Trade SchoolsIf you want to start a career as a Patient Care Technician in the state of California, this page will provide you with information about the best schools that can prepare you for entry-level employment in this field.
Patient Care Technicians are typically responsible for:
- Collecting samples from patients and preparing them for the lab
- Checking vital signs
- Conducting certain medical tests
- Serving meals to patients
- Helping patients with mobility and exercises
- Reporting changes to the patient’s condition to other members of the medical team
- And more
Specific duties vary depending on the employer and the setting in which they work.
This profession typically requires a high school diploma or GED.
Most states also require the completion of a specialized post-secondary program or a certified nursing assistant program.
To prepare you for entry-level employment, training programs typically cover medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, first aid, medical laws, medical records management, and more.
On this page, we have compiled information about the best schools that can prepare you for a career as a Patient Care Technician in California.
1Healthcare Career College
About the School
Healthcare Career College was founded in 1990 as Infotech Career College.
The college provides a fast career pathway to employment by offering healthcare programs designed to meet students’ needs.
Healthcare Career College offers an 11-month Patient Care Technician Diploma Program available in South Los Angeles.
Courses Offered
During the Patient Care Technician Diploma program, students learn about:
- Taking patient vital signs and medical histories
- Drawing blood
- Preparing exam room for the doctor
- Electrocardiography
- Electronic health records and office skills
- Nurse assisting and home care
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 8527 Alondra Blvd, Suite #128, Paramount, CA 90723
- Phone: (562) 804-1239
- Website: https://healthcarecareercollege.edu
2Cal Regional Career Accelerated Learning
About the School
Cal Regional Career Accelerated Learning offers a Patient Care Technician Program that can be completed in as few as eight weeks.
Students get hands-on training in the clinical skills needed to provide direct care and support to patients.
The program consists of hybrid learning: 50% online and 50% labs.
The curriculum includes:
- 140 hours of classroom instruction and hands-on training
- Guaranteed 80-hour externship
- CPR certification
- National exam
Students learn:
- Comprehensive patient care including bathing, feeding, and more
- Obtaining EKG readings
- Acquire, distribute, and administer patient care supplies
- Perform safety checks
- Provide emotional support to patients and families
Contact Information
- Address: 4820 Business Center Drive, Suite 100 Fairfield, CA 94534
- Phone: (800) 927-5159
- Website: https://calregional.com
3Futuro Health
Futuro Health offers a Patient Care Technician program that can be completed in 12 to 18 weeks.
Courses Offered
Students learn how to perform duties such as:
- Implementing progression mobility guidelines
- Using patient-handling equipment
- Assisting with activities of daily living
- Perform EKGs as required
- Patient monitoring, including obtaining, recording, and reporting vital signs, weights, and more
Students prepare to assist doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel in caring for patients.
Employment is sometimes available in assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and long-term care or hospice facilities.
Contact Information
- Address: 1610 R Street, Suite 300 – #112, Sacramento, CA 95811
- Website: https://futurohealth.org
4Best American Healthcare College
About the School
Best American Healthcare College offers patient care certification classes in Riverside.
The college provides online and in-classroom healthcare education and training.
The college’s catalog includes a Patient Care Technician online program.
Primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare training is available.
The school offers weekend and weekday schedules.
Students learn how to care for patients, read their EKGs, and draw blood.
The course is designed to be completed in six weeks.
Courses Offered
Clinical job duties performed by Patient Care Assistants include:
- Discontinuation of IVs
- Clean and Irrigate lacerations
- Set Up Rapid Infusor
- Answer Phones
- Escort Patients to Treatment Areas
- Clean Rooms
- Collect Specimens
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 6700 Indiana Avenue, Ste 255, Riverside, CA. 92506
- Phone: (951) 637-8332
- Website: https://www.bestamericanhealthcareuni.com
5American College of Healthcare & Technology
About the School
American College of Healthcare & Technology offers nine healthcare training programs.
The school’s catalog covers a wide range of fields, from medical assisting to surgical technology.
The programs include books and uniforms.
Courses Offered
The following programs are available at the college:
- Surgical Technology
- Medical Assistant
- Medical Billing & Coding
- Dental Assistant
- HVACR
- And more
The Medical Assistant program can be completed in nine months and is available in Riverside, Santa Ana & Huntington Park Campus.
Students learn how to:
- Communicate and correspond with the public
- Assume office manager responsibilities and duties
- Maintaining patient confidentiality
- Become familiar with the physician’s goals
- Understanding basic pharmaceutical principles
- Learning about medical law
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 11801 Pierce St., Ste. 100, Riverside, CA 92505
- Phone: (888) 430-4224
- Website: https://www.ach.edu
6Western Medical Training Center
Western Medical Training Center helps students take the first step towards a rewarding healthcare career by enrolling in its online programs.
Courses Offered
The center offers courses such as:
- Certified Nursing Assistant
- Certified Medical Assistant
- Certified EKG Technician
- Pharmacy Technician
- Front Office Medical Assistant
- And more
Cost and program duration vary.
The four-month Certified Medical Assistant program costs $2,499 and is available in a hybrid program.
Students spend the first three components of the course in a hybrid learning setting that includes two online live sessions with their class and instructor during the week.
The fourth component of the course is a live lab portion and is on campus five days a week.
Students also have the opportunity to complete an externship of their own design.
After completing the course and the externship, students are eligible to sit for the NCCT National certification exam for both Certified Medical Assistant and Certified Medical Office Assistant.
The Certified Nursing Assistant program costs $1,500 in total and includes 60 hours of theory, and 10 hours of labs, followed by clinical training.
The Certified EKG Technician program is available in a hybrid format and includes 84 hours of training: 80 hours of theory online and four hours of on-campus lab.
Tuition for the Certified EKG Technician program is $900 in total.
Contact Information
- Address: 1161 East Main Street #205 El Cajon, Ca. 92021
- Phone: (833) 258-2221
- Website: https://wmtc.info
7San Diego Mesa College
About the School
San Diego Mesa College offers a Patient Care Coordinator program that helps students get a better understanding of the root causes of patients’ medical needs, and reflect on social determinants and medical policies to develop realistic care plans.
Students complete the program with the skills to work in administrative and clinical settings to provide ethical patient care.
Tuition at Mesa College is $46 per unit and is free to apply.
The Patient Care Coordinator program includes 22.5 required units.
In total, the program costs $1,035.
Courses Offered
The course includes the following degree and certificate requirements:
- Medical Terminology
- Administrative Medical Assisting
- Health and Wellness Coaching
- Introduction to Public Health
- Medical Ethics and Legal Issues for the Allied Health Professional
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 7250 Mesa College Drive, San Diego, CA 92111-4998
- Phone: 619-388-2682 (Admissions)
- Website: https://www.sdmesa.edu
8Dignity College of Healthcare
About the School
Dignity College of Healthcare offers a variety of online and classroom programs.
The college’s catalog includes programs for students who want to start careers as:
- Surgical Technician
- Medical Assistant
- Nurse Assistant Training Online (Patient Care Technician)
- Caregiver Course
- CPR
- Home Health Aide
- And more
The Online Patient Care Technician Training program includes training, exam review, and three national certification exam eligibility for the patient care technician, EKG Tech, as well as a medical administrative assistant.
Students pay $2,499 for Basic Patient Care Tech and $2,499 for Advanced Patient Care Tech.
The program can be completed in four months by students in the fast track and in a maximum of 10 months.
Contact Information
- Address: 6700 Indiana Avenue, Ste 255, Riverside, CA. 92506
- Phone: 951 394 8881
- Website: https://www.dignitycollegeofhealthcare.com
9Critical Care Training Center
About the School
Critical Care Training Center offers training for a variety of healthcare career paths, including:
- EKG Monitor Technician
- Certified Nurse Assistant
- Phlebotomy
- Online Medical Assistant
- Home Health Aide
- And more
The Online Medical Assistant program prepares students to successfully pass the National Healthcareer Association exam and directly enter the field of medical assisting.
The program blends classroom, audio-visual presentation, and hands-on experience at local doctors’ offices.
This course costs $2,499
The program is available fully online.
The online enrollment includes 12 months of program access to ensure students have the time needed to complete the course.
The Certified Nurse Assistant program costs $1,600 and includes 60 hours of lectures and a 100-hour externship.
The EKG Monitor technician costs $849; students pay an additional $117 for the NHA test fee.
The Phlebotomist program costs $2,000 and includes 40 hours of training.
Contact Information
- Address: 6426 Bellingham Ave North Hollywood, CA 91606
- Phone: (818) 766–1111
- Website: https://acls123.com
10Healthcare Academy of California
About the School
The Healthcare Academy of California offers a variety of medical training programs in San Diego.
Fast-track weekday, weekend, and evening courses are available.
The school offers the following programs:
- Nurse Assistant
- EMT Fast Track Program
The Nurse Assistant program teaches the skills that prepare students for a long-term career in the healthcare industry.
The program can be completed after 23 training days.
The school offers weekday and weekend courses.
The program includes:
- Nursing Textbook & Workbook
- Scrubs
- Free CPR course
- LiveScan Fingerprints
- State Manual
- State Exam Fee & Registration
Contact Information
- Address: 410 S. Melrose Drive Suite 205, Vista
- Phone: (818) 766–1111
- Website: https://healthcareacademycalifornia.com
Regional Salary in California
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CA | 1,660 | $40,890 | $19.66 | $46,600 | $35,160 |
| Chico, CA | 1,110 | $42,890 | $20.62 | $48,530 | $37,480 |
| El Centro, CA | 260 | $41,710 | $20.05 | $45,790 | $36,210 |
| Fresno, CA | 2,900 | $41,930 | $20.16 | $48,000 | $36,000 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | 310 | $40,130 | $19.29 | $43,590 | $34,370 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 41,860 | $46,000 | $22.11 | $57,410 | $37,980 |
| Madera, CA | 480 | $46,740 | $22.47 | $63,340 | $38,510 |
| Merced, CA | 390 | $42,700 | $20.53 | $47,990 | $36,980 |
| Modesto, CA | 1,340 | $44,240 | $21.27 | $48,780 | $37,320 |
| Napa, CA | 390 | $47,210 | $22.7 | $54,860 | $40,860 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 1,870 | $44,410 | $21.35 | $54,970 | $37,880 |
| Redding, CA | 720 | $41,310 | $19.86 | $46,250 | $36,280 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 8,930 | $43,330 | $20.83 | $48,760 | $37,400 |
| Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA | 5,750 | $47,460 | $22.82 | $60,560 | $38,180 |
| Salinas, CA | 1,000 | $47,750 | $22.96 | $57,680 | $38,550 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad, CA | 9,820 | $46,100 | $22.16 | $57,780 | $38,130 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | 10,690 | $56,530 | $27.18 | $75,510 | $45,410 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 5,520 | $55,580 | $26.72 | $71,210 | $46,440 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA | 480 | $43,850 | $21.08 | $47,280 | $38,440 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 420 | $45,470 | $21.86 | $55,340 | $37,790 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 1,080 | $44,230 | $21.26 | $51,440 | $37,350 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | 1,220 | $46,590 | $22.4 | $54,680 | $38,400 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 2,170 | $44,240 | $21.27 | $48,590 | $37,290 |
| Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | 760 | $46,200 | $22.21 | $55,010 | $37,720 |
| Visalia-Porterville, CA | 1,200 | $42,690 | $20.52 | $45,760 | $36,080 |
| Yuba City, CA | 460 | $44,240 | $21.27 | $49,250 | $37,880 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
If you want to prepare for an entry-level career in the healthcare field, the schools included in our list can prepare you for employment as a Patient Care Technician through a combination of theory and clinical training.
Now that you have read our list, it’s time to decide if this is the career path you want to pursue and apply for the program that best meets your learning style and career aspirations.
