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Individuals interested in becoming patient care technicians in Virginia must understand the prerequisites and overall requirements to do the job.
A national certificate is required to begin a career in this quickly expanding medical field.
Please keep reading to learn more about the salary outlook for people who successfully complete their training and certification and some top education and training programs available in the state of Virginia.
Article Table of Contents
Licensing Requirements to Become a Patient Care Technician in Virginia
Individuals who want to become patient care technicians in Virginia must have some prerequisites.
These include having a high school diploma or a GED and being 18 years or older.
Additionally, individuals must also pass a background check.
Patient care technicians are required to do some strenuous work, including lifting.
Individuals must be able to lift at least 50 pounds with no assistance.
Each potential candidate must get adequate training and education in various aspects of patient care, including phlebotomy, EKGs, wound care, and more.
Once training is complete, the individual must pass the national nurse’s aide exam.
Once all these requirements are met, the candidate may begin working as a patient care technician in Virginia.
5 Patient Care Technician Schools in Virginia
There are many great schools and programs to train and teach prospective patient care technicians in Virginia.
Here are some of the top choices to learn about and consider.
There are details about length, tuition, and contact information.
Sentara College of Health Sciences
This program consists of hands-on instruction and comprehensive education to allow individuals to become patient care technicians in Virginia.
The program lasts for 16 weeks.
There is also an accelerated 12-week summer course available for 12-weeks, and the tuition for the program is $530 per credit hour.
The school’s location is crossways I suite 105 /1441 Crossways Blvd., Chesapeake, VA 23320.
The phone number for the campus is 757–388–2900.
Centura College
This in-person, hands-on program is designed to fully prepare students to become professional patient care technicians in Virginia.
This program lasts for a total of 15 months.
The cost of tuition is $550 per course hour.
The Administrative Offices are located at 4455 South Blvd., Virginia Beach, VA 23452.
The admissions phone number for the school is 877-523-9528.
Fast Track Health Care Education
This is a comprehensive hands-on program in an educational setting.
Both classroom instruction and labs are included.
This program requires 200 hours of classroom instruction and 160 hours of clinical instruction in a 17-week or nine-week program, depending on whether the candidate takes daytime or evening classes.
The cost of tuition for this program is $4200.
The Roanoke campus location is 3201 Brandon Ave., Southwest Suite 8, Roanoke, VA 24018.
The office number for the school is 540–9 81–9111.
Lord Fairfax Community College
The school is designed to prepare students for a future role as patient care technicians completely.
There are multiple topics covered and practiced in the lab hands-on and studied in the classroom setting.
The cost of tuition for one semester is $2213.10.
This is a two-semester 27-hour credit program.
The school is located at 6480 College St., Warrenton, VA 20187.
The phone number for the campus is 540–351–1501.
Ultimate Health School
This comprehensive health school focuses solely on this particular career field.
The instruction is focused on all the important aspects and duties of a patient care technician.
The location of the campus is 7839 Ashton Ave. Manassas, VA 20109.
The phone number for the school is 571–379–7045.
The total cost for tuition is $1135, which does not include the national board exam.
Patient Care Technician Schools in Virginia – Summary Table
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Sentara College of Health Sciences | 1441 Crossways Blvd, Chesapeake, VA 23320 |
| Centura College | 2697 Dean Dr, Virginia Beach, VA 23452 |
| Fast Track Health Care Education | 3201 Brandon Ave SW #8, Roanoke, VA 24018 |
| Lord Fairfax Community College | 6480 College St, Warrenton, VA 20187 |
| Ultimate Health School | 7839 Ashton Avenue Manassas, Virginia |
Salary of a Patient Care Technician in Virginia
The average salary of a patient care technician in Virginia is $34,529 per year.
However, they can make well over $40k per year with additional experience and training.
Location and job requirements are also a factor in the yearly salary outlook.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | $33,010 |
| Norfolk | $32,513 |
| Chesapeake | $32,471 |
| Richmond | $34,453 |
| Newport News | $32,347 |
| Hampton | $32,347 |
| Alexandria | $38,438 |
| Portsmouth | $32,513 |
| Roanoke | $31,923 |
| Lynchburg | $31,805 |
Regional Salary in Virginia
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | 700 | $35,160 | $16.91 | $42,080 | $29,310 |
| Charlottesville, VA | 1,710 | $37,930 | $18.23 | $47,470 | $30,150 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | 560 | $35,400 | $17.02 | $42,930 | $27,720 |
| Lynchburg, VA | 1,180 | $35,890 | $17.26 | $44,880 | $28,740 |
| Richmond, VA | 6,580 | $37,570 | $18.06 | $46,260 | $29,150 |
| Roanoke, VA | 2,470 | $35,860 | $17.24 | $44,820 | $28,930 |
| Staunton-Waynesboro, VA | 650 | $38,030 | $18.28 | $45,300 | $28,080 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC | 8,100 | $35,760 | $17.19 | $44,930 | $26,540 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | 640 | $37,340 | $17.95 | $43,620 | $29,220 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to become a patient care technician in Virginia?
The time it takes to become a patient care technician in Virginia depends on a few factors, including the length of the training and education courses the prospective student decides to undergo.
Once the training is complete, students must take the national exam and pass it to become certified patient care technicians.
On average, individuals can become patient care technicians between 7 to 12 months.
However, those individuals who attend a university-style campus may decide to take two separate semesters, which may take longer than one year, depending on the term.
Do patient care technicians need to recertify in Virginia?
No, patient care technicians can work as soon as they pass the exam and do not need to recertify to work as patient care technicians in Virginia.
However, some certifications may need updating periodically depending on the state’s certification regulations for EKG and phlebotomy.
Do you need to pass an exam to become a patient care technician in Virginia?
Yes, you need to pass the national nurse’s aide exam to become a patient care technician in Virginia.
Once the individual passes the exam, they can begin working as a patient care technician at any institution or facility in the state.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Patient Care Technician
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