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Healthcare

How to become a Patient Care Technician

A CNA with added clinical skills, drawing blood and running basic heart monitoring alongside standard patient care. From CNA: every step, how long it takes, and the credential it earns.

Time to get there
3–6 months
Typical pay
$36k–$46k
Starting from
CNA

Pay is an estimate of typical US entry-level pay for this role and varies by state, employer and shift. The timeline assumes you are starting from CNA and includes any licence or programme legally required, not just course length.

Commonly asked for

  • CNA certification required first
  • No additional degree commonly required
  • CPCT/A certification often expected by hospital employers
See patient care technician jobs open now

The route

  1. Start from your CNA

    PCT is a CNA with extra clinical skills — most employers require the CNA first.

    Typical titles at this level

    • Certified Nursing Assistant
    • Home Health Aide

    State CNA certification

    Get it from Credentia (NNAAP)

  2. Add phlebotomy and EKG

    The two skills that separate a PCT from a CNA on the pay scale.

    Course that covers thisCertified EKG Technician (CET) Practice TestsUdemy · around $24.99

  3. Certify as a CPCT/A

    NHA's patient care technician credential.

    CPCT/A (NHA)

    Get it from National Healthcareer Association (NHA)

  4. Destination

    Patient Care Technician

    Browse jobs now

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