Philadelphia has several routes into Patient Care Technician work, including a dedicated online PCT certificate, nurse aide programs with clinical training, and medical assisting programs that teach phlebotomy and EKG skills.
Local options range from about four weeks to eight months, with current costs starting around $1,600 for CNA training and about $3,000 for comprehensive PCT or clinical medical assistant programs.
Patient Care Technicians annual average salary in Pennsylvania is $34,000 - ABOVE U.S. AVERAGE!
#1 Community College of Philadelphia
Community College of Philadelphia is a public community college with locations throughout the city.
It offers one of Philadelphia’s most direct Patient Care Technician training options through its workforce education division.
Students can choose the online PCT program or begin with the college’s in-person Nurse Aide training if they want more hands-on bedside experience.
Programs Offered
The Patient Care Technician program covers medical terminology, anatomy, vital signs, patient hygiene, infection control, mobility assistance, wound care, specimen collection, phlebotomy, and introductory EKG procedures.
The course prepares students for national PCT certification testing and includes an exam voucher.
CCP’s separate Nurse Aide program provides classroom, laboratory, and clinical instruction in direct patient care.
The college also offers Clinical Medical Assisting and EKG Technician training for students who want additional skills.
Tuition and Cost
The online Patient Care Technician program costs approximately $2,995, including instructional materials and a certification exam voucher.
The in-person Nurse Aide program costs approximately $1,630.
That includes about $1,415 in tuition, an $80 textbook charge, and a $135 credential examination fee.
Program Length
The online PCT program includes approximately 325 hours and provides up to 12 months for completion.
Accelerated Nurse Aide cohorts can be completed in approximately one month, while evening and weekend formats may take three months or longer.
Address: 1700 Spring Garden Street Philadelphia, PA 19130
#2 Philadelphia Academy for Nurse Aide Training
Philadelphia Academy for Nurse Aide Training, commonly called PANAT, is a private career school serving Philadelphia students.
Its CNA course provides substantial classroom, laboratory, and nursing-home clinical training.
The program is a good starting point for beginners who want bedside-care experience before adding phlebotomy or EKG training.
Programs Offered
Students complete 69 hours of theory, 26 hours of laboratory practice, and 40 hours of clinical internship training.
Topics include vital signs, patient hygiene, activities of daily living, health records, infection control, patient safety, communication, and assistance with routine nursing procedures.
CPR training is also incorporated.
Graduates may pursue Pennsylvania nurse aide competency testing after meeting state requirements.
Tuition and Cost
Current 2026 tuition is approximately $1,675.
Students should ask whether uniforms, health screenings, fingerprinting, certification testing, and other required supplies are included in that amount.
Program Length
The complete program contains approximately 135 hours.
Typical daytime cohorts take about six weeks.
Address: 9857 Bustleton Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19115
#3 CareBridge Academy
CareBridge Academy operates CNA training locations in Central Philadelphia and Northeast Philadelphia, along with nearby Darby.
It offers frequent start dates and day, evening, and weekend options.
This is one of the faster choices for beginners who want CNA preparation and hands-on clinical training.
Programs Offered
The CNA curriculum includes basic nursing care, vital signs, patient hygiene, mobility assistance, feeding, infection prevention, communication, patient safety, and activities of daily living.
Students complete classroom instruction, skills practice, and hands-on clinical training.
The course prepares students for Pennsylvania nurse aide competency testing.
Students interested in broader PCT positions should consider adding phlebotomy, EKG, and BLS training afterward.
Tuition and Cost
Total tuition is approximately $1,845.
Students can reserve a seat with a deposit of about $250.
Additional expenses may apply for health records, testing, uniforms, or equipment depending on the current enrollment package.
Program Length
CNA training can be completed in approximately four to five weeks.
New cohorts typically begin every few weeks, and flexible scheduling is available.
Address: 448 N. 10th St., Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19123
#4 Holy Family University
Holy Family University is a private university with a campus in Northeast Philadelphia.
Its Nurse Aide Training Program provides a university-based alternative to private CNA career schools.
The small cohort format may appeal to students who want substantial instructor contact and may eventually pursue nursing education.
Programs Offered
The first half of the program consists of lectures and hands-on laboratory instruction at the university.
Students learn direct patient care, vital signs, personal hygiene, mobility assistance, infection control, safety, communication, and nursing assistant procedures.
The final portion places students at clinical sites throughout Philadelphia and Bucks County for supervised patient-care training.
Tuition and Cost
Tuition is less than $1,800.
The price includes the training program, uniforms, textbooks, and a stethoscope, making additional equipment expenses relatively limited.
Students may still need to pay for background screening, health requirements, or certification testing.
Program Length
The standard Nurse Aide Training Program takes approximately six weeks.
Students spend about three weeks in lectures and laboratories followed by three weeks of hands-on clinical training.
Address: 9801 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19114
#5 Philadelphia Medical Assistant School
Philadelphia Medical Assistant School is a private career training provider offering an accelerated program with extensive hands-on practice.
It is not a traditional CNA or PCT certificate, but its curriculum covers several skills commonly associated with PCT positions.
Programs Offered
Students learn vital signs, patient intake, phlebotomy, EKG procedures, injections, patient preparation, medical histories, and other clinical medical assisting skills.
Training takes place in a medical-office environment, with much of each class devoted to practical exercises rather than lectures alone.
Students interested specifically in hospital-based PCT work should check whether prospective employers also require CNA certification or previous bedside-care experience.
Tuition and Cost
Tuition is approximately $3,490 when paid in full.
Weekly payment plans are available, although using the payment plan can increase the overall cost by approximately $300.
Hands-on clinical training and certification preparation are included.
Program Length
The accelerated Medical Assistant program takes 18 weeks.
Address: 403D Gordon Dr Exton, PA 19341
#6 Pennsylvania Institute of Technology
Pennsylvania Institute of Technology is located in Media, approximately 15 miles southwest of Center City Philadelphia.
Its Clinical Medical Assistant Certificate is one of the more comprehensive nearby options for students who want training that includes multiple PCT-related certifications.
The program is available in hybrid and in-person formats.
Programs Offered
Students learn direct patient care, anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, routine clinical procedures, laboratory testing, phlebotomy, EKG procedures, healthcare ethics, and patient communication.
Hands-on clinical education is included.
The curriculum prepares students for certification opportunities in clinical medical assisting, phlebotomy, EKG technology, and Patient Care Technology.
This makes the program particularly useful for students who want broader training than a short CNA course.
Tuition and Cost
Tuition is approximately $505 per credit, plus applicable course and institutional fees.
Because the final cost depends on the student’s course load and financial aid package, applicants should request a complete program estimate before enrolling.
Books, clinical supplies, uniforms, and certification fees may add to the total.
Financial aid and scholarships may be available to qualifying students.
Program Length
The Clinical Medical Assistant Certificate takes three 11-week terms, or approximately 33 instructional weeks.
Address: 800 Manchester Avenue, Media, PA 19063
Schools Summary Table
Pennsylvania 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% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 4,930 | $41,440 | $19.92 | $46,950 | $36,470 |
| Altoona, PA | 800 | $39,650 | $19.06 | $46,110 | $33,500 |
| Chambersburg, PA | 580 | $43,730 | $21.03 | $52,150 | $35,980 |
| Erie, PA | 1,680 | $38,930 | $18.72 | $44,700 | $35,160 |
| Gettysburg, PA | 370 | $41,490 | $19.95 | $46,870 | $36,640 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | 4,140 | $40,440 | $19.44 | $46,320 | $36,530 |
| Johnstown, PA | 430 | $37,020 | $17.80 | $42,790 | $30,680 |
| Lancaster, PA | 3,200 | $41,820 | $20.11 | $46,950 | $37,130 |
| Lebanon, PA | 670 | $43,670 | $21.00 | $51,410 | $36,460 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 30,390 | $43,100 | $20.72 | $48,970 | $36,420 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 12,390 | $40,820 | $19.62 | $45,940 | $36,650 |
| Reading, PA | 1,870 | $43,170 | $20.75 | $50,150 | $37,420 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | 2,900 | $40,620 | $19.53 | $46,590 | $36,720 |
| State College, PA | 550 | $39,280 | $18.88 | $44,000 | $36,090 |
| Williamsport, PA | 670 | $39,860 | $19.16 | $44,590 | $35,750 |
| York-Hanover, PA | 1,530 | $41,170 | $19.79 | $46,230 | $37,470 |
* Employment conditions may vary by location.
Schools by City in Pennsylvania
