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As the global population continues to grow at an exponential rate, the medical industry is also rapidly growing to the point where personnel is needed now more than ever.
One of the high-demand positions in the Pennsylvania medical sector is patient care technician.
In this career, patient career technicians are required to provide physical and mental support to those who may otherwise not be able to support themselves.
The most successful patient care technicians are compassionate and empathetic while exhibiting a prominent level of patience and are detail-oriented.
If this sounds like a career path you want to take, keep reading to learn more about becoming a patient care technician in Pennsylvania!
Article Table of Contents
- 1 Licensing Requirements to Become a Patient Care Technician in Pennsylvania
- 2 5 Patient Care Technician Schools in Pennsylvania
- 3 Salary
- 4 Sources
- 5 Frequently Asked Questions
- 5.1 Does an educational program prepare me for a successful patient care technician career in Pennsylvania?
- 5.2 What are the most common tasks performed by a patient care technician in Pennsylvania?
- 5.3 What are some of the most common skills I will develop in a Pennsylvania patient care technician training program?
Licensing Requirements to Become a Patient Care Technician in Pennsylvania
Like most other states, Pennsylvania does not require candidates to become licensed or certified.
However, most employers have this requirement for insurance and patient care experience.
Luckily, the process of becoming a patient care technician in Pennsylvania is simple.
The first step is to complete your high school diploma, as you cannot be accepted into a training program without it.
Next, find the best educational program that meets your needs regarding flexibility, cost, curriculum, certifications, and length of time.
Once completed, you can sit for the National Healthcareer Association exam.
The requirements to complete this exam are to pay the $149 fee, graduate from a training program, submit fingerprints, and show proof of citizenship.
In many instances, the exam fee is included in the training program tuition, so it’s best to confirm with the school.
The exam consists of 100 questions and you have two hours to complete it.
Once you are certified, you must contact the state to be added to the Pennsylvania Nurse Aide Registry, which is a database of all certified medical personnel.
Finally, you can find a potion at a medical clinic, rehabilitation center, hospice, home care, long-term care, assisted living facility, or hospital.
5 Patient Care Technician Schools in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has countless trade schools, colleges, and universities, especially in the Philadelphia area.
Therefore, students have many choices about patient care technician training, including:
BC3
BC3 offers a patient care technician certificate at their main campus.
Within this program, students will learn the basics of providing patient care through lectures and hands-on experience.
This includes how to draw blood, medical terminology, ethics, keeping rooms clean, and many other career requirements.
This certificate costs $6,000 with scrubs and textbooks as an extra fee.
Bucks County Community College
The patient care technician program at Bucks Community College prepares students to support medical staff in physical and mental patient care.
Since technicians are employed across countless healthcare settings, this program prepares them for any medical location.
Classes range from human anatomy and ECG interpretation to medical law and ethics, and a required externship.
This certificate program can be completed in approximately one year.
Clearfield County Career and Technology Center
As the most recently launched program on this list, Clearfield Country Career, and Technology Center started its new patient care technician training program toward the end of 2021.
Students in this program will learn about catheter insertion and removal, EKGs, phlebotomy topics, IV removal, and much more.
Lancaster County Career and Technology Center
Students taking the patient care technician program at Lancaster County Career and Technology Center are taught to demonstrate proficiency through hands-on performance while earning national and PA skills certificates.
Students in this program will learn how to provide the highest quality patient care through personal care and basic nursing skills.
As part of this program, students are required to have an externship with a healthcare team to deliver direct patient care.
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College
The certificate offered by Pennsylvania Highlands Community College allows students to learn basic care including spiritual, psychological, physical, and emotional patient support across all age groups.
Students learn how to perform various procedures therapeutically and safely while maintaining federal and state compliance.
This program is available at the Blair Center and Richland Campuses and can be completed in approximately one year.
Patient Care Technician Schools in Pennsylvania – Summary Table
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Butler County Community College | 107 College Dr, Butler, PA 16002 |
| Bucks County Community College | 275 Swamp Rd, Newtown, PA 18940 |
| Clearfield County Career & Technology Center | 1620 River Rd, Clearfield, PA 16830 |
| Lancaster County Career & Technology Center | 1730 Hans Herr Dr, Willow Street, PA 17584 |
| Pennsylvania Highlands Community College | 101 Community College Wy, Johnstown, PA 15904 |
Salary
The median U.S. salary for a patient care technician is $34,500 with a range from $30,100 to $38,600.
Pennsylvania is similar, with a median salary of $34,400 and a pay range from $30,00 to $38,500.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $36,988 |
| Pittsburgh | $34,011 |
| Allentown | $34,799 |
| Erie | $31,895 |
| Upper Darby | $36,988 |
| Reading | $34,349 |
| Scranton | $31,871 |
| Bethlehem | $34,799 |
| Lower Merion | $36,988 |
| Bensalem | $37,293 |
Regional Salary in Pennsylvania
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 4,720 | $39,830 | $19.15 | $45,860 | $33,680 |
| Altoona, PA | 790 | $37,200 | $17.89 | $43,910 | $31,220 |
| Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA | 800 | $35,830 | $17.22 | $41,670 | $32,300 |
| Chambersburg-Waynesboro, PA | 590 | $42,170 | $20.27 | $49,920 | $31,100 |
| East Stroudsburg, PA | 380 | $38,810 | $18.66 | $49,020 | $32,340 |
| Erie, PA | 1,650 | $36,930 | $17.76 | $43,160 | $33,780 |
| Gettysburg, PA | 410 | $38,690 | $18.6 | $44,890 | $35,250 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | 4,220 | $38,940 | $18.72 | $45,620 | $33,920 |
| Johnstown, PA | 480 | $33,670 | $16.19 | $38,760 | $28,650 |
| Lancaster, PA | 3,060 | $39,770 | $19.12 | $46,960 | $35,610 |
| Lebanon, PA | 580 | $40,650 | $19.54 | $48,590 | $35,360 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 32,410 | $41,240 | $19.83 | $47,170 | $34,240 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 11,330 | $39,470 | $18.98 | $45,120 | $35,380 |
| Reading, PA | 1,740 | $40,980 | $19.7 | $47,430 | $35,980 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton, PA | 2,770 | $38,000 | $18.27 | $44,550 | $31,830 |
| State College, PA | 520 | $37,580 | $18.07 | $43,630 | $33,280 |
| Williamsport, PA | 690 | $37,400 | $17.98 | $41,440 | $31,930 |
| York-Hanover, PA | 1,470 | $38,980 | $18.74 | $44,220 | $34,700 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Sources
- https://www.pennhighlands.edu/programs/health-professions/patient-care-technician/
- https://www.bucks.edu/catalog/majors/health/patientcaretechnician/
- https://www.exploremedicalcareers.com/patient-care-technician/pct-pennsylvania/
- https://lancasterctc.edu/programs/patient-care-technician/
- https://www.bc3.edu/programs-classes/certificates/patient-care-technician.html
- https://ccctc.edu/adult-programs/programs/
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an educational program prepare me for a successful patient care technician career in Pennsylvania?
Although no formal patient care technician educational requirements exist in Pennsylvania, employers are increasingly requiring a certificate at the minimum.
This is because many malpractice insurance providers require their employees to have minimum certifications to ensure coverage.
Also, studies show that those with more medical education provide higher quality service to patients.
This is because patient care technician programs teach students all aspects of the job, so they can hit the ground running.
What are the most common tasks performed by a patient care technician in Pennsylvania?
Basic patient care tasks include feeding and bathing, catheter insertion and removal, escorting patients to medical offices for analysis, performing phlebotomy procedures, communicating with patients’ families, vital sign monitoring, and maintaining patient rooms.
What are some of the most common skills I will develop in a Pennsylvania patient care technician training program?
In addition to learning the basics of patient care, most students also improve upon their knowledge of patient safety, drawing blood, catheter care, CPR, first aid procedures, medical terminology, and basic infection control techniques and procedures.
Other developed skills include reporting changes in the patient’s condition, recording and monitoring bodily functions, and the function and structure of body systems.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Patient Care Technician
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PCT Schools by State