Trade SchoolsPatient Care Technicians work under the supervision of a nurse, doctor, or other healthcare professionals to administer basic care to patients.
They work in hospitals, clinics and other healthcare settings and are typically responsible for:
- Collecting blood samples and preparing them for the lab
- Checking vital signs
- Conducting certain medical tests
- Serving meals to patients
- Helping patients with mobility and exercises
- Monitoring patients and reporting changes to the patient’s condition to the nurse or 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.
Training programs should combine classroom with clinical training and cover medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, first aid, medical laws, medical records management, and more.
If you live in Iowa and you’re thinking about starting a Patient Care Technician career, this page is for you.
1Kirkwood Community College
About the School
Kirkwood Community College provides a Patient Care Exploration program that includes hands-on learning experience in providing care for patients in a clinical setting.
The program includes CPR, First Aid, and Nurse Aide Certifications.
Students work side-by-side with healthcare professionals in a healthcare facility and fulfill prerequisites for many college health programs.
The program includes the following courses:
- Nurse Aide
- Exploration of Healthcare Careers
Students have the option to enroll in Exploration of Healthcare Careers and Nurse Aide during the fall or spring semesters.
Students must be 16 prior to March 1st of the year enrolled.
Contact Information
- Address: 6301 Kirkwood Blvd. SW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404
- Phone: 319-398-5411
- Website: https://www.kirkwood.edu
2Des Moines Area Community College
About the School
Des Moines Area Community College offers a Patient Care Technician program that prepares students for certification exams through the National Healthcareer Association or for the Patient Care Technician certification through the American Medical Certification Association.
This program costs $2,795.
The curriculum includes 325 course hours and can be completed in 12 months.
Students learn the following skills:
- Using proper medical terminology with the interdisciplinary team
- Knowledge about the legal, ethical, and professional standards within the role of the PCT
- Providing individualized basic nursing care to a diverse population of patients
- The knowledge needed to pass the certification exams
- And more
This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.
Contact Information
- Address: 1111 East Army Post Road, Suite 2004, Des Moines, IA 50315 US
- Phone: 855.520.6806
- Website: https://careertraining.dmacc.edu
3Northeast Iowa Community College
About the School
Northeast Iowa Community College offers many local, affordable classes in CPR, dental, emergency services, nursing, medication management, and documentation.
Classes are offered face-to-face or online to meet students’ continuing education needs.
The school has state-of-the-art simulation labs to ensure students advance their skills.
Training is offered to prepare students to enter the workforce with relevant skills.
The following courses are available at low to no cost to the student:
- Certified Nurse Aide
- CNA State Testing
- Pharmacy Technician
- Phlebotomy Technician
Tuition for the Certified Nurse Aide program is $899.
Students have many options for tuition savings.
Contact Information
- Address: 1625 Highway 150 South, Calmar, Iowa 52132
- Phone: 844.642.2338
- Website: https://www.nicc.edu
4Ultimate Medical Academy
The Ultimate Medical Academy offers a Patient Care Technician Diploma Program that combines on-campus training with online learning.
Students can complete the program in as few as 12 months.
The program includes 180 hours of supervised training.
Courses Offered
The curriculum includes:
- Principles of Allied Health
- Anatomy & Physiology and Medical Terminology
- Nursing Assistant
- Advanced Phlebotomy
- And more
In total, the program costs 31.5 credits.
Students become ready to sit for the following exams:
- Certified Nursing Assistant
- Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant
- Certified Phlebotomy Technician
Contact Information
- Address: 1255 Cleveland St. Clearwater, FL 33755
- Phone: 727-298-8685
- Website: https://www.ultimatemedical.edu
5Mercy One
About the School
Mercy One was founded in 1893 and is the longest continually operating hospital in Des Moines and Iowa’s longest medical center, with 802 beds available.
Mercy One offers a Patient Care Assistant training program.
The Patient Care Assistant is a temporary position for employees hired into the Patient Care Technician Training program without experience or training as a Certified Nursing Assistant.
The PCT training program is 120 hours in length, inclusive of classroom, skills lab, and clinical hours.
During PCT training, Patient Care Assistants may assist the clinical staff in the provision of patient care with continual supervision.
Trainees prepare for essential functions, such as:
- Assisting patients with activities including personal hygiene, bathing, ambulation, transporting, and other needs
- Assisting in the delivery of patient care with supervision by an RN, LPN, and Patient Care Technician
- Responding to patient calls
- Using safe patient handling techniques
- And more
Students must be at least 16 years of age.
Contact Information
- Address: Des Moines, Iowa, 50314
- Website: https://jobs.trinity-health.org
6Joliet Junior College
About the School
Located in Illinois, Joliet Junior College offers nine customized pathways that prepare students for a variety of rewarding career fields.
Among many other programs, the college offers a Patient Care Technician program that prepares students to work hand-in-hand with doctors and nurses in a variety of healthcare settings.
Students learn how to provide standard and advanced clinical duties.
The college provides online courses that prepare students for the Certified Patient Care Technician exam, sponsored by the National Healthcareer Association.
Students have access to hands-on training in the laboratory classroom setting and at community clinical sites.
Courses Offered
The courses included in this program are:
- Introduction to Health Careers
- Phlebotomy Technician Training
- Electrocardiography Technician Training
- Nursing Assistant
- Clinical Practicum
- And more
In total, the program includes 18 credits.
Contact Information
- Address: 1215 Houbolt Road, Joliet IL, 60431
- Phone: 815.729.9020
- Website: https://jjc.edu
7International Career Institute
International Career Institute offers online classes and flexible schedules to prepare students for careers in the healthcare field.
Courses Offered
The Patient Care Technician program offered at the institute prepares students for tasks such as:
- Offering personal care services to complex patients
- Implementing selected portions of care plans
- Acquiring knowledge and skills as Nursing Assistants, Phlebotomists, and Patient Care Technicians
- Becoming eligible to take the Illinois State written competency exam for CNA, the National Health Career Association Certification for Patient Care Technician, Phlebotomist, and EKG Technician.
Classes are available at the school’s campus in Chicago.
The program includes 300 hours of training and prepares students for entry-level positions in health care.
Students who attend day or evening classes may graduate in 12 weeks while weekend students graduate in 25 weeks.
The program teaches the following skills:
- Obtaining EKG readings
- Monitoring Patient Vital Signs
- Performing Patient Safety Checks
- Performing Phlebotomy Procedures
- Providing Basic Patient Care
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 6425 N. Hamlinave. Lincolnwood, IL 60712
- Phone: 847-920-6169
- Website: https://www.ici-training.com
8Phlebotomy Career Training
About the School
Phlebotomy Career Training provides programs in the classroom and online.
All programs available at the school are accredited through national organizations.
Courses Offered
Phlebotomy Career Training offers a Patient Care Technician Certification program that can be completed online.
Courses are self-paced and accessible 24/7.
The curriculum can be completed in as few as four weeks, but students have six months to complete the course from the time of enrollment.
Students are assigned an instructor who may send them correspondence Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The instructor helps students with any questions they may have while taking the course.
This program is designed to teach skills such as:
- Performing cardiograms
- Drawing blood
- Making a patient’s bed
- Setting up feeding tubes
- Passing medications
- Charting
- And more
Students prepare for tasks such as:
- Taking vital signs
- SOAP Note charting
- Infection control
- Assisting with minor surgical procedures
- Medical supply management
- Organizing, scheduling appointments and other administrative tasks
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 15340 Michigan Ave., Dearborn, MI 48126
- Phone: 888-410-6416
- Website: https://phlebotomycareertraining.com
9Munich Medical Training Center
Munich Medical Training Center provides comprehensive training opportunities for individuals who are pursuing careers in the healthcare field.
The center offers practical education through structured programs designed to meet the needs of aspiring medical professionals.
Courses Offered
The following courses are available at Munich Medical Training Center:
- Five-day Online Phlebotomy Certification
- Two-day IV Therapy Certification
- Online Medical Assistant Course
The five-day phlebotomy certification course offers online live phlebotomy classes.
Tuition for this program is $450
Students are also responsible for paying the $129 national exam fee.
The Online Medical Assistant course can be completed in two weeks and combines online learning with hands-on training.
Tuition for this program is $700.
Contact Information
- Address: 300 Delaware Ave, Wilmington, DE 19801
- Phone: 267-248-6825
- Website: https://www.mttcenter.com
10Iowa Valley Business And Community Solutions
Iowa Valley Business And Community Solutions offers a Patient Care Technician program that is available online.
The program includes clinical practice and can be completed in four to six months.
Courses Offered
After completing the program, students will be able to:
- Explain the role of the Patient Care Technician
- Explain confidentiality and HIPAA
- Describe the aseptic technique and infection prevention
- Describe basic respiratory care
- Understand rehabilitation and restorative care
- Understand mobility and body position
- Perform documenting intake and output
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: Marshalltown, Iowa 50158
- Phone: 888.574.6218
- Website: https://iavalley.edu2.com
Regional Salary in Iowa
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ames, IA | 520 | $39,230 | $18.86 | $44,840 | $35,540 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 1,460 | $38,900 | $18.7 | $45,280 | $33,960 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 2,030 | $37,840 | $18.19 | $45,640 | $31,280 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 3,820 | $39,990 | $19.23 | $46,640 | $35,320 |
| Dubuque, IA | 790 | $39,910 | $19.19 | $46,900 | $33,890 |
| Iowa City, IA | 1,120 | $37,280 | $17.93 | $45,440 | $32,610 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 1,150 | $39,270 | $18.88 | $44,720 | $33,310 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 1,260 | $38,510 | $18.51 | $43,940 | $32,340 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
The programs included in our list are designed to prepare you for entry-level employment as a Patient Care Technician in less than one year.
If you’re a compassionate person and you want to start a career in this profession, it’s time to continue the research and choose the format that best meets your learning style, schedule, and career aspirations.
