6 Best PCT Schools in Memphis, TN

Southwest Tennessee Community College is a public community college serving Memphis and Shelby County.

It offers one of the most direct PCT training options in the city through its continuing education and workforce division.

The fully online format is designed for students who need flexibility and want preparation for a national Patient Care Technician certification exam.

Programs Offered

The Patient Care Technician course covers medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, infection prevention, vital signs, patient safety, mobility assistance, personal hygiene, nutrition, wound care, and basic nursing procedures.

Students also receive introductory training in phlebotomy and EKG procedures.

These sections cover blood collection concepts, specimen handling, electrocardiography, electrode placement, and cardiac monitoring basics.

The program prepares students for either the NHA Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant examination or the AMCA Patient Care Technician certification exam. A certification exam voucher is included.

Students should remember that introductory online phlebotomy and EKG instruction may not satisfy employers that specifically require separate certifications or hands-on experience.

Tuition and Cost

The complete online PCT program costs approximately $2,999.

Course materials and a national certification exam voucher are included.

Students may need to budget separately for BLS certification, scrubs, a computer, internet access, background screening, health requirements, and hands-on clinical experience.

Program Length

The program includes approximately 325 course hours.

Students receive up to 12 months to complete the self-paced coursework.

Tennessee College of Applied Technology Memphis is a public technical college offering affordable career education throughout the Memphis area.

TCAT Memphis provides an online Patient Care Technician course as well as separate CNA, phlebotomy, EKG, and Clinical Medical Assistant training options.

Programs Offered

The 325-hour PCT program teaches direct patient care, medical terminology, anatomy, vital signs, infection control, patient mobility, wound care, specimen collection, phlebotomy concepts, and EKG procedures.

Students receive preparation for national PCT certification and an exam voucher.

TCAT Memphis also offers separate online Certified Phlebotomy Technician and Certified EKG Technician courses.

Students who want stronger preparation in those technical areas can complete them separately.

For students who prefer basic bedside-care training first, TCAT’s CNA program provides another route into PCT-related work.

Tuition and Cost

The online Patient Care Technician program costs approximately $3,089.

The separate Certified Phlebotomy Technician package is approximately $2,467, while Clinical Medical Assistant training is about $3,604.

TCAT’s campus-based CNA program is considerably less expensive.

A reasonable total budget for CNA training, including tuition, books, supplies, screening requirements, CPR certification, and testing, is approximately $1,000.

Program Length

The online PCT course includes 325 hours and allows up to 12 months for completion.

The campus CNA program is considerably shorter and can typically be completed within one academic term.

Career Academy Memphis is a private healthcare career school specializing in Certified Nursing Assistant education.

Its short CNA program is a strong starting point for beginners who want hands-on bedside-care experience before adding phlebotomy or EKG training.

No previous healthcare experience is required.

Programs Offered

The CNA program includes classroom education, hands-on skills practice, and clinical training.

Students learn vital signs, patient hygiene, feeding assistance, mobility, transfers, infection prevention, safety, communication, documentation, and activities of daily living.

CPR certification and preparation for the Tennessee nurse aide examination are incorporated into the program.

CNA training alone does not provide a complete PCT skill set.

Students interested in hospital PCT positions may want to add EKG and phlebotomy education afterward.

Tuition and Cost

Tuition for 2026 classes is approximately $1,350.

The price includes textbooks, study materials, a skills practice kit, CPR certification, and state exam registration.

Eligible students may qualify for workforce assistance that can cover the full tuition cost.

Program Length

Daytime CNA classes take four weeks.

Evening classes take approximately six weeks.

The program includes about 120 hours of classroom, laboratory, and clinical education.

The University of Memphis offers healthcare career education through its College of Health Sciences.

Its Medical Assisting program provides a broader alternative for students who want substantial clinical training from a public university.

Although the program is designed for medical assistants rather than traditional PCTs, several of its clinical skills overlap with patient-care technician work.

Programs Offered

Students learn patient intake, vital signs, examination preparation, medication procedures, medical records, laboratory responsibilities, and other clinical and administrative skills.

The program includes clinical skills intensives where students demonstrate hands-on competencies under supervision.

Graduates may be eligible to sit for the NHA Certified Clinical Medical Assistant examination.

The university also offers separate online phlebotomy and EKG courses for students who only need one technical skill.

Tuition and Cost

The complete Medical Assisting program costs approximately $4,500.

This includes tuition, books, and instruction.

A payment plan is available, with a $1,500 initial payment followed by installments during subsequent course blocks.

The program is not eligible for traditional federal financial aid.

Program Length

The program runs across several instructional blocks and generally takes approximately six months.

Students complete online instruction plus required two-to-three-day clinical skills intensives near the end of training.

Phlebotomy Training Specialists operates an in-person training center on Poplar Avenue in Memphis.

Its accelerated phlebotomy course is useful for CNAs and other patient-care workers who want to add hands-on blood-drawing experience.

The program is also open to beginners.

Programs Offered

Training covers venipuncture, anatomy, medical terminology, infection control, specimen collection, patient identification, laboratory safety, and professional communication.

Students spend a substantial portion of the course practicing blood draws under instructor supervision.

A national phlebotomy certification examination is included in the program package.

Phlebotomy training alone is not complete PCT preparation, but it can be particularly useful when combined with CNA experience.

Tuition and Cost

The complete program costs approximately $1,095.

This includes about $505 in tuition, a $100 application fee, $35 textbook, $180 in supplies, and a $125 national certification examination fee.

Program Length

Recent Memphis classes have taken approximately three weeks.

Students typically attend four-hour sessions several days per week.

Concorde Career College is a private healthcare career college with a campus on Poplar Avenue in Memphis.

Its Medical Assistant diploma provides extensive hands-on clinical training and an externship.

The program is considerably longer and more expensive than a short CNA or PCT course, but it covers multiple technical skills in one curriculum.

Programs Offered

Students study anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, patient preparation, vital signs, venipuncture, specimen collection, diagnostic laboratory procedures, EKG testing, infection control, and medical office procedures.

Hands-on laboratory work is followed by an externship where students apply their skills in a healthcare environment.

The program is primarily designed for outpatient medical assisting.

Students interested specifically in hospital PCT jobs should verify whether prospective employers also require CNA certification or previous bedside-care experience.

Tuition and Cost

Concorde provides current Memphis tuition through its admissions department and campus catalog.

Students should expect a private career-college Medical Assistant program to cost well into the five figures.

Applicants should request an itemized estimate covering tuition, books, fees, uniforms, equipment, screening requirements, and certification expenses.

Financial aid may be available to qualifying students.

Program Length

The Memphis Medical Assistant diploma can be completed in approximately nine months.

The curriculum includes classroom education, hands-on laboratory training, and an externship.