7 Best PCT Schools in Riverside, CA

Riverside City College is a public community college with a School of Nursing located in central Riverside.

Its Nursing Assistant Training Program is one of the most affordable ways for beginners to obtain direct patient-care training and prepare for California CNA certification.

Students who plan to continue into vocational nursing or registered nursing may also benefit from completing their first healthcare course within a community college system.

Programs Offered

The 5.5-unit Nursing Assistant Training Program includes 60 hours of classroom instruction and 117 hours of laboratory and clinical training.

Students learn vital signs, infection control, patient rights, body mechanics, nutrition, emergency procedures, observation, charting, rehabilitative care, and basic bedside procedures. Clinical placements are located in Riverside and Moreno Valley.

Graduates who meet all program requirements may apply for the California nursing assistant competency examination.

Additional EKG or phlebotomy training may be needed for PCT positions with broader technical duties.

Tuition and Cost

California resident tuition for 5.5 units is approximately $253.

College health, transportation, parking, and student service fees may add another $30 to $110.

Students should also budget for uniforms, books, medical equipment, CPR training, health screenings, background checks, immunizations, and certification testing.

The complete cost may be approximately $800 to $1,500.

Program Length

The program includes 177 total hours.

Students can select an eight-week or 16-week format during the fall or spring semester.

Best American Healthcare University is a private healthcare training provider based in Riverside.

It offers one of the few programs in the area specifically titled Patient Care Technician.

The PCT program is online and self-paced, making it suitable for students who need flexible study hours.

Students are responsible for arranging appropriate hands-on experience or an externship.

Programs Offered

The Patient Care Technician course combines patient-care training with EKG and medical administrative assistant instruction.

Topics include vital signs, patient safety, basic anatomy, infection control, medical terminology, cardiac monitoring, documentation, and communication.

The program includes review materials for three national certification examinations: Patient Care Technician, EKG Technician, and Medical Administrative Assistant.

Exam fees are not included, and certification eligibility depends on the requirements of the testing organization.

Students without previous healthcare education must complete the pre-PCT portion before advancing to the main PCT course.

Tuition and Cost

The pre-PCT course costs approximately $2,499, and the Patient Care Technician portion costs another $2,499.

Students completing both portions should therefore budget about $4,998 before national certification exams, externship costs, supplies, CPR training, or screening requirements.

Program Length

The program is designed to take approximately four months, divided into two months of pre-PCT training and two months of PCT instruction.

Students receive up to 10 months to complete the coursework before a re-enrollment fee may apply.

Mission Career College is a private vocational school with its main campus in Riverside.

It offers separate Nurse Assistant, Phlebotomy Technician, EKG Technician, and Medical Assistant programs, allowing students to build a customized PCT-related training path.

Beginners can start with nursing assistant training, while current CNAs can add phlebotomy and EKG skills.

Programs Offered

The Nurse Assistant program includes 60 hours of theory and laboratory instruction plus 100 hours of supervised clinical training.

Students learn vital signs, infection prevention, patient hygiene, mobility, nutrition, communication, and basic nursing care.

The four-week phlebotomy program covers venipuncture, specimen handling, safety, and at least 40 hours of clinical training.

The EKG Technician course includes 32 hours of heart anatomy, EKG equipment operation, electrode placement, and basic rhythm recognition.

Mission Career College also offers a broader Medical Assistant program with clinical and administrative instruction.

Tuition and Cost

Phlebotomy tuition is approximately $2,035.

Current CNA, EKG, and medical assistant prices are provided during enrollment.

Students should request an itemized quote covering registration, textbooks, scrubs, laboratory supplies, health screenings, fingerprinting, certification exams, and clinical expenses.

A student combining CNA, phlebotomy, and EKG training should expect the total cost to exceed the price of a single short course.

Program Length

The CNA program offers a five-week daytime schedule or a seven-week evening and weekend schedule.

Phlebotomy takes approximately four weeks.

The 32-hour EKG program is completed over two consecutive weekends.

Phlebotomy Training Specialists operates an in-person training center on Central Avenue in Riverside.

It offers separate phlebotomy and EKG courses that may be useful for CNAs, medical assistants, and other healthcare workers adding technical PCT skills.

Previous healthcare experience is not required, but students must generally be at least 18 and have a high school diploma or equivalent.

Programs Offered

The phlebotomy course includes 20 hours of classroom instruction and 20 hours of hands-on blood-drawing practice.

Students study anatomy, medical terminology, venipuncture, specimen procedures, infection control, safety, and patient interaction.

After completing the classroom portion and passing the national examination, students complete a 40-hour externship.

The separate EKG course includes 20 hours of classroom and laboratory training, with practice using electrocardiogram equipment.

Tuition and Cost

The all-inclusive phlebotomy price is approximately $1,995.

This covers registration, tuition, textbook, supplies, equipment, processing, and the national exam fee.

The EKG course costs approximately $995, including tuition and the certification exam. Completing both programs would cost approximately $2,990.

Program Length

Phlebotomy classroom training includes 40 hours and may be completed in one to five weeks, depending on the selected schedule.

A 40-hour externship follows.

The EKG course includes 20 hours of in-person training.

UEI College is a private career college with a Riverside campus. Its Medical Assistant diploma provides broader outpatient clinical training than a short CNA or phlebotomy course.

The program may work well for students who prefer a structured hybrid schedule and want an externship included in their training.

Programs Offered

Students learn vital signs, patient preparation, medical terminology, infection control, specimen collection, clinical procedures, diagnostic testing, medical records, and administrative medical assisting.

The program combines online coursework with in-person laboratory instruction and an externship in a healthcare setting.

This diploma is intended primarily for medical assisting work.

Students interested in inpatient PCT positions should check whether local hospitals require CNA certification, EKG experience, BLS certification, or previous bedside-care experience.

Tuition and Cost

Published tuition is approximately $20,900. Students should verify whether books, scrubs, laboratory supplies, technology, certification exams, health screenings, and background checks are included.

Financial aid may be available to students who qualify.

Program Length

The Medical Assistant diploma includes approximately 810 hours and can be completed in as few as 10 months.

North-West College is a private healthcare career school with a campus on La Sierra Avenue in Riverside.

Its Medical Assistant diploma is designed for students seeking hands-on clinical and administrative training.

Programs Offered

The curriculum is divided into eight instructional modules.

Students learn patient preparation, vital signs, diagnostic equipment, specimen collection, laboratory duties, medical records, infection control, and office procedures.

The program ends with a 144-hour clinical externship where students apply their skills in a healthcare setting.

Medical assisting overlaps with PCT duties but usually focuses more heavily on outpatient clinics.

CNA certification may still be required for hospital-based positions.

Tuition and Cost

Recent published total charges for the Medical Assistant program have been approximately $18,491.

Applicants should obtain a current enrollment agreement showing tuition, registration, books, uniforms, supplies, technology, certification testing, and other required expenses.

Financial aid may be available to qualifying students.

Program Length

The Medical Assistant program takes approximately 40 weeks, or about nine months, including the clinical externship.

American Career College operates an Ontario campus approximately 20 miles northwest of Riverside.

Its Medical Assistant diploma is a nearby option for students willing to commute for a blended program with extensive laboratory and externship training.

Programs Offered

Students study vital signs, patient histories, examination preparation, phlebotomy, injections, EKG procedures, diagnostic testing, laboratory safety, medication procedures, medical records, and office administration.

The blended program combines online coursework with two days of in-person instruction each week.

Weekend classes may also be available.

Students complete a 220-hour externship.

Tuition and Cost

The estimated total program cost is approximately $22,589.

This includes about $19,475 in tuition, $1,940 in fees, and approximately $1,154 for books and supplies.

Additional personal expenses may include transportation, health screenings, background checks, uniforms, and certification costs.

Program Length

The program includes approximately 780 clock hours and takes 36 weeks, or about nine months.