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If you are, by nature, a nurturing, kind person, who enjoys taking care of others, you may find that a career as a patient care technician is something that suits your personality perfectly.
There are many reasons to become a patient care technician in North Carolina.
You will find stable, safe employment in this field in the state of North Carolina, as well as many job opportunities.
Article Table of Contents
Licensing Requirements to Become A Patient Care Technician
In order to practice as a PCT in the state of North Carolina, candidates should first attend an accredited college offering a training course in PCT.
Courses may run anywhere from a few months up to a year for a certificate course.
Alternatively, candidates may enroll in an associate’s degree course which may run for up to two years.
These programs have minimum entry-level requirements, which include:
- Candidates must have a clear criminal record
- Candidates must pass a drug screening test
- Candidates must pass a TB skin test
- All immunizations must be in order, including:
- MMR
- Varicella
- Hepatitis B
- Flu
- Tetanus
Upon successful completion of an accredited course, candidates are required to take the NHA examination.
This exam has its own requirements that must be met before the candidate can sit for the exam, including:
- Being in possession of a high school diploma or GED
- Being over the age of 18
- Participated and successfully completed a PTC training course or have one year of industry experience
- Submit a set of fingerprints
- Paid the examination fee of $149
- Present proof of citizenship or nationality
The examination consists of 20 pre-test questions and 100 theoretical test questions which the candidates must complete within the stipulated two-hour period.
In addition to the state requirements, each employer may have additional requirements before candidates may apply.
5 Patient Care Technician Schools in North Carolina
We have selected five schools that offer this course.
These schools offer either online or in-class programs.
UNC Charlotte
The school, located in Charlotte, North Carolina, offers this 12-month, 300-hour patient care technician certificate course, completely online.
The total cost of the course is $2,745.00 and it is open enrollment, meaning that you can start as soon as you are ready.
The course includes a pre-paid voucher for the Certified Patient Care Technician Level I Exam. Students who successfully complete the course are eligible to sit for the exam that is offered by the American Education Certification Association (AECA).
Upon successful completion of the course and exam, students get Certified Patient Care Technician Level I certification.
Requirements for this course include access to a PC and email, Windows 8 or later, a webcam, Google Chrome and Firefox, and Adobe Acrobat Reader.
There are no other additional requirements.
Fayetteville Technical Community College
Fayetteville Tech offers a patient care certificate course that runs over 396 hours.
The course will help to prepare students for the AMT (American Medical Technologist) National Registry examination.
The tuition for this course is $180 plus the insurance fee.
Students will have to pass a criminal background check in order to qualify to sit for the national exam.
Students are required to purchase a uniform and the appropriate shoes and should have them by the 1st day of class.
In addition, students should show proof of immunization records, produce a high school diploma, GED, or transcript, and a CPR card in order to register for this course.
Central Carolina Community College
The school offers a 12-month, 300 hours, online patient care technician certificate course.
The course fee is $2,495.00 and it is offered completely online.
Open enrollment means that you can participate in this course whenever you are ready.
A pre-paid voucher is included in this course for the Certified Patient Care Technician Level I Exam.
Students are eligible to sit for the exam that is offered by the American Education Certification Association (AECA) upon successful completion of the course.
Requirements for this course include access to a PC and email, Windows 8 or later, a webcam, Google Chrome and Firefox, and Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Stanly Community College
The school offers an online patient care technician certificate course.
The tuition for the course is $2,495.00.
This 12-month course runs over 300 hours.
The course includes a voucher for the Certified Patient Care Technician Level I Exam which will enable you to sit for the examination and covers the cost of the examination.
The examination is offered by the American Education Certification Association (AECA).
This course is offered entirely online and upon completion, the student qualifies as a Certified Patient Care Technician Level I.
Requirements for this course include access to a PC and email, Windows 8 or later, a webcam, Google Chrome and Firefox, and Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
This school also offers an online patience care technician certificate course.
This is a 12-month course that runs over 300 hours and the course fee is $2,495.00.
The course prepares students to sit for the Certified Patient Care Technician Level I Exam upon completion of the course material.
The exam is offered by the American Education Certification Association (AECA).
This course includes a voucher that covers the exam fee.
Requirements for this course include access to a PC and email, Windows 8 or later, a webcam, Google Chrome and Firefox, and Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Patient Care Technician Schools in North Carolina – Summary Table
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| UNC Charlotte | 9201 University City Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28223 |
| Feyettville Technical Community College | 2201 Hull Rd, Fayetteville, NC 28303 |
| Central Carolina Community College | 1105 Kelly Dr, Sanford, NC 27330 |
| Stanly Community College | 141 College Dr, Albemarle, NC 28001 |
| Rowan-Cabarrus Community College | 1333 Jake Alexander Blvd S, Salisbury, NC 28146 |
Salary
There are two salary bands for Certified Patient Care Technicians:
- Entry-level: $30,080
- Advanced level: $38,612
| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Charlotte | $33,824 |
| Raleigh | $33,414 |
| Greensboro | $32,999 |
| Durham | $33,221 |
| Winston-Salem | $33,079 |
| Fayetteville | $31,684 |
| Cary | $33,414 |
| High Point | $33,197 |
| Wilmington | $31,494 |
| Asheville | $31,740 |
Regional Salary in North Carolina
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville, NC | 2,580 | $37,010 | $17.79 | $45,270 | $29,270 |
| Burlington, NC | 760 | $34,820 | $16.74 | $39,910 | $26,910 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 11,170 | $37,240 | $17.91 | $45,980 | $29,180 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 4,710 | $38,110 | $18.32 | $43,380 | $29,830 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 1,840 | $33,710 | $16.21 | $42,330 | $25,630 |
| Goldsboro, NC | 610 | $33,620 | $16.16 | $42,730 | $24,360 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 4,670 | $35,040 | $16.85 | $43,250 | $28,220 |
| Greenville, NC | 1,820 | $34,390 | $16.53 | $40,690 | $27,780 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 2,800 | $34,780 | $16.72 | $39,900 | $26,870 |
| Jacksonville, NC | 430 | $31,880 | $15.33 | $38,810 | $24,660 |
| New Bern, NC | 720 | $31,590 | $15.19 | $38,740 | $23,920 |
| Raleigh, NC | 5,880 | $36,560 | $17.58 | $46,070 | $28,720 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 800 | $33,030 | $15.88 | $39,030 | $24,850 |
| Wilmington, NC | 1,810 | $34,220 | $16.45 | $39,100 | $28,000 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 4,040 | $35,540 | $17.09 | $41,630 | $28,980 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be certified to work in this field in North Carolina?
Yes, you will receive certification upon successful completion of the Certified Patient Care Technician Level I Exam.
Do I need to be licensed to practice in North Carolina?
There are no licensure requirements in this state.
However, you must be registered with the North Carolina Nurse Aide I Registry.
Do I need a high school GED to enroll in a course?
Yes.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Patient Care Technician
PCT Schools by City
PCT Schools by State