The Praxis Institute – PCT

Overview

The Certified Patient Care Technician program is designed to train students to function safely and effectively as integral members of the health care delivery team. In this multi-occupational program, students are cross-trained to perform a variety of healthcare functions, including among others, patient care, the performance of electrocardiograms as an EKG Technician, and collecting laboratory specimens as a Phlebotomist.

This program prepares students for a position as a Certified Patient Care Technician with Instructor-Led Live Online Classes and safe on-campus practices. The program is comprised of 11 modular units of learning and 80 hours of Clinical Externship in different clinical environments.  During the Clinical Externship, students have the opportunity to observe and become part of a health care team as they gain hands-on experience working side-by-side with other health care practitioners. PCT’s have opportunities to earn nursing scholarships and advance their careers. If you have a passion for healthcare and would like to enter the workforce through a vocational program as a stepping stone we at Praxis can help you find the way.

This program is a planned sequence of instruction consisting of 6 occupational completion points:

  1. Nurse Aide and Orderly (Articulated)
  2. Advanced Home Health Aide
  3. Patient Care Assistant
  4. Allied Health Assistant
  5. Advanced Allied Health Assistant
  6. Patient Care Technician

Licensing or certification exams are independent of graduation requirements. 

What Patient Care Technician do?

Patient Care Technicians or PCTs work with doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals to provide direct patient care in a variety of health care environments. The responsibilities of a PCT include patient care in all settings such as ER’s, ICUs, med Surg floors, long-term care facilities, rehabilitation centers, etc. PCT’s are trained in sterilization techniques for hospital procedures. Normally, PCTs will monitor patients’ vital signs. Communicate changes or abnormalities with the healthcare team. Collect laboratory specimens, and perform electrocardiograms. PCTs also monitor patients’ food intake, help to perform a physical exam, make sure that patients receive medications needed, change bedding, help patients bathe, shave or change clothes, and maintain the room properly sterilized. PCTs, handle medical records and patient communication.

Currently, PCT’s can train as Dialysis technicians, provide direct patient care in dialysis centers working side by side with nurses and physicians providing care to those in need.

Patient Care Technicians are one of the fastest-growing employment positions in health care. PCT’s can choose to work in many different settings. Also, this can be the stepping stone used to enter the healthcare world and advance in your career at your pace and desire.

Where Patient Care Technician Work?

After completion, you will also open the doors to many employment opportunities in a multitude of settings such as:

  • Hospitals ( ER, ICU, Med Surge, Ortho, Telemetry, etc )
  • Nursing home facilities
  • Blood banks
  • Rehabilitation centers
  • Dialysis facilities
  • Home health care agencies
  • Extended care facilities
  • Other healthcare-related environments
  • Doctors offices

 

Program Outline with Total Program Hours

Patient Care Technician

Estudia en tu Propio Idioma. Clases en Espanol Disponibles

Course Course Title Theory Hours Lab Hours Externship Hours Total Hours
GEN201 Emergency Procedures 10 4   14
GEN202 HIV/AIDS 10     10
GEN203 Domestic Violence 4     4
PCT101 Overview of the human Body 60 22   82
PCT102 Medical Terminology 10     10
PCT103 Foundation Patient Care 50 50   100
PCT104 Basic Patient Care Skills 50 50   100
PCT105 Care of the Adult and Geriatric Patient 20 20   40
PCT106 Professional Development 50 20   70
PCT107 Electrocardiography and Diagnostic Imaging 40 40 40 120
PCT108 Phlebotomy Skills and Techniques 40 40 40 120
PCT109 Clinical Externship     80 80
Total Hours 344 246 160 750
Program Delivery All theory component of this program’s curriculum is delivered via online/distance education mode.
All laboratory and practice component of this program’s curriculum is delivered via the traditional on-campus/face-to-face mode.
All externship component of this program’s curriculum is delivered via the traditional on-community/face-to-face mode.

Prepare for your Patient Care Technician (CPCT/A) National Certification

In addition to earning your Patient Care Technician Certificate through our institution, when you graduate from our school, you’ll be eligible to take your Patient Care Technician Certification (CPCT) exam, administered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). Certification exams are administered in our institution by independent third parties.

You are not required to take a certification exam, however, taking this additional step can help you market yourself to potential employers and validate your Patient Care Technician knowledge.