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Becoming a Patient Care Technician (PCT) can have many benefits including, a fast track to a rewarding career and the ability to use this as a stepping stone to becoming a Registered Nurse. With the recent pandemic outbreak and the various other illnesses facing our world, there has been significant growth in the need for healthcare workers. Unfortunately, the demand for workers far outweighs the number of trained candidates in the healthcare field to fill those positions. Total employment is projected to grow from 153.5 million to 165.4 million over the 2020–30 decade, increasing 11.9 million jobs¹. That means there are many opportunities one can take to advance their career path in the medical industry. If you are interested in the medical field, this may be the best time to start your journey as a PCT making you eligible to start your career in less than 7 months*.

Before getting into the details of becoming a Patient Care Technician, let us first define what is a Patient Care Technician and what are their responsibilities? PCT's are integral members of a healthcare team and work with doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to oversee and monitor patients. As a vital member of the team, they provide direct patient care including, but not limited to, taking vital signs, specimen collection, comfort measures, and more. Like other healthcare ÑÇÖÞÍø¼t¶µã at Lincoln Tech, the PCT program offers extensive training in the following areas, focusing on patient needs support.

Highlights of Patient Care Technician Training

• Learn Phlebotomy essentials such as proper blood collection and testing procedures.
• Perform student-to-student practice blood draws to perfect your technique.
• Receive hands-on instruction in performing standard 12-lead electrocardiography (EKGs).
• Learn to perform CPR — a valuable skill inside and outside of your profession.
• Pursue Basic Life Support certification from the American Heart Association.
• Master the intricacies of tending to the integumentary and circulatory systems, wound care, ostomy care, pressure ulcer prevention, and treatment of diabetes.
• Provide emotional support for patients.

Choose the Right Career Path for You

With either a high school diploma or GED, you can start training now! Choosing the right program that suits your career path is your first step to success. Several certificate ÑÇÖÞÍø¼t¶µã are available with Lincoln Tech including, Medical Assistant, Practical Nursing, and Patient Care Technician. If you are looking to perform day-to-day duties like taking vital signs, collecting specimens, and providing wound care, all while ensuring patient comfort, then you are ready for the Patient Care Technician Program. This program is a certificate program and can be completed in about 7 months.

Pick the School That Fits Your Needs

Choosing the right school is everything to your future. Do you want to start your career sooner or later? Attending an institution like Lincoln Tech can provide a PCT certificate that can get you into the healthcare field faster. Most traditional colleges require you to have almost two years of schooling. With convenient morning, afternoon, and evening classes, flexibility at Lincoln Tech has never been easier. With a school like Lincoln Tech, you will obtain hands-on training in "Doctor Office" settings for your PCT training, without the unnecessary counteractive courses. A critical aspect of a Lincoln education is developing the professional skills that are required by employers.

Excel in Your Training Program

When you select the Patient Care Technician training program with Lincoln Tech, you will learn and retain valuable knowledge and skills needed to graduate and work as a Patient Care Technician. Staying motivated and on track is the key to completing this course in about 7 months. You should study often and ensure you attend all of your classes on time and as scheduled. At Lincoln Tech, our PCT classes include Introduction to Allied Health, Cardiopulmonary Medical Procedures, Patient Care Technician I and Patient Care Technician II, and Patient Care Technician Clinical. Graduates of this program are eligible to take the following certification exams: EKG Technician, Phlebotomy Technician, AHA Basic Life Support for Healthcare provider, and Certified Patient Care Technician. Graduate faster with Lincoln Tech.

Start the Career You Want

Once you graduate and pass all required exams, becoming a Patient Care Technician in a clinical setting is your last and most rewarding step. Choosing Lincoln Tech, means you can graduate in 7 months, giving you a head start among your peers. With a 8% increase in growth around the country in healthcare, employment for nursing assistants is expected to grow from 1.3 million employees to 1.5 million employees². A shortage of healthcare workers means the need for you to become a PCT is more significant than ever before. If you choose Lincoln Tech as your technical skills institution, you will have access to our network of hiring partners who are always looking for people with medical skills, and it could be you.

Why Choose Lincoln Tech's Patient Care Technician Program?

With over 75 years and hundreds of thousands of graduates, Lincoln Tech is a nationally accredited technical skills institution that takes pride in helping its students graduate from the Patient Care Technician program. The PCT program offered at Lincoln Tech provides hands-on training with the technical skills you will need to stand out in the medical field to get the career you want. Complete this program in 7 months with Lincoln Tech, unlike community colleges or universities that may take two years or more. If you choose Lincoln Tech, we will help you effectively enter the workforce after obtaining your certification by offering tools like job fairs, resume building, and more.

Citations

¹ "Employment Projections: 2020-2030 Summary." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 8 Sept. 2021,

² National Center for O*NET Development. National Employment Trends: O*NET OnLine. Retrieved April 01, 2022, from

*Complete the PCT program in 7 months.