How to Become a PCT in Idaho

Are you interested in working in the medical field in Idaho?

If so, you could easily become a patient care tech in this state.

Check out the article below for more info!

Patient Care Technician Job Description and Duties in Idaho

PCTs, or patient care techs, and certified nurse assistants have almost the same job tasks.

But, PCTs don’t need to be supervised, while CNAs require supervision.

Your job duties include aiding the patients, the families, and the rest of the staff.

Your most important job tasks will include:

• Bathing and feeding the patients
• Catheter care
• Maintaining patient rooms clean
• Vital sign monitoring
• Performing phlebotomy procedures
• Talking to the patients’ families
• Escorting patients to various places for further investigations

In Idaho, you have to first register in the Idaho Nurse Aide Registry.

Some facilities require PCTs to complete some additional tasks.

Patient Care Technician Job Requirements in Idaho

Some of the most significant job requirements for PCTs include:

• Having a high school diploma or GED
• Having good communication skills
• Being detail-oriented
• Being compassionate
• Having a clean criminal background
• Being certified
• Having physical stamina

However, you might need additional skills to work as a patient care tech.

You are also required to take a test to be listed in the Registry.

Patient Care Technician Education in Idaho

The Idaho Nurse Registry asks candidates to join training before passing the licensing test.

This is because PCTs work unsupervised while performing some specific job duties.

In Idaho, there’s just one school offering a training program for patient care techs.

You can see this school below.

Most of the time, the program will last for several months or even a full year.

When you finish training, you will be issued a certification, though an Associates’ degree or higher is usually a better option.

Such a degree requires you to attend a program for at least 2 years.

During training, you will take hours of theory mixed with clinical practice.

To join a program, you have to:

• Have a clean criminal record
• Passed a drug screening test
• Passed a TB skin test
• Have the following health immunizations done:
  • MMR
  • Varicella
  • Hepatitis B
  • Flu
  • Tetanus

As a future patient care technician, you have to learn about:

• Providing patient safety
• Providing basic care
• Medical terminology and abbreviations
• Basic infection control procedures and techniques
• The structure and function of body systems
• Identifying and reporting changes in the patient’s condition
• Monitoring and recording bodily functions
• CPR
• First aide techniques
• Drawing blood
• Inserting catheters

Patient Care Technician Certification in Idaho

The license you need in Idaho is for a nursing assistant.

First, you have to finish the program, and then take the exam offered by the National Healthcare Association (NHA).

To take for the NHA test, you have to:

• Be over the age of 18
• Have a high school diploma or GED
• Graduate from a specialized training program
• Pay the exam fee – $149
• Show proof of citizenship or nationality
• Submit a set of fingerprints

NHA asks for 1 year of experience in the industry as an alternative to a training program.

But, a training program could cover the exam fee.

This PCT exam lasts for about 2 hours, during which you need to answer 100 questions.

Before the test, you have to take 20 pre-test questions.

Patient Care Technician Employment and Salary in Idaho

In Idaho, you can get hired in any healthcare facility once you have the required PCT certification.

Such facilities include the following:

• Hospitals,
• Clinics,
• Rehabilitation centers,
• Long term care and assisted living facilities,
• Hospices
• Home care

In Idaho, a PCT has a salary of about $32,000 per year.

Generally, you will have a higher salary if you live in a larger area.

You might also earn more if you have extra credentials and experience in the field.

Average Salary of Patient Care Technicians in Idaho

Idaho Salary by Metro Area

Additional Information for Patient Care Technician in Idaho

You may need some extra career resources.

In that case, have a look at the following:

• Idaho Nurse Aide Registry
• National Health Association