Trade Schools
If you live in Minnesota and want to start a career in the healthcare field, this page is for you.
Here we have compiled information about the best schools that can prepare you for employment as a Patient Care Technician.
PCTs play a vital role in the healthcare industry because they help patients feel comfortable and safe during medical treatment or procedures.
Patient Care Technicians are also qualified to use EKG machines and collect blood samples in addition to providing basic patient care.
Training programs for future Patient Care Technicians are available at many colleges, trade schools, and medical institutions.
Some courses are available online and can be completed by students from the comfort of their homes.
Many programs combine online classes, in-person lectures, and laboratory and clinical experience to prepare students for real-world situations.
You can train for this profession either by following a dedicated program or by gaining separate CNA, Phlebotomy, and EKG certifications.
We invite you to read further and find out more about the available training options.
1Prime Time Medical Training
About the School
Prime Time Medical Training offers online and in-person classes with multiple schedule options.
The programs prepare students for state and national certifications and diplomas that help students land their dream job in the healthcare industry.
The school is accredited and approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing and the Office of Higher Education.
The following medical programs are available at Prime Time Medical Training:
- Medication Aide- a 56-hour program
- Nursing Assistant- a 75-clock-hour program
- Clinical Medical Assistant- a 720-hour program
- Phlebotomy Technician- a 56-hour program
- IV Therapy For Nurses- a 30-clock hour program
- Continuing Education
The nurse aide program is offered in a hybrid model and can be completed in seven weeks by evening weekday students and in four weeks by day weekday students.
Weekend students may graduate in six weekends.
An accelerated track is also available and gives students the opportunity to graduate in as few as three weeks.
Contact Information
- Address: 12016 Ulysses St. NE, Blaine, MN 55434
- Phone: 952.563.9901
- Website: https://primetimemedtraining.com
2North Metro Health Institute
North Metro Health Institute gives students the opportunity to start a new career in the health field as a Certified Nurse Assistant or Home Health Aide.
Students demonstrate and practice skills in a supervised laboratory and clinical setting.
The course is 96 hours long and can be completed in 3.5 weeks.
All lectures and labs must be completed within 2.5 weeks and are followed by clinical rotation at a long-term healthcare facility.
Students cannot miss any clinical time.
Courses Offered
The curriculum includes courses such as:
- Introduction to healthcare
- Basic human needs
- Vital signs
- Personal care
- Food and nutrition
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 7420 Unity Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55443, USA
- Phone: 763-432-7968
- Website: https://northmetrohealth.com
3Loving Lotus
About the School
CNA training classes can also be completed at Loving Lotus.
The hybrid self-paced program helps students jump-start their careers and prepares them for an entry-level position in the healthcare field.
The course contains a minimum of 75 hours that include a 42-44 hour part of online work and 35 hours of in-person/practical training.
The program costs $1,400, not including the state exam fee.
In order to obtain a CNA certificate through Loving Lotus, students must complete a minimum of 75 hours and pass all coursework with a “C” average (75%) or above.
To become a Certified Nursing Assistant, students must successfully pass the written and skills portions of the state exam.
Contact Information
- Address: 2419 Margaret Street North, North Saint Paul, Minnesota 55109
- Phone: 651-321-7500
- Website: https://lovinglotuscna.com
4Accelerated School of Nursing Assistant
About the School
The Accelerated School of Nursing Assistant specializes in providing quality training programs for individuals seeking a career as a nursing assistant.
The school is known for its accelerated nursing assistant program designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the healthcare industry in a short period of time.
The school offers two options for registration:
- Morning and evening classes- this program costs $925
- Weekends only- a $1,500 track
The school has been approved by the Department of Health to provide students with the official Minnesota Nurse Assistant and Home Health Aide course.
Before applying for their first nursing assistant job, students need to pass an exam and become certified.
Contact Information
- Address: 8470 Xerxes Ave N Brooklyn Center 55444
- Phone: 763-446-0412
- Website: https://acceleratedsna.com
5Anoka Technical College
Anoka Technical College offers degrees, diplomas, and certificates in more than 70 programs.
Students receive hands-on training from industry experts.
Courses Offered
Among many other career paths, the college provides training for the following professions:
- Health Technology
- Medical Office Specialist
- Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide
- Practical Nursing
- Emergency Medical Technician
- And more
The Nursing Assistant/ Home Health Aide program meets the requirements of the federal government and the Minnesota Board of Nursing.
The Anoka Technical College Health Technology certificate provides students with the skills to secure an entry-level position in the health field or allows them to engage in coursework that transfers easily into different health programs at Anoka Tech.
Contact Information
- Address: 1355 West Highway 10, Anoka, MN 55303
- Phone: 763-433-1100
- Website: https://www.anokatech.edu
6Minneapolis College
About the School
Minneapolis College offers a variety of fully online degree programs and hundreds of online courses to choose from.
The programs list includes:
- Health Sciences Broad Field
- Medical Office Professional
- Nursing
- Nursing Assistant
- Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician
- And more
The Health Science Broad Field program leads to an A.S. degree and provides a broad base of health science and general education coursework to prepare students for transfer into health-related fields.
The coursework includes:
- Nutrition
- Biology
- Anatomy
- Lifespan Development
- Physiology
- Microbiology
- And more
In total, students need 60 credits.
The Nursing Assistant Certificate program requires five credits and focuses on the knowledge and skills needed to care for clients in long-term care, acute care, and/or home care settings under the supervision of a nurse.
Contact Information
- Address: 1501 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55403
- Phone: 612-659-6000
- Website: https://minneapolis.edu
7Phlebotomy Training Specialists
About the School
Phlebotomy Training Specialists offers a training program in St. Paul.
The following class schedules are available:
- Day- 12 classes that take place Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Evening- 12 classes from Monday to Thursday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Weekend- six classes held on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Graduates of this program will be qualified to work as Phlebotomists in Minnesota and any other state in the Nation.
This program costs $1,095 and includes a $200 deposit, $770 for class tuition, and $125 for the National Exam Fee.
Students must meet the following prerequisites:
- Being 18 years of age or older
- Being a high school graduate or equivalent
Contact Information
- Address: 7200 Hudson Blvd., Suite 205, Oakdale, MN 55128
- Phone: 701-404-9434
- Website: https://www.phlebotomyusa.com
8Normandale Community College
Normandale Community College offers a variety of degree and certificate options, including a Healthcare Systems Technology A.A.S. degree option and a Nursing Assistant Certificate program.
The Healthcare Systems Technology A.A.S. degree combines computer technology, health information technology, and healthcare.
Students learn software database design, data management, data privacy laws and regulations, workflow analysis and design, and healthcare and computer terminology.
Courses Offered
The required courses include:
- Medical Terminology
- Healthcare in the US
- Introduction to Health Information Technology
- Privacy and Security in Health Information Technology
- And more
The Nursing Assistant Certificate program awards four credits and is approved by the Minnesota Department of Health.
Contact Information
- Address: 9700 France Avenue South Bloomington, MN 55431
- Phone: 952-358-8200
- Website: https://www.normandale.edu
9Best American Healthcare College
About the School
Patient Care Technician classes are also available at schools located in other states.
Best American Healthcare College offers 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 of 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
10Phlebotomy Career Training
About the School
Phlebotomy Career Training offers a Patient Care Technician Certification program that can be completed online.
This certificate program is designed for students who want to learn how to perform duties such as:
- Performing cardiograms
- Drawing blood
- Making a patient’s bed
- Setting up feeding tubes
- Passing medications
- Charting
- And more
Students also prepare for tasks such as:
- Taking vital signs
- SOAP Note charting
- Infection control
- Assisting with minor surgical procedures
- Performing phlebotomies
- Medical supply management
- Organizing, scheduling, and other administrative tasks
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 15340 Michigan Ave., Dearborn, MI 48126
- Phone: 888-410-6416
- Website: https://phlebotomycareertraining.com
Regional Salary in Minnesota
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MN-WI | 1,540 | $41,480 | $19.94 | $50,140 | $36,240 |
| Mankato-North Mankato, MN | 820 | $40,380 | $19.42 | $45,950 | $36,520 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 13,720 | $45,200 | $21.73 | $54,030 | $38,390 |
| Rochester, MN | 1,530 | $42,360 | $20.37 | $46,710 | $37,820 |
| St. Cloud, MN | 1,400 | $39,180 | $18.84 | $49,030 | $34,110 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
If you want to prepare for Patient Care Technician employment in Minnesota you have to first learn a few skills, such as:
- Taking vital signs
- Escorting patients to treatment rooms
- Assisting patients with daily activities
- Drawing blood
- Performing EKGs
- Answering phones
- And more
These skills can be learned by attending in-person, online, or hybrid training programs.
Now that you have read our selection of the best training options available, it’s your turn to continue the research and apply for the program that best fits your learning style and career aspirations.
