Patient Care Technician (Voucher Included)

Patient care technicians (PCTs) are crucial healthcare professionals who play a vital role in assisting nurses and other medical staff in providing care to patients. With the occupation demand at an all-time high, after successfully completing this patient care technician program and certification exam, you can become a technician primarily focused on direct patient care and support within a hospital, clinic, long-term care facility, or home health care.

This patient care technician...

12 Months / 325 Course Hrs

Open Enrollment

Offered in partnership with your preferred school

Butler Community College

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Learning method

Instructor-led

$2,795

Self-paced. Study on your own schedule

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Details + Objectives

Course code: GES1049

What you will learn

Demonstrate characteristics of a healthcare professional by communicating using proper medical terminology with the interdisciplinary team
Obtain knowledge of the healthcare delivery system and the legal, ethical, and professional standards within the role of the PCT
Gather the knowledge and skills to provide individualized basic nursing care to a diverse population of patients
How to apply problem-solving and critical thinking skills within the PCT scope of practice and in coordination with team members to foster positive patient outcomes
Knowledge needed to pass either the NHA's Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant (CPCT/A) exam or the AMCA's Patient Care Technician (PCTC) certification exam

How you will benefit

Jump-start your career in the medical field by learning how to care for patients in a variety of conditions and healthcare settings
Develop the communication style needed to communicate positively and efficiently with patients, their family members or caregivers, and healthcare team members
Understand how to create positive, efficient experiences for patients to make them more comfortable
Learn your legal and ethical responsibilities for practicing patient care
Obtain a certificate of completion and be prepared to sit for the professional certification that best aligns with your interests and career goals
Your choice of a certifying exam voucher—either for the NHA's Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant (CPCT/A) exam or the AMCA's Patient Care Technician (PCTC) certification exam

How the course is taught

Self-paced, online course
12 Months to complete
Open enrollment, begin anytime
325 course hours

Outline

Medical Terminology

Getting Started
How to Take This Course
Test-Out Exam 1: Lessons 1–Midterm Exam
Introduction to Medical Terminology and the Human Body in Health and Disease
The Musculoskeletal System
The Cardiovascular System
The Lymphatic and Immune Systems
The Respiratory System
The Digestive System
The Urinary System
Midterm
Test-Out Exam 2: Lessons 8–Final Exam
The Nervous System
Special Senses: The Eyes and Ears
The Integumentary System
The Endocrine System
Mental Health
Male and Female Reproductive Systems
Diagnostic Procedures, Nuclear Medicine, and Complementary Medicine
Final Exam

Patient Care Technician

Becoming a Patient Care Technician
Law, Ethics, and Healthcare
Soft Skills in Healthcare
The Art of Communicating
Infection Control and Safety Precautions
Workplace and Patient Safety
Organization of the Human Body
The Chief Complaint, Patient History, and Vital Signs
Preparing for and Assisting with the Complete Physical Examination (CPE)
Pharmacology
Patient Care and Comfort: Part 1
Patient Care and Comfort: Part 2
Patient Surgical Care
Patient Positioning and Bed Mobility
Transfer Techniques and Wheelchair Use
Range of Motion, Gait, and Assistive Devices for Mobility
Restorative Care and Rehabilitation
Phlebotomy
Non-Blood Specimen Collections
Cardiology Procedures and ECGs
Special Care: Pregnancy, Postnatal Care, Pediatrics, and Mental and Emotional Health
Special Care: Older Adults, Chronic Conditions, and Palliative and Postmortem Care
Certification Exam Preparation
Preparing for Your Career

Instructors & Support

Rox Ann Sparks, DNP, MSN, RN, CNE, CMHIMP, LNC

Dr. Rox Ann Sparks is an experienced nurse who has cared for patients and students in nearly every healthcare setting, with 35 years of practice in emergency medicine. Her nursing career has led her from obtaining her CNA, LVN, RN, and MSN to a Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP).

Dr. Sparks has experience in being a floor nurse to a chair of nursing. She has developed many different healthcare programs, from PCT to BSN. She has also consulted in accreditation for nursing programs and presented numerous educational programs from natural health to chronic diseases. These experiences led her to become a Certified Nurse Educator.

Dr. Sparks is currently the CEO of Sparks Nursing Consulting, which helps patients become healthier by coaching them to better health. She works with multiple law firms on the defense of nursing standards. She also developed an RN NCLEX review book and app to use the questions and multiple online courses for nurses and healthcare support staff.

Sandra Isaak, MSN, BSN, RN, FNP-C

Sandra Isaak is an ANCC-certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) who currently works as a nurse practitioner in the emergency room at a local hospital. She has worked in this role for over 14 years, and she has spent the past 16 years teaching theory courses and clinical rotations for Certified Nursing Assistants, LVN to RN, RN, BSN, and MSN students. She has also taught and mentored students as program director of the FNP program at a local private university.

Medical Terminology Instructors

Our medical terminology course section is taught by multiple experienced instructors. See here for a full list of these instructors.

Instructor Interaction: The instructor looks forward to interacting with learners in the online moderated discussion area to share their expertise and answer any questions you may have on the course content.

Requirements

Prerequisites:

There are no prerequisites to take this course.

Certification Requirements:

Possess a high school diploma or GED/high school equivalency and must have completed a patient care technician training or education program.

Disclaimer: Training and certification requirements for patient care technicians vary by state, healthcare setting, and employer. Students are responsible for determining the training and certification requirements of employers in the states in which they wish to work.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

Software Requirements:

PC: Windows 10 or later.
Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
Microsoft Word Online
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment. The following digital textbook will be provided via links in the classroom after enrollment in the Medical Terminology course:

Medical Terminology for Health Professions (eBook)

The following textbook will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment in the Patient Care Technician course:

Fundamental Concepts and Skills for the Patient Care Technician

FAQ

The average patient care technician (PCT) salary in the U.S. is $35,816, according to Salary.com, as of April 24, 2024. The salary range is typically dependent on location and could range between $32,761 and $39,651. Variations in salary could also depend on your education, certifications, additional skills, and the number of years you have worked in the profession.

A patient care technician (PCT) is a professional in the healthcare field who supports nurses, doctors, and other medical staff in caring for patients. Patient care technicians observe, catalog, and communicate patient needs and concerns while reporting any changes in status to the patient's care team. As a patient care technician, you will be responsible for making your patients feel comfortable and cared for, which often requires you to provide emotional support and guidance during their treatment.

As a patient care technician, you will support other healthcare staff, including doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel, in caring for patients. You will play a direct role in caring for patients in various healthcare settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, and long-term care facilities.

Your main role as a patient care technician is to improve patient well-being. You'll communicate what the patient is feeling in addition to their medical status. In short, you'll play a very important role in the healthcare sector.

Some specific duties and responsibilities may include:

Regularly checking and recording patient blood pressure, heart rate, and pulse
Listening to patient concerns, answering questions, and providing guidance
Monitoring conditions and providing updates to other members of the healthcare team
Moving, repositioning, or turning patients as needed
Helping patients dress and use the bathroom
Monitoring patient liquid and food intake
Escorting patients for tests or procedures in other areas of the medical facility

Although completing training and achieving the Patient Care Technician (PCTC) certification from the NHA, or the Patient Care Technician (PCTC) certification through the American Medical Certification Association (AMCA), is sufficient in most states, you should also research individual state requirements for employment as a patient care technician before beginning the program.

There are definitely some similarities between a patient care technician and a certified nursing assistant (CNA) such as caring for a basic needs like bathing, moving, and feeding patients. However, CNAs are limited to providing this basic care under the supervision of a registered nurse or doctor of medicine. As a patient care technician, you will often be able to do additional tasks such as use EKG machines or draw blood in addition to basic care. The laws in your state will dictate the exact level of responsibility you are able to hold in your patient care technician role.

The Patient Care Technician course, which includes medical terminology, is designed to be completed within 12 months.

This first step to becoming a patient care technician (PCT) is earning your high school diploma or equivalent. You will then need to complete a program that will prepare you to earn a PCT certification that fulfills the requirements set forth by your state. After you complete your training courses, it's time to earn your certification by passing exams that are required by your state and/or employer. Finally, it's time to update your resume and apply for and land a patient care technician position.

Yes. You will be prepared for the Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant certification exam offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), and the Patient Care Technician (PCTC) certification exam through American Medical Certification Association (AMCA). (voucher included is for one exam)

Yes. This course includes two, optional, Test-Out Exam features that will allow you to test out of content and graded assessments if your score demonstrates the level of mastery required (80%). It does not count toward your overall score in this course if you do not achieve the minimum score required for mastery. Please note: Third party funded students may not be eligible.

This course is open enrollment, so you can register and start the course whenever you are ready. Access to your course can take 24-48 business hours.

After you register, you will receive 12 months to complete the course. The time allotted for completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours.

The time allotted for course completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours. However, if you are unable to complete the course, contact the student advising team to see what options you may have available to work out a suitable completion date. Please note that an extension fee may be charged.

Our courses are designed to accommodate various learning preferences. Depending on the course structure, you may get different forms of support. Self-paced courses are designed to be user-friendly and independent, minimizing the need for external support. In courses with instructors, our direct platform support feature includes opportunities for questions, discussions, and remediation, with email and phone support available for select courses. Our student advising team is available to guide you on program requirements and administrative requests, but they do not provide assistance with course content. Our goal is to provide you with the necessary support for success, whether it's through self-paced exploration, direct communication, or guidance from our advising team.

Upon successfully passing the final exam, you will be awarded a certificate of completion from the school or organization that you registered through.

ed2go courses will help you gain the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. However, you should always research the job market in your area before enrolling.

ed2go courses are non-credit, so they do not qualify for federal aid, FAFSA, and Pell Grant. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards may provide funding to take our courses. Additionally, you may qualify for financial assistance if you meet certain requirements. Learn more about financial assistance.

If you have questions that are not answered on our website, representatives are available via LIVE chat. You can also call us at 1-877-221-5151 during regular business hours to have your questions promptly answered. If you are visiting us during non-business hours, please send us a question using the "Contact Us."

Patient Care Technician (Voucher Included)

Butler Community College