Patient Care Technician

Program Snapshot
Duration16–24 weeks
FormatOnline Classes

A Patient Care Technician is a health technician working under the supervision of nursing and medical staff.

Why Choose New York Academy

Graduates pursue roles as a Patient Care Technician in hospitals, clinics, and healthcare practices.

What You’ll Learn

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Hands-on clinical training with real equipment

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Small class sizes with individualized instruction

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Taught by working healthcare professionals

The Patient Care Technician program trains you to provide direct, hands-on patient care under the supervision of nursing and medical staff. You will learn vital signs, basic nursing skills, phlebotomy, and EKG basics, making you a versatile addition to any care team in as little as sixteen weeks.

A Multi-Skilled Clinical Role

Patient Care Technicians combine several clinical skill sets into one role, giving graduates access to opportunities in:

Hospital medical-surgical and telemetry units

Long-term care and rehabilitation facilities

Outpatient clinics

Dialysis centers

Hands-On Skills Training

You will practice vital signs, basic nursing procedures, specimen collection, and EKG technique in lab before progressing to a supervised clinical externship.

Built Around the Certification Exam

Curriculum is mapped to the national Certified Patient Care Technician (CPCT) exam content outline.

Train versatile patient care technicians who can safely perform vital signs, basic nursing care, phlebotomy, and EKG procedures while communicating professionally with patients and care teams.

Clinical Foundations

Build the medical knowledge every patient care technician needs:

Anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology

Infection control and standard precautions

Patient rights, HIPAA, and documentation

Direct Patient Care Skills

Develop hands-on competency through supervised practice:

Vital signs and basic nursing procedures

Phlebotomy and specimen collection

EKG acquisition basics

Mobility assistance and safe patient handling

Professional Practice

Prepare for the clinical workplace and certification exam:

Communication with patients, families, and care teams

Certified Patient Care Technician (CPCT) exam review

Resume preparation and externship readiness

A 16-week program totaling 300 academic hours, combining classroom instruction, skills lab, and a supervised clinical externship.

Module 1 — Foundations (Weeks 1–4)

PCT-101 Anatomy, Physiology & Terminology — 40 hours · In-person

Body systems and medical terminology for patient care

PCT-102 Infection Control & Safety — 20 hours · In-person

Standard precautions, safe patient handling, and OSHA compliance

Module 2 — Core Clinical Skills (Weeks 5–10)

PCT-201 Vital Signs & Basic Nursing Skills — 60 hours · In-person

Vital sign measurement, mobility assistance, and daily care tasks

PCT-202 Phlebotomy & EKG Basics — 60 hours · In-person

Blood draw technique and 12-lead EKG acquisition

Module 3 — Externship & Exam Prep (Weeks 11–16)

PCT-301 Clinical Externship — 80 hours · In-person

Supervised patient care at an affiliated clinical site

PCT-302 Certification Exam Review — 40 hours · Hybrid

Practice testing mapped to the national CPCT exam

Total duration 16 weeks
Total academic hours 300 hours
Classroom & lab hours 220 hours (73%)
Clinical externship hours 80 hours (27%)

Graduates are prepared to sit for the national Certified Patient Care Technician (CPCT) exam.

Applicant Profile

We look for candidates who are physically able to assist patients, compassionate, and comfortable in a fast-paced clinical setting.

Academic Requirements

High school diploma or GED

Basic reading and math proficiency

Required Documentation

Completed admission application

Government-issued photo ID

Proof of immunizations for clinical externship

Background check and drug screening prior to externship

Clinical Externship Requirements

Scrubs or approved clinical attire

Closed-toe, non-slip footwear

Reliable transportation to the externship site

CPR/BLS certification (can be completed during the program)

Career Outlook

Graduates pursue roles as a Patient Care Technician in hospitals, clinics, and healthcare practices.

Preparing doers and healers for the future through rigorous certifications in healthcare, ministry, and skilled trades.

Contact

Contact Us(518) 708-1373info@newyorkacademy.us

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