Richmond has several practical ways to prepare for Patient Care Technician work, from a dedicated PCT certification course to CNA, phlebotomy, EKG, and medical assisting programs.
Students can find options directly in Richmond as well as nearby Henrico, Chester, and Midlothian, with tuition ranging from under $1,000 for accelerated CNA training to more comprehensive college programs.
Patient Care Technicians annual average salary in Virginia is $34,001 - ABOVE U.S. AVERAGE!
#1 Richmond Adult Technical Center
Richmond Adult Technical Center offers one of the most direct options, as students can enroll directly in its Patient Care Technician certification course.
About the Program
The program is designed for beginners and covers a combination of bedside and technical skills commonly associated with PCT positions.
Students study:
- Vital signs
- Basic bedside care
- Patient hygiene and grooming
- Mobility and positioning
- Infection prevention
- Medical terminology
- Anatomy and physiology
- Specimen collection
- Phlebotomy
- EKG procedures
- Intake and output
- Catheter care
- Wound care
- Patient safety
The course is online, so it is particularly convenient for students who need to continue working while training.
Graduates can prepare for the NHA Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant examination.
Job and externship placement services are also available to graduates who meet the background check and drug screening requirements.
Tuition
The complete course costs $1,799.
Payment plans start at approximately $125.93 per month.
Course materials are included in the $1,799 price.
Length
The program is designed to take approximately 4 to 6 months.
Applicants need a high school diploma or GED.
Address: 2015 Seddon Way, Suite 110Richmond, VA 23220
#2 Reynolds Community College
Reynolds Community College offers Nurse Aide training in downtown Richmond through the Community College Workforce Alliance.
For students interested in hospital PCT jobs, earning a CNA credential can be particularly useful because several major Richmond healthcare employers accept CNA training as preparation for PCT positions.
About the Program
The Nurse Aide program is approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing and contains 140 hours of training.
Students spend the first 4 weeks primarily in classroom instruction.
Weeks 5 through 8 emphasize skills training and clinical experience.
Clinical placements can include VCU Health and local nursing facilities.
Classes generally run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Clinical days can begin at 7:00 a.m., so students should consider the daytime commitment before enrolling.
Tuition
The program costs $3,495.
That price includes:
- Instruction
- Textbooks
- 1 NNAAP certification exam attempt
- Background check
- 1 set of scrubs
Students must separately provide items such as closed-toe shoes, an analog watch, TB documentation, and any required seasonal vaccinations.
Length
The course takes 8 weeks and includes 140 total hours.
Address: 1651 E Parham Rd, Richmond, VA 23228, United States
#3 Brightpoint Community College
Brightpoint Community College offers a Nurse Aide/Medication Aide Career Studies Certificate at its Chester campus, which is approximately 20 miles south of downtown Richmond.
About the Program
This is a broader college certificate rather than a short CNA class.
The 16-credit curriculum includes medical terminology, Health Care Technician I and II, medication administration, and a coordinated healthcare internship.
Students first develop CNA-level bedside-care skills such as infection control, vital signs, patient safety, mobility assistance, and personal care.
The program then adds medication administration training and supervised work experience.
Students can become eligible for Virginia CNA certification after completing the appropriate nurse aide courses.
Tuition
Virginia residents pay $181.50 per credit hour in tuition and mandatory fees for fall 2026.
At 16 credits, the basic program cost is approximately $2,904.
Some healthcare courses can carry additional career and technical education fees, so the final bill may be higher.
Students should also budget for books, supplies, clinical requirements, and certification expenses.
The program qualifies for G3 assistance for eligible Virginia students, which can substantially reduce or even eliminate tuition costs.
Length
The complete certificate requires 16 credits and can generally be completed within approximately 2 semesters.
Address: 800 Charter Colony Parkway Midlothian, Virginia 23114-4383
#4 Dominion Health Education Center
Dominion Health Education Center in Henrico offers one of the more flexible CNA programs near Richmond.
About the Program
The program uses a hybrid format. Lecture material is completed online, while skills laboratories and clinical training take place in person.
Students attend skills and clinical sessions on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from approximately 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
The schedule can make Dominion especially useful for students who work during normal business hours.
Training includes patient hygiene, vital signs, infection control, communication, mobility, nutrition, safety, and the other competencies required for Virginia nurse aide certification.
Tuition
The complete CNA program costs $1,400.
Students can enroll with a $350 deposit.
One scrub top is provided.
Students are responsible for scrub pants, appropriate shoes, and required health documentation such as a negative TB test.
Length
The hybrid CNA program takes 9 weeks.
Students complete online coursework along with in-person laboratory and clinical sessions in Richmond.
Address: 4746 Finlay Street, Henrico, Virginia 23231
#5 Family 1st of Virginia
Family 1st of Virginia operates in Henrico and provides one of the fastest and least expensive CNA pathways in the Richmond area.
About the Program
The school offers daytime, evening, and online CNA options.
The daytime program is the fastest, with students attending intensive classes over approximately 4 weeks.
Evening students have a longer schedule of approximately 6 weeks.
The program is approved for Virginia nurse aide preparation, and students can take their CNA state examination at the school’s facility.
Family 1st also offers Personal Care Assistant, Medication Aide, CPR, and other healthcare training.
Tuition
CNA tuition currently starts at $900.
Payment plans are available.
For students who only need Personal Care Assistant training, the 40-hour PCA program costs approximately $300.
Length
The daytime CNA program takes approximately 4 weeks.
Evening training takes approximately 6 weeks, while an online option allows students greater flexibility with the classroom portion.
Address: 1403 Pemberton Road, Suite 306, Henrico (Richmond), VA 23238
#6 Chester Career College
Chester Career College is located south of Richmond and offers several programs relevant to future Patient Care Technicians, including Nurse Aide, Phlebotomy/EKG, and Medical Assistant.
About the Program
The Nurse Aide program contains 140 clock hours divided into:
- 70 classroom hours
- 30 skills and laboratory hours
- 40 clinical hours
Students practice feeding, hygiene, mobility assistance, intake and output measurement, patient observation, and other direct-care duties.
Students who want a stronger hospital-oriented skill set can consider the school’s Phlebotomy/EKG program.
That program includes medical terminology, anatomy, laboratory testing, phlebotomy techniques, EKG interpretation, and a 110-hour externship.
Tuition
The Nurse Aide program costs $1,295.
The Phlebotomy/EKG diploma costs $11,605.
There is also a $25 application fee.
Tuition includes core textbooks, training supplies, and a clinical or externship uniform where applicable.
Length
The CNA course contains 140 hours.
The Phlebotomy/EKG diploma contains approximately 600 clock hours and is available with both daytime and evening schedules.
Address: 751 West Hundred Road, Chester, VA 23836
#7 ECPI University
ECPI University has a Richmond campus offering an Associate of Applied Science in Health Science with a concentration in Medical Assisting.
About the Program
This program is considerably broader than a short PCT certificate and is best suited to students who want both clinical and medical-office skills.
Students receive training in:
- Patient care
- Medical terminology
- Laboratory procedures
- Phlebotomy
- EKG
- Medical office procedures
- Anatomy and physiology
- Medical ethics
Students can become eligible for certifications such as Certified Phlebotomy Technician and EKG Technician after completing the relevant coursework.
Because graduates earn an associate degree rather than only a short-term certificate, this is a much larger educational commitment than the Richmond Adult Technical Center or CNA options.
Tuition
Medical Assisting tuition is $7,848 per semester.
The final program cost depends on the number of semesters completed, transfer credits, financial aid, and other applicable fees.
Length
ECPI’s accelerated format allows students to complete the Medical Assisting associate degree in approximately 15 months of year-round study.
Address: 5555 Greenwich Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23462
Schools Summary Table
Virginia 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% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | 760 | $39,840 | $19.16 | $46,530 | $31,520 |
| Charlottesville, VA | 1,610 | $43,400 | $20.86 | $51,960 | $34,490 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | 540 | $39,370 | $18.93 | $47,120 | $31,370 |
| Lynchburg, VA | 1,300 | $41,540 | $19.97 | $45,860 | $36,480 |
| Richmond, VA | 6,660 | $41,770 | $20.08 | $48,390 | $33,910 |
| Roanoke, VA | 2,430 | $40,190 | $19.32 | $46,370 | $35,280 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | 640 | $40,560 | $19.50 | $46,600 | $35,560 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 8,110 | $40,420 | $19.43 | $47,440 | $31,210 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | 810 | $39,970 | $19.22 | $50,420 | $30,070 |
* Employment conditions may vary by location.
Schools by City in Virginia
