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What Education Is Needed to Become a Patient Care Technician?
Patient care technicians play an important role in any patient care team. These individuals are tasked with supporting doctors, nurses and other medical staff in delivering patient care. As a patient care technician, you would monitor patient conditions, perform basic duties and deliver emotional support.
If this sounds like a great career choice for you, there are a few educational requirements you’ll need to meet. Let’s go through them in detail.
3 Steps to Take to Become a Patient Care Technician
1. Get Your High School Diploma or GED
First, you’ll need to obtain your high school diploma or your GED if you haven’t done so already. Once you complete this step, you can begin to search for PCT programs in Miami.
2. Complete a Patient Care Technician Program
Becoming a PCT requires a certification or diploma. And obtaining a certification gives you a definite advantage in the field.
When it comes to PCT programs, you have many options throughout Florida. For example, Cambridge’s Patient Care Technician program takes 36 weeks to complete from start to finish. This means you could start your new PCT career in less than a year.
Cambridge’s Patient Care Technician Program
If you choose to take advantage of Cambridge’s Miami PCT program, there are specific courses you’ll take to round out your education. Some of these courses include:
- Home health
- Phlebotomy
- Electrocardiography
- Health and body systems
- Patient care basics
You’ll also need to complete a clinical externship for the nursing assistant part of the program in a local nursing home facility for hands-on training in the field.
3. Become Certified as a PCT
Once you complete your program, you’ll have the opportunity to take the Certified Patient Care Technician exam offered through the NHA for certification. This step isn’t necessarily required for employment. However, we recommend the certification to help you stand out from other applicants as you search for entry-level positions. Plus, some employers may require certification for employment.
Once the two nursing assistant courses are completed, you also have the opportunity to take the Nursing Assistant Prometric Exam.
Once you obtain your certification, you’ll be eligible for entry-level positions with local healthcare facilities. Patient care technicians can work in hospitals, clinics, doctor’s offices and even long-term care facilities.
Become a Patient Care Technician in Miami With Cambridge
Does the career as a patient care technician sound like the perfect role for you? If so, Cambridge is here to help you. Our Miami Patient Care Technician program is a great first step. To learn more about our program or to get started today, give us a call at 877-206-4279 or send us a message.
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