Cincinnati has several strong Patient Care Technician training options, including direct PCT certificates, short CNA programs, phlebotomy and EKG courses, and medical assisting programs with hands-on clinical training.
Programs range from a few weeks to about nine months, with costs starting around $675 for basic nurse aide training and reaching several thousand dollars for comprehensive PCT or medical assisting programs.
Patient Care Technicians annual average salary in Ohio is $33,000 - ABOVE U.S. AVERAGE!
#1 Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College is a public college with its main campus in Clifton.
Students can choose between a fully online Patient Care Technician program and campus-based Nurse Aide and Phlebotomy certificates.
The online PCT course is convenient for students who need flexible training, while the campus programs are better suited to students who want hands-on laboratory and clinical experience.
Programs Offered
The online Patient Care Technician program covers direct patient care, medical terminology, anatomy, vital signs, infection control, patient mobility, wound care, phlebotomy fundamentals, and EKG procedures.
The course prepares students for a national Patient Care Technician certification examination and includes an exam voucher.
Cincinnati State’s separate Nurse Aide Training Certificate includes laboratory practice in a simulated patient room followed by clinical training in a long-term care facility.
Graduates can pursue Ohio’s State Tested Nurse Aide examination.
Students can also complete a separate Phlebotomy Technician Certificate.
Tuition and Cost
The online PCT program costs approximately $3,089.
For campus credit programs, Ohio resident tuition is approximately $208 per credit beginning in fall 2026.
Additional expenses can include registration fees, books, scrubs, TB testing, laboratory supplies, health documentation, and certification examinations.
Program Length
The online PCT program is self-paced and provides up to 12 months for completion.
The Nurse Aide certificate requires four college credits and can be completed in one semester.
Address: 3520 Central Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45223
#2 UC Blue Ash College
UC Blue Ash College is a regional campus of the University of Cincinnati located northeast of downtown.
It offers an unusually short Patient Care Technician micro-credential for students who want focused PCT education from a university.
The course may be particularly useful for students who already have some healthcare knowledge or patient-care experience.
Programs Offered
The two-credit PCT micro-credential covers the major skill areas tested on the Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant examination.
Training includes basic patient care, bathing and feeding assistance, catheter care, patient-room safety, vital signs, EKG procedures, phlebotomy, patient communication, and emotional support.
A valid healthcare-provider CPR card is required.
Anatomy and physiology and medical terminology are recommended but are not mandatory prerequisites.
Tuition and Cost
The program requires only two credits.
UC Blue Ash tuition for Ohio residents is roughly $300 to $320 per credit depending on the student’s enrollment cohort, placing base tuition near $600 to $650.
Students should also budget for CPR certification, supplies, and the national certification examination.
Program Length
The PCT micro-credential consists of one two-credit course and can generally be completed during a single academic term.
Address: 9555 Plainfield Rd, Blue Ash, OH 45236, United States
#3 1st Choice Career Centers
1st Choice Career Centers operates a Cincinnati campus on Reading Road.
It offers several accelerated healthcare courses, including Patient Care Technician, State Tested Nurse Aide, phlebotomy, EKG, and Medical Assistant training.
Students can choose a direct PCT program or build their skills through separate courses.
Programs Offered
The Patient Care Technician program includes vital signs, patient monitoring, infection control, phlebotomy fundamentals, EKG fundamentals, basic nursing skills, medical terminology, documentation, and professional communication.
The program uses a hybrid format with online and in-person training.
Students can also take the STNA course first for more extensive bedside-care preparation.
Separate phlebotomy and EKG programs provide additional hands-on technical practice.
Tuition and Cost
PCT tuition starts at approximately $775.
A package including tuition, a uniform, and a book costs about $975.
Adding the national certification examination brings the total to approximately $1,375.
The separate STNA course costs approximately $675 for tuition only or about $1,075 with a uniform, book, and national examination.
Program Length
The PCT program includes approximately 120 hours.
STNA training can be completed in about two to three weeks.
Separate phlebotomy and EKG programs generally take four to six weeks.
Address: 8505 Reading Rd., Suite B, Cincinnati, Ohio 45215.
#4 Larock Healthcare Academy
Larock Healthcare Academy operates its Florence/Cincinnati Academy in Florence, Kentucky, approximately 15 miles south of downtown Cincinnati.
Its Patient Care/Multi-Skilled Technician program is one of the area’s most complete private PCT courses and is designed specifically for students interested in direct patient care.
Programs Offered
Students learn anatomy, medical terminology, infection control, patient safety, activities of daily living, specimen collection, respiratory procedures, cardiac procedures, and rehabilitation-related patient care.
Training prepares students for entry-level PCT responsibilities under the supervision of nurses and other healthcare professionals.
The program also includes preparation for national certification.
Larock separately offers Medical Assistant, Phlebotomy Technician, EKG/Cardiac Monitor Technician, and Blood Lab Specialist programs.
Tuition and Cost
Tuition is approximately $2,865.
A $100 enrollment fee and approximately $400 laboratory fee bring the total program cost to about $3,365.
Electronic textbooks are included.
Program Length
The Patient Care/Multi-Skilled Technician program includes approximately 156 clock hours.
Completion time varies based on daytime or evening scheduling.
Address: 2780 Airport Drive, Ste. 150 Columbus, OH 43219
#5 Great Oaks Adult Education
Great Oaks Adult Education operates healthcare programs at its Scarlet Oaks campus in Cincinnati.
It is a public career-training provider offering both Certified Nurse Aide and Certified Clinical Medical Assistant courses.
The CNA program is especially attractive for students who want a fast and relatively affordable path into bedside patient care.
Programs Offered
The 81-hour Certified Nurse Aide program teaches vital signs, personal care, patient safety, mobility assistance, infection control, communication, and other basic nursing responsibilities.
Training includes hands-on laboratory work and three clinical days.
The course prepares students for Ohio’s nurse aide examination.
Students wanting broader PCT-related skills can consider the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant program, which includes vital signs, phlebotomy, EKG procedures, injections, laboratory work, medical records, and an externship.
Tuition and Cost
CNA tuition is approximately $1,100 and includes books, materials, and testing fees.
The Certified Clinical Medical Assistant program costs approximately $3,614, including the national certification examination.
Program Length
The CNA program takes 13 training days and includes 81 hours.
The Clinical Medical Assistant program includes 140 hours of instruction plus an 80-hour externship.
Address: 303 Scarlet Oaks Dr.Cincinnati, OH 45241
#6 Butler Tech
Butler Tech is a public career and technical education provider serving communities north of Cincinnati.
Adult healthcare programs are offered at locations including the LeSourdsville Campus in Middletown, approximately 30 miles from downtown Cincinnati.
Its Medical Assisting program offers extensive PCT-related clinical skills at a relatively low cost.
Programs Offered
Students learn vital signs, phlebotomy, EKG procedures, patient preparation, medical terminology, laboratory procedures, medical emergencies, pharmacology, electronic health records, and assistance with examinations.
Clinical hours are required, giving students practical experience rather than limiting instruction to the classroom.
Butler Tech also offers separate adult Certified Nurse Aide and phlebotomy programs.
Tuition and Cost
The Medical Assisting program costs approximately $3,682 in total.
About $1,700 is tuition, while approximately $1,982 covers books, supplies, credentialing, CPR testing, and other required expenses.
Program Length
The Medical Assisting program can be completed in approximately four months.
Current classes generally meet three evenings per week.
Address: 3605 Hamilton Middletown Fairfield Township, Ohio 45011
#7 Ross Medical Education Center
Ross Medical Education Center operates a Cincinnati campus on Century Boulevard north of downtown.
Its Medical Assistant program is a longer private-school option for students who want structured classroom instruction, laboratory practice, and an externship.
Programs Offered
Students learn vital signs, phlebotomy, injections, laboratory testing, patient preparation, anatomy, medical terminology, and administrative medical office procedures.
The program focuses primarily on outpatient medical assisting, but many of the clinical skills overlap with PCT work.
Students specifically interested in hospital PCT positions should check whether employers also require STNA certification, BLS, EKG experience, or previous bedside-care experience.
Tuition and Cost
Ross provides individual tuition estimates during the enrollment process rather than displaying one universal Cincinnati program price.
Students should request a complete cost sheet covering tuition, fees, books, uniforms, supplies, certification expenses, and externship requirements.
Financial aid may be available to qualifying students.
Program Length
The Cincinnati Medical Assistant program takes approximately 30 to 36 weeks, including the externship.
Address: 11590 Century Blvd Ste 210, Cincinnati, OH 45246, United States
Schools Summary Table
Ohio 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% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akron, OH | 3,170 | $40,520 | $19.48 | $45,700 | $36,540 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | 2,360 | $39,050 | $18.77 | $44,810 | $34,040 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 11,390 | $41,950 | $20.17 | $47,180 | $37,300 |
| Cleveland, OH | 13,060 | $40,590 | $19.51 | $46,710 | $35,480 |
| Columbus, OH | 10,020 | $42,030 | $20.21 | $47,230 | $37,510 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | 4,970 | $40,740 | $19.59 | $44,940 | $36,430 |
| Lima, OH | 690 | $39,390 | $18.94 | $47,210 | $31,590 |
| Mansfield, OH | 600 | $38,680 | $18.59 | $45,210 | $33,070 |
| Sandusky, OH | 560 | $39,220 | $18.85 | $44,910 | $32,090 |
| Springfield, OH | 720 | $39,240 | $18.87 | $44,970 | $35,570 |
| Toledo, OH | 3,590 | $41,230 | $19.82 | $46,900 | $36,050 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | 2,360 | $37,520 | $18.04 | $43,180 | $34,230 |
* Employment conditions may vary by location.
Schools by City in Ohio
