6 Best PCT Schools in New Orleans, LA

Delgado Community College is a public community college with its main City Park Campus in New Orleans.

It offers one of the strongest direct PCT pathways in the city through its workforce development division.

The Certified Patient Care Technician with Certified Nursing Assistant program is particularly useful for beginners because it combines bedside nursing assistant skills with EKG, phlebotomy, and PCT preparation.

Programs Offered

Students learn basic patient care, bathing and feeding assistance, catheter care, patient safety, room preparation, vital signs, EKG procedures, phlebotomy, infection control, mobility assistance, nutrition, and communication.

The CNA portion includes clinical experience and prepares eligible students for Louisiana nurse aide certification.

The PCT component is designed to prepare students for the NHA Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant examination.

American Heart Association Basic Life Support training is also incorporated into the program.

Delgado separately offers an academic Phlebotomy Technician program with supervised clinical training for students who want additional specialization.

Tuition and Cost

Delgado does not currently display a simple all-inclusive price for the combined workforce PCT/CNA program.

Students should plan for approximately $2,000 to $4,000 depending on the current cohort and whether books, uniforms, BLS training, background screening, health requirements, clinical expenses, and certification testing are included.

Program Length

The combined Certified Patient Care Technician with Certified Nursing Assistant program takes approximately 10 weeks.

New Orleans Career Center is a nonprofit workforce training provider located on Kerlerec Street.

Its healthcare programs are unusual because training is provided at no tuition cost to accepted students.

The center works with healthcare employers throughout the New Orleans area and offers programs for both high school students and adult trainees.

Programs Offered

Healthcare training may include Certified Nursing Assistant, medical assisting, and preparation for Patient Care Technician credentials.

Depending on the pathway, students may learn vital signs, medical histories, phlebotomy, EKG procedures, laboratory techniques, injections, electronic health records, patient education, and assistance with examinations and procedures.

Available industry credentials include Basic Life Support, Certified Nursing Assistant, Certified Clinical Medical Assistant, and Patient Care Technician credentials.

Applicants should confirm which certifications are included in the specific cohort they are entering because not every healthcare skill is taught in every pathway.

Tuition and Cost

Healthcare career training is tuition-free for accepted participants.

Applicants may still need to meet background check, health screening, immunization, and other clinical requirements.

The center should be contacted about any personal expenses for uniforms or equipment.

Program Length

Adult healthcare programs range from approximately 14 weeks to 10 months, depending on the selected pathway.

High school programs generally follow a full academic-year schedule.

St. Agatha Career School is a private healthcare training provider located on Lake Forest Boulevard in New Orleans.

It offers one of the city’s shorter dedicated Patient Care Technician programs.

Students can also take Nursing Assistant, EKG Technician, and Phlebotomy Technician courses separately, making the school useful for people who already have some healthcare training.

Programs Offered

The Patient Care Technician course focuses on bedside care and procedures commonly performed in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and long-term care facilities.

Training includes vital signs, basic patient-care responsibilities, emergency room procedures, phlebotomy, and electrocardiography.

Students who prefer to build their training in stages can complete the 84-hour Nursing Assistant course, 92-hour Phlebotomy Technician course, and 60-hour EKG Technician course separately.

CPR courses for healthcare providers are also available.

Tuition and Cost

The school currently lists a $40 application fee and approximately $190 due when starting.

Payment plans are available.

Because the total PCT tuition is not clearly stated in the current course description, students should request a full enrollment quote.

A reasonable planning range is approximately $900 to $1,500 before any outside certification or health-screening expenses.

CPR training costs approximately $75.

Program Length

The dedicated PCT course includes 130 clock hours and takes approximately 10 to 12 weeks.

Nursing Assistant takes four to five weeks, phlebotomy takes nine to 10 weeks, and EKG training takes approximately seven to eight weeks.

Loyola University New Orleans offers a fully online Patient Care Technician course through its professional and continuing studies division.

It is a flexible option for students who want PCT certification preparation from a university without attending scheduled campus classes.

The major tradeoff is that online education provides less direct hands-on patient experience than a campus or hospital-based program.

Programs Offered

Students study medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, patient care, infection control, vital signs, patient safety, phlebotomy, specimen collection, EKG procedures, and professional communication.

The course prepares students for the NHA Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant examination and includes the certification voucher.

Students planning to work in hospitals should check whether employers also expect Louisiana CNA certification, BLS certification, or previous hands-on patient-care experience.

Tuition and Cost

The Patient Care Technician course costs approximately $3,095.

The certification voucher is included.

Additional personal expenses may include BLS training, scrubs, equipment, background screening, and any hands-on clinical experience students arrange separately.

Program Length

The course includes approximately 220 hours of training.

It is self-paced, with students generally receiving up to 12 months to complete the program.

New Orleans Medical Assistant School is a private occupational training provider offering an accelerated Medical Assistant program.

Training takes place in a medical office environment rather than relying entirely on classroom lectures.

Although this is a medical assisting program rather than a dedicated PCT certificate, it covers several important PCT-related technical skills.

Programs Offered

Students practice vital signs, patient intake, phlebotomy, EKG procedures, injections, medical histories, and other hands-on clinical tasks.

The curriculum emphasizes practical training and preparation for a medical assistant certification examination.

Medical assisting typically focuses more on outpatient clinics and physician offices than bedside hospital care.

Students interested specifically in PCT positions should check whether prospective employers require CNA certification.

Tuition and Cost

Tuition is approximately $4,490 when paid in full.

Weekly payment plans starting at about $100 are available, although financing may increase the overall amount paid.

Hands-on clinical training and certification preparation are included in tuition.

Program Length

The Medical Assistant program takes approximately 18 weeks.

Herzing University has a New Orleans-area campus in Metairie, approximately 10 minutes from central New Orleans.

Its Medical Assisting diploma combines flexible online coursework with hands-on clinical laboratory training and an externship.

It is considerably longer than most short PCT courses but provides a broader academic and clinical education.

Programs Offered

The 24-credit diploma covers medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, vital signs, injections, emergency procedures, electrocardiography, specimen collection, hematology, microbiology, patient preparation, and medical office procedures.

Students complete approximately 195 laboratory hours and a 160-hour externship.

The program also includes preparation for a medical assisting certification examination.

Students interested primarily in hospital PCT work should compare the program with a CNA/PCT pathway, since the Herzing diploma is designed around medical assisting.

Tuition and Cost

Base tuition for the 24-credit program is approximately $12,720.

Learner resources and other required university fees can bring the estimated direct cost to around $14,000 to $14,500 before financial aid, depending on the student’s enrollment schedule.

Scholarships, grants, transfer credits, and financial aid may reduce the amount paid by qualifying students.

Program Length

The Medical Assisting diploma takes approximately 10 months when completed full-time.

The curriculum includes about 565 total contact hours, including 195 laboratory hours and a 160-hour externship.