Boston has several strong routes into Patient Care Technician work, including dedicated CNA/PCT certificates, free workforce training, clinical medical assisting, CNA programs, and phlebotomy training.
Programs range from about seven weeks to two semesters, with costs ranging from completely free for qualifying workforce students to roughly $8,500 for comprehensive private medical assistant training.
Patient Care Technicians annual average salary in Massachusetts is $37,000 - ABOVE U.S. AVERAGE!
#1 Bunker Hill Community College
Bunker Hill Community College is a public community college with campuses in Charlestown and Chelsea.
It offers one of the most direct college-based pathways in Boston through its Certified Nursing Assistant/Patient Care Technician Certificate.
The program is a good fit for beginners who want college credit, substantial hands-on training, and a pathway that can also support future nursing or allied health education.
Programs Offered
Students begin with CNA and Home Health Aide instruction covering basic nursing care, vital signs, patient hygiene, mobility, nutrition, infection control, safety, documentation, and communication.
The Patient Care Technician portion adds more advanced clinical skills.
Students complete laboratory instruction and a specialty internship lasting approximately 168 hours.
BHCC also offers separate workforce certificates in phlebotomy and EKG technology, allowing students to strengthen their technical PCT skills.
The CNA/PCT program is selective, and applicants may need placement testing along with health, background, and clinical documentation.
Tuition and Cost
For Massachusetts residents, BHCC currently charges approximately $289 per credit when tuition and standard course fees are combined.
Because the certificate includes multiple courses plus clinical training, students should plan for approximately $4,000 to $7,000 before financial aid or state assistance.
Books, uniforms, health screenings, CPR or BLS certification, equipment, and certification exams can add another $500 to $1,500.
Program Length
The certificate is designed as a short-term college program and can generally be completed in approximately two semesters.
Address: 250 New Rutherford Avenue, Boston, MA 02129
#2 JVS Boston
JVS Boston is a nonprofit workforce development organization based downtown.
Its Patient Care Technician Training Program is one of the most attractive options for eligible Boston-area students because training is completely free.
The program is designed around direct entry into hospital employment rather than traditional college enrollment.
Programs Offered
The seven-week PCT program focuses on acute-care skills, bedside patient care, basic phlebotomy, and basic EKG procedures.
Students complete approximately 21 hours of acute-care clinical experience.
Training also includes Home Health Aide preparation, CPR, Basic Life Support, and First Aid.
Applicants must generally be at least 18, live in Massachusetts, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, and be authorized to work in the United States.
Participants must also be able to complete full-time training and commit to full-time employment after graduation.
Tuition and Cost
There is no tuition charge for students selected for the program.
This makes JVS one of the lowest-cost PCT options in Boston.
Students should still ask whether they need to purchase scrubs, shoes, transportation, or other employment-related items.
Program Length
The program takes seven weeks and is conducted in person.
Training is intensive and intended to transition successful participants directly into full-time patient-care employment.
Address: 75 Federal St, Boston, MA 02110, United States
#3 Roxbury Community College
Roxbury Community College is a public community college located in Roxbury Crossing.
It offers both Certified Nursing Assistant and Clinical Medical Assistant training through its workforce development division.
These programs provide two different routes toward PCT-related work.
CNA is better for students interested in bedside care, while Clinical Medical Assistant training provides more phlebotomy, EKG, and diagnostic experience.
Programs Offered
The CNA program includes 54 hours of classroom training and 21 hours of clinical experience at a long-term care facility.
Students learn basic nursing principles, medical terminology, documentation, patient rights, dignity, safety, and direct care.
The Clinical Medical Assistant program includes approximately 320 hours.
Training covers patient preparation, venipuncture, EKG procedures, proper lead placement, routine laboratory testing, diagnostic procedures, pharmacology, and healthcare ethics.
Tuition and Cost
Roxbury Community College periodically receives workforce funding that can cover the full cost of selected short-term healthcare programs and may even provide milestone stipends.
When grant funding is unavailable, students should plan for approximately $1,500 to $4,000 depending on the program.
Additional costs may include uniforms, health documentation, certification examinations, and clinical requirements.
Program Length
The CNA program includes 75 total training hours.
The Clinical Medical Assistant program includes approximately 320 hours and is typically completed over several months.
Address: 1234 Columbus Avenue, Roxbury Crossing, MA 02120
#4 Quincy College
Quincy College is a public municipal college located about 10 miles south of downtown Boston.
It offers CNA, Medical Clinical Assistant, and phlebotomy programs that are directly relevant to PCT work.
Students can choose a short CNA course or combine different certificates to build a broader skill set.
Programs Offered
The hybrid Certified Nursing Assistant program teaches direct care, vital signs, infection control, patient hygiene, mobility assistance, communication, and other nursing assistant duties.
The 12-week Medical Clinical Assistant Certificate adds clinical and administrative skills suitable for clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities.
Quincy College also offers an eight-week Phlebotomy Career Training Certificate with hands-on blood collection training and preparation for a national certification exam.
Tuition and Cost
The CNA program costs approximately $1,550 plus navy-blue scrubs.
Phlebotomy training costs approximately $2,500.
Eligible students may receive workforce funding through MassHire.
Students combining CNA and phlebotomy should expect direct tuition costs of about $4,050 before uniforms, health requirements, certification testing, and other expenses.
Program Length
CNA training is offered in an accelerated hybrid format.
The Medical Clinical Assistant Certificate takes 12 weeks, while the Phlebotomy Career Training Certificate takes eight weeks.
Address: 1250 Hancock Street, Quincy, MA 02169
#5 MassBay Community College
MassBay Community College operates campuses west of Boston in Wellesley and Framingham.
It offers CNA, phlebotomy, Medical Assistant, and employer-partner PCT training.
The college is especially worth considering for Massachusetts residents who qualify for the state’s free community college programs.
Programs Offered
The CNA program includes 120 hours, with approximately 80 hours of lecture and laboratory instruction and 40 hours of clinical experience.
MassBay’s Medical Assistant Certificate includes phlebotomy, EKG procedures, injections, vital signs, blood pressure measurement, pharmacology, and laboratory skills. Students also complete a 160-hour clinical capstone.
The Medical Assistant curriculum requires approximately 23 credits over two semesters.
Tuition and Cost
Many Massachusetts residents without a bachelor’s degree may qualify for free community college after completing the required financial aid application.
Students who do not qualify should request a current tuition estimate.
Additional expenses can include uniforms, books, health insurance, immunizations, background screening, laboratory fees, and clinical supplies.
Program Length
The CNA course takes approximately eight weeks.
The Medical Assistant Certificate takes two semesters and includes a 160-hour clinical internship.
Address: 50 Oakland Street, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481
#6 Boston Career Institute
Boston Career Institute is a private healthcare career school with locations in Brookline, Malden, and other Massachusetts communities.
Its Medical Assistant and Phlebotomy programs provide several skills commonly requested for PCT-related jobs.
Programs Offered
The Medical Assistant program combines online instruction with in-person clinical skills practice.
Students learn vital signs, patient preparation, laboratory procedures, specimen collection, medical assisting techniques, and other direct-care skills.
The complete program contains approximately 740 hours, including a 160-hour clinical internship.
Students who already have CNA or patient-care experience can instead consider the shorter Phlebotomy program, which provides 116 hours of blood-drawing and laboratory training.
Tuition and Cost
The 2026 Medical Assistant program has a total institutional cost of approximately $8,500.
This includes about $6,550 in tuition plus books, supplies, a uniform, laboratory charges, and a medical kit.
The Phlebotomy program costs approximately $3,000 in total.
National certification exams are generally paid separately.
Interest-free school payment plans are available.
Program Length
The Medical Assistant program takes approximately 24 weeks of instruction plus its clinical requirements.
The Phlebotomy program includes 116 total training hours and can be completed considerably faster.
Address: 320 Washington St., Brookline, MA 02445
Schools Summary Table
| Rank | School | |
|---|---|---|
| | #1 | Bunker Hill Community College |
| | #2 | JVS Boston |
| | #3 | Roxbury Community College |
| | #4 | Quincy College |
| | #5 | MassBay Community College |
| | #6 | Boston Career Institute |
Massachusetts Salary by Metro Area
This table provides a breakdown of average salaries by metro area, showing how wages differ across regions within the state using recent BLS data.
| Metro Area | Employed | Avg. Annual | Avg. Hourly | Top 10% | Bottom 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | 600 | $43,490 | $20.91 | $48,020 | $36,900 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | 1,000 | $46,430 | $22.32 | $62,020 | $37,740 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 25,870 | $47,280 | $22.73 | $57,520 | $39,080 |
| Pittsfield, MA | 770 | $44,240 | $21.27 | $49,460 | $37,350 |
| Springfield, MA | 2,960 | $43,100 | $20.72 | $49,210 | $37,240 |
| Worcester, MA | 5,490 | $44,760 | $21.52 | $51,630 | $37,490 |
* Employment conditions may vary by location.
Schools by City in Massachusetts
