THE PATIENT CARE TECHNICIAN CAREER
A career as a patient care technician in New Jersey can be very rewarding. With the demand for skilled healthcare workers on the rise, the job outlook for this profession looks amazing. Many people experience the hardship of being laid off. It is a grueling process and can be seen as common in some fields the job market has to offer. However, with the demand expected to increase over 25% for some positions within healthcare, it is unlikely to see mass layoffs in hospitals and other facilitates. If you seek job security in your work becoming a PCT is the right path for you.
Where can a Patient Care Technician work?
Hospitals
Nursing Homes
Skilled Nursing Facility
Rehabilitation Centers
Medical Offices
Labs
Blood Banks
Requirements for a Patient Care Technician (PCT) Training Program
To enroll in a patient care technician training program there may be requirements that may vary from school to school. Try to search "patient care technician school near me", once you find the schools in your area, contact them and ask them for their requirements, most schools may have the following requirements:
Core Requirements:
High School Diploma
GED
HESI A2 Placement Test (if you do not have an HSD or GED)
A valid photo ID and another form of identification
Length of the Program and process for obtaining a certificate
The length for a Patient Care Technician Program will vary depending on the schedule you choose. Your schedule options include Morning, Evening, Weekend, hybrid and online classes. Morning Schedule may be full time or part-time.
Morning Schedules can range from Monday through Wednesday or Monday through Friday depending on the certifications you are after, Full-time students can expect to finish at a much faster pace than part-time students. The average length of the program for morning students is 3-4 months.
Evening Schedule is usually offered after normal work hours so that students can work during the day and attend class at night. Taking on the evening course you can expect to finish the program in 4 and a half to 5 months.
Weekend Schedule is offered for students that have rather busy schedules during the week and can only have one or two days to sacrifice for school work. The weekend schedule will typically be the longest of the scheduling options with the program finishing in 5 and a half to 6 months.
Online & Hybrid are for those that would prefer to study at there own pace and at their own time. The theory part of the program is learned online by the student. Clinical skills are either learned online or on-campus with the hybrid option. So, the length of the program depends on how much time you can dedicate to the school throughout the week. The average rate students finish the online program is 3-4 months with extension options available.
