Brownsville has several solid options for students who want to become Patient Care Technicians or enter healthcare through closely related training such as CNA, medical assisting, phlebotomy, and EKG.
Some programs are located directly in Brownsville, while others are a short drive away in Harlingen, San Benito, Weslaco, and other parts of the Rio Grande Valley.
Here are some of the best PCT and patient-care training options for students in the Brownsville area.
Patient Care Technicians annual average salary in Texas is $33,533 - ABOVE U.S. AVERAGE!
#1 Texas Southmost College
Texas Southmost College is one of the most convenient choices for Brownsville residents because its healthcare training is available right in the city.
The college’s Workforce Training and Continuing Education division offers a Certified Nursing Assistant program designed for students who want to enter direct patient care quickly.
About the Program
The CNA program teaches students how to provide basic care to patients and residents in long-term care settings.
Training covers safety, communication, residents’ rights, observation, reporting, personal care, and working effectively with nurses and other healthcare professionals.
Students complete both classroom instruction and clinical training.
Becoming a CNA can also provide a useful foundation for eventually moving into PCT, nursing, or other allied-health careers.
Tuition
Tuition and additional expenses can change between training sessions.
Students should check with the Workforce Training and Continuing Education department for the current total program cost.
Length
The CNA program can be completed in approximately 6 weeks.
Address: 80 Fort Brown, Brownsville, TX 78520
#2 South Texas Vocational Technical Institute
South Texas Vocational Technical Institute, commonly known as STVT, operates a campus in Brownsville and offers a Medical Clinical Assistant diploma program.
About the Program
The program combines classroom instruction, laboratory work, and practical training.
Students learn skills used in medical offices and other healthcare environments, including patient communication, clinical procedures, medical terminology, basic patient care, and workplace safety.
An externship is included, allowing students to practice their skills in an actual healthcare environment before graduating.
This is a good alternative to a traditional PCT program for students interested in working directly with patients while also developing broader medical-assisting skills.
Tuition
Program tuition varies, and financial aid may be available to students who qualify.
Prospective students should request the current tuition and fee schedule before enrolling.
Length
The Medical Clinical Assistant diploma consists of 60 credit hours and normally takes about 13 months to complete.
Address: 1900 Frontage Rd Suite O, Brownsville, TX 78521, United States
#3 Texas State Technical College
Texas State Technical College has a Harlingen campus that is within commuting distance of Brownsville.
It is particularly notable because it offers an actual Patient Care Technician training program as well as Certified Nursing Assistant training.
About the Program
The PCT program prepares students to perform many of the everyday duties required in hospitals and other healthcare settings.
Students learn to take and record vital signs, assist patients with personal care, collect blood specimens, and perform EKG procedures.
TSTC also offers a separate CNA program in Harlingen.
The CNA course combines classroom and laboratory education with supervised clinical experience.
Students primarily interested in hospital-based patient care may find the PCT option especially relevant.
Tuition
The estimated cost of the PCT program is approximately $2,633.
The CNA program is approximately $1,600, although students should verify current pricing before registering.
Length
The CNA program consists of approximately 100 hours of training.
PCT scheduling can vary depending on the available class session.
Address: 1902 North Loop 499, Harlingen, TX 78550
#4 South Texas Training Center
South Texas Training Center operates a campus in San Benito, making it one of the closest PCT-specific training programs outside Brownsville.
About the Program
The Patient Care Technician program covers basic nursing, anatomy, medical terminology, rehabilitation care, phlebotomy, EKG procedures, and care for patients in different healthcare environments.
Students also complete an externship at local medical facilities.
Graduates can pursue certification in several areas, including Patient Care Technician, Phlebotomy Technician, and ECG Technician.
This broad combination of skills makes the program particularly useful for students who want to qualify for several different entry-level healthcare positions.
Tuition
The PCT program is approximately $13,500, although tuition, financial aid, and payment options should be confirmed directly before enrollment.
Length
The Patient Care Technician program takes approximately 6 months to complete.
Address: 1220 N Malinche Ave Suite B 956-727-4909
#5 Southern Careers Institute
Southern Careers Institute operates a campus in Harlingen and offers a Medical Assistant diploma program that can serve as another pathway into hands-on patient care.
About the Program
Medical assistant students learn both clinical and administrative healthcare skills.
Training may include taking vital signs, assisting with examinations, handling patient information, performing basic clinical procedures, and working with medical office systems.
The program includes substantial hands-on preparation and is designed for students interested in working in physicians’ offices, clinics, and similar healthcare environments.
Tuition
Tuition can vary by enrollment period and schedule.
Students should request the latest program cost and financial-aid information from SCI.
Length
The Medical Assistant program typically takes approximately 8 to 12 months, depending on the student’s schedule.
Address: 935 N. Expressway, Brownsville, TX 78520
#6 Valley Grande Institute
Valley Grande Institute in Weslaco is a healthcare-focused career school offering several programs that are directly relevant to future patient care workers.
About the Program
One of the biggest advantages of Valley Grande Institute is the number of healthcare pathways available. Students can choose from programs including:
Patient Care Technician
- Certified Nursing Assistant
- Medical Assistant
- Phlebotomy-related training
- Vocational Nursing
The CNA program includes classroom and clinical instruction covering vital signs, patient mobility, daily living assistance, safety, and communication with nursing staff.
Students seeking broader training can instead consider the Patient Care Technician program.
Tuition
Tuition depends on the specific program selected.
Financial assistance may be available for qualifying students.
Length
The CNA program can be completed in approximately 6 weeks.
Longer programs such as PCT and Medical Assistant require additional training.
Address: 345 S Texas Blvd, Weslaco, TX 78596
#7 South Texas College
South Texas College is farther from Brownsville than some of the other choices on this list, but its Patient Care Technician program is one of the most comprehensive options in the Rio Grande Valley.
About the Program
The PCT certificate consists of 16 credit hours and combines several valuable patient-care specialties.
Students receive training in nurse aide skills, phlebotomy, electrocardiography, and advanced patient care.
Students can prepare for certifications related to Patient Care Technician, Phlebotomy Technician, and EKG Technician.
The program also includes clinical experience.
South Texas College offers PCT instruction through locations including its Mid-Valley Campus in Weslaco, making the program more accessible to Brownsville students than traveling all the way to the western side of the Valley.
Tuition
As a public college, tuition is generally calculated according to residency status and the number of credit hours taken.
Additional costs may include uniforms, immunizations, background checks, supplies, and certification exams.
Length
The certificate requires 16 credit hours and is designed as a relatively short-term healthcare training pathway.
Address: 3201 W. Pecan Blvd., McAllen, TX 78501
#8 Rio Grande Valley College
Rio Grande Valley College in Pharr is another option for Brownsville-area students willing to travel farther for training.
About the Program
The school offers healthcare programs including Nurse Aide and Medical Assistant training.
Its PCT-related curriculum has also included training in patient care, phlebotomy, EKG, and nurse aide skills.
Students preparing for direct patient-care employment receive hands-on instruction designed around the types of duties performed in hospitals, nursing facilities, clinics, and other healthcare environments.
Tuition
Costs depend on the program and current enrollment period.
Students should compare the total tuition, supplies, certification expenses, and financial-aid options before enrolling.
Length
Healthcare certificate programs vary in length.
PCT training has traditionally taken approximately 7 months, while shorter options such as Nurse Aide can provide a faster route into entry-level healthcare employment.
Address: 5419 North Cage Boulevard, Pharr, TX 78577
Schools Summary Table
Texas 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% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene, TX | 840 | $34,160 | $16.42 | $38,490 | $28,420 |
| Amarillo, TX | 1,080 | $36,270 | $17.44 | $46,990 | $29,820 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 5,920 | $38,850 | $18.68 | $45,360 | $33,190 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 1,060 | $33,420 | $16.07 | $38,000 | $29,340 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | 1,110 | $30,710 | $14.76 | $36,990 | $24,420 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | 780 | $33,990 | $16.34 | $40,290 | $29,620 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 1,450 | $34,990 | $16.82 | $41,600 | $29,860 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 23,280 | $39,100 | $18.80 | $47,420 | $33,480 |
| Eagle Pass, TX | 160 | $30,240 | $14.54 | $35,010 | $24,680 |
| El Paso, TX | 2,200 | $34,140 | $16.41 | $40,370 | $28,420 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 19,510 | $39,040 | $18.77 | $46,160 | $31,360 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | 1,520 | $36,730 | $17.66 | $46,420 | $29,710 |
| Laredo, TX | 590 | $31,380 | $15.09 | $38,150 | $22,990 |
| Longview, TX | 830 | $33,080 | $15.90 | $38,750 | $28,870 |
| Lubbock, TX | 1,380 | $33,320 | $16.02 | $40,300 | $28,740 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | 2,250 | $32,580 | $15.66 | $38,820 | $26,250 |
| Midland, TX | 430 | $38,260 | $18.39 | $46,740 | $31,410 |
| Odessa, TX | 400 | $36,120 | $17.37 | $43,680 | $29,690 |
| San Angelo, TX | 460 | $33,870 | $16.28 | $37,570 | $29,330 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 6,910 | $36,410 | $17.50 | $44,590 | $29,920 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | 570 | $34,200 | $16.44 | $37,560 | $30,030 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | 780 | $32,200 | $15.48 | $39,790 | $23,890 |
| Tyler, TX | 1,480 | $34,430 | $16.55 | $41,300 | $29,620 |
| Victoria, TX | 460 | $33,090 | $15.91 | $40,440 | $27,070 |
| Waco, TX | 1,420 | $36,250 | $17.43 | $43,150 | $29,800 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | 810 | $35,220 | $16.93 | $42,670 | $29,380 |
* Employment conditions may vary by location.
Schools by City in Texas
- Austin, TX7 Schools
- Brownsville, TX8 Schools
- Dallas, TX9 Schools
- El Paso, TX7 Schools
- Fort Worth, TX8 Schools
- Houston, TX6 Schools
- McAllen, TX7 Schools
- San Antonio, TX7 Schools
