Patient Care Technician
HI 7000

Patient Care Technician

Online Certification Training

This program will prepare you to work directly with patients in a variety of healthcare settings. Watch our program sneak peek below!

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24  Weeks
Program Length
Certifications
$34,434
Avg. Starting Salary*
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Issuing Authority

This program is NOT available to residents of the following states: GA, LA, ND, NV, OK, PA, RI, WI

Watch our Patient Care Technician Program Sneak Peek!

MedCerts programs are developed with collaboration from our in-house production team, industry-recognized subject matter experts and our education technology design team. From interactive simulations, interviews with real world experts, game based learning and more, our Instructional Design education model is created to meet the needs of every type of learner.

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Is Patient Care Technician Training Right For You? Take the MedCerts Online Career Training Readiness Quiz

This fun, online quiz takes just 3 minutes to complete and provides you with a personalized report to find out if short-term online career training is right for you. The report identifies your strengths and social style, plus the training and positions you’re best suited for.

Patient Care Technician Online Training

MedCerts Tuition Advantage

We believe everyone should have access to higher education. With the option to pay in full, break down payments or utilize government grant funding, we help expand that access.

Monthly Payment Options as low as $346 Payment Plans for Every Student

Talk with an Education Consultant to pick the perfect payment plan, from paying in full to installments with interest rates from 0-12%.

Total Tuition $4,000 Pay in Full

The total tuition can be paid immediately or through a number of grant-funded or monthly payment plan options.

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No Credit Check

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The pricing listed above for a monthly payment plan is an estimate for the cost of an 12-month payment plan including down payment. Final pricing is given at time of purchase and may vary from both pricing examples above.

*Students in Maryland are not eligible for MedCerts payment plans but may be eligible for other tuition options. Speak to an Education Consultant for further information.

MyCAA, Department of Defense Credentialing Assistance/COOL and Workforce Grants

MedCerts offers financial aid options through these government grant-funded programs – MyCAA, Workforce Funding (including WIOA), and Department of Defense Credentialing Assistance or COOL funding for the Army, Air Force and Coast Guard. Those eligible include Military Spouses; active duty Army, Reserves, and National Guard members; active duty Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Air Force National Guard, and US Space Force; active duty Coast Guard and SELRES members (enlisted and officers); or workforce-funded qualifying job seekers. Speak to an Education Consultant to see if you qualify.

What Does a Patient Care Technician Do?

The care of patients involves not only treating disease and injury, but also illness prevention, restoring wellness through rehabilitation, caring for the chronically ill, and educating patients and families. Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals rely on Patient Care Technicians to assist with the critical day-to-day care some patients require. This may include anything from bathing and feeding patients to performing EKGs, blood draws, or assisting physicians with procedures.

399,654
Entry Level Jobs in the US
Patient Care Technicians will see available jobs grow 1.3% over the next ten years.
All available job and salary information is from Burning Glass Labor Insights and is updated annually to reflect industry changes.

What You’ll Learn
HI 7000
Patient Care Technician

Throughout the Patient Care Technician certificate program, you will learn, in a virtual environment, how to assist physicians and nurses by providing basic and advanced clinical duties in a virtual medical environment. The program covers subjects such as anatomy and physiology, medical law and ethics, medical communications, medical records, patient preparation, medical terminology, safety and compliance, and basic laboratory procedures and tests compiled into five courses taught over 24 weeks.

You’ll learn a wide variety of fundamental clinical tasks designed to set you apart in the competitive job market. Upon completion of this program, you’ll have met the training requirements to sit for the Certified Patient Care Technician (CPCT) exam which is sponsored by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

As a certified Patient Care Technician, you’ll work alongside other healthcare professionals in hospital settings, physicians’ offices, nursing homes, or long-term care facilities to provide hands-on assistance to serve patients’ basic needs.

Graduates of this program are strongly encouraged to pursue supervised administration of required Phlebotomy and EKG tasks required for certification. These are additional requirements after obtaining employment in the field as a prerequisite to gaining certification as a Certified EKG Technician (CET) or a Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT). We can assist you in finding clinical sites, but we cannot guarantee placement.

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  1. Understand the responsibilities of basic patient care — bathing, feeding, catheter care, etc.
  2. Perform safety checks and ensure cleanliness in patient rooms
  3. Recognize the importance of special care, concerns, and settings
  4. Understand EKG readings and monitoring vital signs
  5. Perform phlebotomy procedures, lab tests, blood glucose tests, and exercise/nutrition/diet monitoring
  6. Demonstrate an understanding of the soft skill expectations of an allied healthcare professional
Patient care technician Hero

Enrollment Requirements

  1. High School Diploma or GED
  2. Web browser with internet connection
  3. Course registration & payment

MedCerts-Covered Materials*

  1. Expert-led video based training
  2. eBooks: Phlebotomy Worktext and Procedures Manual, Electrocardiography for the Healthcare Professional, and Fundamental Concepts and Skills for the Patient Care Technician
  3. Competency assessments
  4. National Certification exam fee

Student Services

  1. Dedicated Student Success Advisors
  2. Tailored support based on performance & behavior
  3. Exam preparation process
  4. 1 yr. post-program access to Career Center & Career Coaches

Clinical Requirements

  1. CPT Certification: 30 venipunctures and 10 capillary sticks on a live person, which must be completed within 90 days of passing the CPT exam.
  2. CET Certification: 10 live EKGs, which must be completed within 90 days of passing the CET exam.

*The cost of all materials needed for this program are covered by MedCerts. They are not included in the tuition costs and the student is not liable for any costs or fees related to the above materials.

Required Courses
PS 1011

Professionalism in Allied Health

32 hours
Length
2 Weeks
Duration

This course will benefit anyone considering a career in allied health, as well as those already working in the field. Allied Health Professionals must be committed to the key attributes of professionalism and strive to reflect this within the delivery of patient-centered safe and effective care. “Professionalism” is a broad term that reflects many different skills and abilities. For an individual to exhibit professionalism, he/she must be armed with specific skills and abilities that do not always show up within certification requirements, or even within a career training curriculum. Soft skills are hard to measure and are typically less well-defined than hard skills. However, soft skills are what set many job candidates apart. Professionalism is not just what one knows, it is how one does their job, how one behaves and how one comes across as they interact with others.

The purpose of this course is to provide students with soft skills training that will provide the tools needed to demonstrate a higher level of professionalism on the job. Key components of the course focus on patient interaction, proper office behavior, medical ethics, diversity and cultural bias, emotional strength, professional appearance and communication. The course maintains a focus on the key attributes that are true markers of professionalism.

This course was created with input from healthcare professionals working in the field, healthcare employers that hire our graduates, professional educators and even former MedCerts students. The end result is a collection of modules that touch on the soft skills that are TRULY important in the real world of allied healthcare. In this course, students are engaged through scenario-based learning that allows for real interaction with virtual co-workers and patients. Additionally, game-based activities keep students engaged and entertained throughout their learning journey.

    • Gain an understanding of the expectations of an allied healthcare professional in the workplace
    • Develop and exercise emotional intelligence, self-management and interpersonal skills
    • Build and improve internal and external communication skills with all exchanges
    • Enhance the patient care experience with successful interactions and patient satisfaction
    • Maintain solution-oriented conversations, manage conflict and build self-confidence
HI 1014

Introduction to Human Anatomy and Medical Terminology

96 hours
Length
6 Weeks
Duration

This course is designed to familiarize the student with the language of medicine, through the study of prefixes, suffixes, root words, abbreviation, and pronunciation of words. The curriculum also includes an anatomy and physiology app that enables students to explore, visualize, interact, and experience the anatomy of the human body in 3D and augmented reality (AR). Students will examine the organization of the integumentary, musculoskeletal, hematic, lymphatic and immune, and cardiovascular systems in the human body. They will become familiar with the medical terms that relate to the respiratory, digestive, nervous, endocrine, reproductive, and excretory systems. Students will also examine terms related to the sensory organs, with a concentration on the organs for hearing, sight, and smell. This immersive experience will trigger thought processes and enhance learning outcomes in their Anatomy and Physiology program. The app has about 50 simulations across different topics.

    • Recognize the structure and function of the 11 body systems and their organs
    • Understand the medical language that is used to describe those systems
    • Analyze and understand medical terms by breaking down their word components
    • Appreciate the major diseases and conditions related to the human body
    • Apply your knowledge within the healthcare setting
HI 6011

Phlebotomy

64 hours
Length
4 Weeks
Duration

Phlebotomy is a comprehensive course with insight and focus on specimen collection for diagnostic testing in the healthcare facility, providing foundational knowledge required of an allied healthcare professional. Video-based lessons include fundamentals of phlebotomy with emphasis on infection control, safety, communication skills, patient care and preparation, venipuncture equipment and supplies, specimen collection, handling, transport and processing.

In this course, students are exposed to a variety of eLearning elements that allow for hands-on interaction with the screen for an engaging education. Simulations will provide the student opportunities to practice key phlebotomy skills performed in a medical facility. In addition to video-based instruction and simulation, a variety of other learning methods are utilized for engagement, entertainment and inspiration throughout training.

    • Recognize the importance of infection control and safety compliance with diagnostic testing
    • Understand the responsibilities of teamwork and communication skills in the healthcare setting
    • Appreciate the role of the Phlebotomy Technician in patient care, preparation and venipuncture
    • Identify proper organization and utilization of specimen collection equipment and supplies
    • Gain an understanding of blood and non-blood collections, handling, transport and processing
HI 6012

Electrocardiography

64 hours
Length
4 Weeks
Duration

Electrocardiography is a comprehensive course with insight and focus on diagnostic cardiac testing in the healthcare facility, providing foundational knowledge required of an allied healthcare professional. Video-based lessons include the fundamentals of electrocardiogram performance, Holter monitor application and assistance with stress testing. An emphasis is placed on cardiac arrhythmias. Patient care, preparation and monitoring are addressed along with standard precautions and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). 

In this course, students are exposed to a variety of eLearning elements that allow for hands-on interaction with the screen for an engaging education. Simulations will provide the student opportunities to practice key electrocardiography skills performed in a medical facility. In addition to video-based instruction and simulation, a variety of other learning methods are utilized for engagement, entertainment and inspiration throughout the training.

    • Appreciate the role of electrocardiography in the healthcare setting
    • Understand the responsibilities of patient care and monitoring, safety and compliance
    • Gain an understanding of the use of appropriate electrocardiography equipment and supplies
    • Understand diagnostic cardiac testing to include electrocardiograms, Holter monitors and stress tests
    • Recognize arrhythmias and artifacts with appropriate responses required
HI 7011

Fundamentals of Patient Care

128 hours
Length
8 Weeks
Duration

Fundamentals of Patient Care is a comprehensive course that focuses on the current and evolving role of patient care in the healthcare setting.  Video-based lessons include fundamentals of patient care, compliance and safety, professional responsibility, infection control, basic emergency care, patient assessment and vital signs, and grooming/hygiene.   Topics related to specific patient-types are also be addressed, including caring for older adults, pediatric, and special needs patients.  The course also details the importance of teamwork in the healthcare environment and breaks down the various roles that professionals fill as it relates to patient care whether through supporting chronic conditions, emergency, or end-of-life care. 

Students are exposed to a variety of eLearning elements that allow for hands-on interaction with the screen for an engaging learning experience.  Clinical simulations will provide the student opportunities to practice key clinical skills performed in a medical facility.  In addition to video-based instruction and simulation, a variety of other learning methods are utilized for engagement, entertainment and inspiration throughout the training. 

    • Appreciate the role of patient care in the healthcare setting
    • Recognize the importance of safety and compliance
    • Understand the responsibilities of communication and professionalism
    • Gain an understanding of assistance with activities of daily living
    • Recognize the importance of special care, concerns and settings
Code Course Duration
PS 1011 2 Weeks
HI 1014 6 Weeks
HI 6011 4 Weeks
HI 6012 4 Weeks
HI 7011 8 Weeks
Total Program Duration 24 Weeks

Patient Care Technician

Job Opportunities

Career Potential

Nursing Assistant

$23,000 – $35,000*
Estimated Salary
Entry-Level

Home Health Aide

$21,000 – $34,000*
Estimated Salary
Career Potential

Personal Care Aide

$24,000 – $67,000*
Estimated Salary

Disclaimers

  1. This program is NOT available to residents of the following states: Georgia, Louisiana, North Dakota, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Wisconsin
  2. This program is approved in CA and WA, but individuals who intend to work in those states should be aware that this program is not approved to prepare students to draw blood.
  3. This program is not recognized by the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (GNPEC), and therefore residents of the State of Georgia are NOT eligible for enrollment into this program. The job duties of a Medical Lab Assistant may include drawing blood. Individuals who intend to work in the states of California or Washington should be aware that this program is not approved to prepare students to draw blood.
  4. While MedCerts training and related target certifications may be accepted and/or approved by your state of residency, employers reserve the right to dictate prerequisite education, experience, or certification/licensure requirements for their positions. We strongly advise students to research target job posts from area employers and relevant state requirements, barriers, or restrictions prior to enrollment to ensure eligibility upon graduation.