Program Length

The program includes 120 training hours plus an optional 40-hour clinical externship.

Depending on the class schedule, students may finish within one semester.

Accord Healthcare Institute is a private healthcare training school located in Phoenix.

It offers several short programs that cover the major skills commonly associated with Patient Care Technician work, including nursing assistance, phlebotomy, EKG testing, and Basic Life Support.

Accord lists a dedicated PCT program, but the school currently states that the program is not being offered.

Students can still ask whether completing its CNA, phlebotomy, and EKG courses separately would create a suitable PCT training pathway.

Programs Offered

The Certified Nursing Assistant program covers patient safety, infection control, body systems, activities of daily living, and direct care skills.

Separate phlebotomy and electrocardiograph technician programs provide additional training in blood collection, medical terminology, heart anatomy, rhythm recognition, and ECG procedures.

Accord also offers an American Heart Association BLS course.

Tuition and Cost

The CNA program costs approximately $1,500, including tuition and required textbooks.

The school also lists a $300 registration fee, $67 background check, $50 drug screening, $50 TB test, $65 BLS course, $150 state exam attempt, and a $150 supply kit.

Depending on which items are required, the complete CNA cost may reach approximately $2,200 to $2,400.

Phlebotomy and EKG tuition would be additional.

Program Length

Accord does not clearly publish the current CNA, phlebotomy, or EKG schedule online.

Students should ask for the number of classroom, laboratory, and clinical hours and confirm whether day, evening, or weekend classes are available.

GateWay Community College is a public Maricopa Community College with healthcare training facilities in Phoenix.

Its Nurse Assisting program is a good starting point for beginners who want direct patient-care experience and may later add phlebotomy, EKG, or advanced PCT training.

Programs Offered

The NUR158 Nurse Assisting course includes classroom instruction, skills laboratory training, and clinical practice.

Students learn patient hygiene, mobility, infection prevention, vital signs, communication, safety, and other basic nursing-assistant responsibilities.

Students interested in a broader PCT role may later complete a separate Patient Care Technician skills course through another Maricopa college.

Tuition and Cost

The 4.5-credit NUR158 course has estimated tuition of $436.50 for qualifying in-county students.

After adding the course fee, registration, fingerprint clearance card, background check, drug screening, CPR, textbook, uniform, equipment, and possible immunizations, the estimated total is approximately $1,291.50.

Actual expenses can be lower or higher depending on healthcare coverage and immunization needs.

Program Length

The program includes approximately 125 to 134 total hours.

That generally consists of 40 to 42 classroom hours and 85 to 92 laboratory and clinical hours.

Mesa Community College is part of the Maricopa Community College system and is located east of Phoenix.

Its Patient Care Technician Skills course is designed primarily for students who have already completed nurse assistant training.

This is one of the most affordable options for CNAs who want additional hospital skills rather than another complete entry-level program.

Programs Offered

The three-credit NCE221 course covers blood draws, specimen collection, patient observation, EKG electrode placement, suctioning, urinary catheterization, documentation, confidentiality, and legal responsibilities.

Students must hold CNA status, have completed a nurse assistant course or equivalent within the previous year, and receive permission from the program director or instructor.

Tuition and Cost

At the Maricopa County resident rate of $97 per credit, base tuition is approximately $291.

The course also carries a $75 fee, bringing the starting cost to about $366 before registration, books, medical requirements, or supplies.

Program Length

The Fall 2026 section runs from October 20 through December 8, which is approximately seven weeks.

It includes a weekly four-hour classroom session and a three-hour laboratory session.

Elevation Academy School of Nursing is a private training provider in Mesa, about 20 miles east of central Phoenix.

Its Nursing Assistant program is a strong option for beginners who want an all-inclusive price and several scheduling choices.

Programs Offered

The 120-hour Nursing Assistant program includes 80 hours of classroom and skills-lab instruction plus 40 hours of clinical training.

Topics include infection control, activities of daily living, patient feeding, vital signs, resident rights, and hands-on care in a medical facility.

The course is intended to prepare students to pursue Arizona nursing assistant certification.

Tuition and Cost

Tuition is approximately $1,700.

The published price includes textbooks, a skills handbook, CPR and BLS training, a school badge, laboratory supplies, one scrub set, a blood pressure cuff, and a stethoscope.

Students should ask whether fingerprinting, background checks, drug screening, immunizations, and the state certification exam are included.

Program Length

The daytime format takes four weeks, although daytime classes are not always offered.

Evening students can complete the course in six weeks, while the weekend schedule takes approximately eight weeks.

Maricopa Corporate College is the workforce-training division of Maricopa Community Colleges.

Its PCT program is fully online and self-paced, making it useful for Phoenix residents who need flexible training around work or family responsibilities.

Programs Offered

The program includes 20 courses covering anatomy, physiology, patient care, wound care, vital signs, pharmacology basics, phlebotomy, venipuncture, EKG operation, patient rights, ethics, safety, and professional communication.

The price includes vouchers for the NHA Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant, Certified Phlebotomy Technician, and Certified EKG Technician exams.

Students also receive a venipuncture practice kit.

Clinical experience may be needed for certification or employment, but students are responsible for arranging an appropriate externship site.

Tuition and Cost

The total program cost is approximately $3,799.

Eligible unemployed or underemployed Arizona residents may qualify for workforce funding through ARIZONA@WORK, although assistance depends on income requirements and available funding.

Program Length

Students receive 12 months of access and can work at their own pace.

Motivated students may finish earlier, but the school does not guarantee a minimum completion time.

ASU CareerCatalyst offers a fully online PCT course that is available to Phoenix-area students.

It is best for students who want university-branded continuing education and prefer independent online study.

Because the program is online, students should consider how they will obtain hands-on practice or clinical experience before selecting it over an in-person school.

Programs Offered

The course covers direct patient care, medical terminology, anatomy, infection control, phlebotomy, EKG procedures, specimen collection, patient safety, and communication.

The program includes a voucher for the NHA Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant exam for students who meet the certification organization’s eligibility requirements.

Tuition and Cost

The total course cost is approximately $3,495.

Course materials and the certification exam voucher are included, although students may still need to pay separately for a computer, internet access, background screening, BLS certification, scrubs, or clinical experience.

Program Length

The program contains approximately 325 course hours and provides up to 12 months for completion.

Training is fully online and self-paced.