Trade Schools
If you’re a compassionate person with good communication skills, and you want to help people, the Patient Care Technician profession may be a good fit for you.
PCTs work in hospitals, clinics, and other medical settings where they play an important part in making sure patients feel comfortable and safe.
Before being ready to apply for your first job in this field, you have to learn how to perform a few tasks, such as:
- Monitoring vital signs
- Helping patients dress and use the bathroom
- Assisting physicians and nurses in providing patient care
- Maintaining accurate patient records
- Performing infection control procedures
- Collecting samples for laboratory tests
These skills and more can be learned by attending a post-secondary program at a trade school or community college, on campus, online, or in a hybrid format.
To help you choose the school and the program that best fits your needs, on this page, we have compiled information about the best Patient Care Technician schools in the state of Montana and the programs they offer.
1Lanier Technical College
About the School
Lanier Technical College provides a Patient Care Training program that prepares students to play a vital role in assisting other medical staff in providing care to patients.
After successfully completing this fully online program, students become technicians focused on direct patient care and support in a hospital, clinic, long-term care facility, or home health care.
Eligible students receive a voucher to sit for the Patient Care Technician certification exam provided by the National Healthcareer Association or the Patient Care Technician certification exam offered by the American Medical Certification Association.
Courses Offered
Students prepare to complete tasks such as:
- Regularly checking and recording patient blood pressure, heart rate, and pulse
- Listening to patients’ concerns, answering questions, and providing guidance
- Moving, repositioning, or turning patients as needed
- Helping patients dress and use the bathroom
- Escorting patients for tests and procedures
- And more
There are no prerequisites for this course.
Contact Information
- Address: 2535 Lanier Tech Drive Gainesville, GA 30507
- Phone: 770-533-7000
- Website: https://www.laniertech.edu
2Univeristy of Motana- Missoula College
The Health Professions program at University of Montana can be the first step towards a career in the healthcare field.
The pathway includes multiple Associate of Applied Science Degrees, Associate of Science Degrees, and Certificate programs.
Courses Offered
The following programs are available:
- Clinical Medical Assisting C.T.S.
- Medical Assisting A.A.S.
- Paramedicine A.A.S.
- Radiologic Technology A.A.S.
- Nursing A.A.S.
- Respiratory Care, A.A.S.
- Surgical Technology A.A.S.
- Medical Administration & Coding, A.A.S., Medical Reception C.A.S., Medical Claims Specialist, C.T.S.
The Medical Assisting program is designed to prepare students for entry-level positions in Medical Assisting.
The program includes the following course requirements:
- Medical Assistance and Clinical Procedures
- Medical Terminology
- Pharmaceutical Products
- Medical Office Procedures
- Medical Ethics
- Basic Human Biology
- Electronic Health Records
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: Aber Hall Room 623, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT 59812
- Phone: (406) 243-5600
- Website: https://www.umt.edu
3Montana Technological University
About the School
A Medical Assistant program is also available at Montana Technological University.
This program includes the theory and practice associated with administrative and clinical skills needed to assist physicians with patient care.
Students learn administrative skills, such as:
- Answering telephones
- Using computer applications to schedule patients
- Arranging hospital admissions
- Handling correspondence
- And more
The program also covers clinical skills:
- Taking vital signs and patient histories
- Administering immunizations and medication
- Drawing blood
- Wound care
- Assisting with minor office surgery
- Instrument care and sterilization
- And more
Courses Offered
The curriculum includes courses such as:
- Medical Terminology
- Basic Medical Coding
- Medical Law and Ethics
- Advanced Medical Coding
- Computerized Medical Billing
- Medical Assisting Clinical Procedures
- Pharmacology
- And more
The program requires a minimum of 69 credits for an AAS degree in Medical Assisting.
Contact Information
- Address: 1300 West Park Street Butte, MT 59701
- Phone: 800-445-8324
- Website: https://mtech.edu
4University of Montana- Bitterroot College
University of Montana- Bitterroot College offers a Patient Care Technician program that prepares students for the Patient Care Technician certification exam through the National Healthcareer Association or for the Patient Care Technician certification through the American Medical Certification Association.
The self-paced program includes 325 course hours and can be completed in 12 months.
Courses Offered
Students take classes such as:
- Medical Terminology
- Law, Ethics, and Healthcare
- Infection Control and Safety Precautions
- Organization of the Human Body
- Pharmacology
- Patient Care and Comfort
- Patient Surgical Care
- Cardiology Procedures and ECGs
- And more
There are no prerequisites to take this course.
To earn a certification as a Patient Care Technician students must hold a high school diploma or GED/high school equivalency and must have completed a patient care technician training or education program.
Contact Information
- Address: 103 South 9th Street, Hamilton, MT 59840 US
- Phone: 855.520.6806
- Website: https://careertraining.ed2go.com/bitterroot
5St. John's United
About the School
St. John’s United provides an accredited nursing assistant training program for those interested in pursuing a career in healthcare.
The program can lead to employment at St. John’s United.
Students attend three weeks of online didactic and 36 hours of on-site clinical training.
All practical training is performed side by side with healthcare professionals at St. John’s.
After completing the program, students are eligible to test for the Montana State Certification.
The program costs $450 and includes textbooks and materials.
Each new nursing assistant must pass a State Certification exam within 120 days of class graduation to continue CNA practice.
Contact Information
- Address: 3940 Rimrock Rd. Billings, MT 59102
- Phone: (406) 655-5600
- Website: https://www.stjohnsunited.org
6Charter College
About the School
Charter College Billings offers a Medical Assistant program to Montana residents.
The school has a strong team of staff and instructors dedicated to students’ success.
The Certificate in Medical Assisting was developed to address the hiring needs of Billing area employers.
Students attend classroom instruction combined with hands-on learning to prepare for the real world.
Students who attend the college in Billings come from Billing, Laurel, Huntley, Pryor, Hardin, Crow Agency, and the rest of the Billings area.
As part of the Medical Assistant training program students are required to complete a 180-hour externship program at a local clinic, physician’s office, HMO, or other allied health ambulatory facility.
Contact Information
- Address: 1595 Grand Avenue #230, Billings, MT 59102
- Phone: (406) 294-0156
- Website: https://chartercollege.edu
7College of Western Idaho
Online training programs are also available in the neighboring state of Idaho.
About the School
One such program is provided by the College of Western Idaho.
This online, self-paced program introduces students to the vital role patient care technicians play in the healthcare system.
Students learn under the supervision of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals and gain practical skills in patient care.
This program costs $3,799 and can be completed in three months.
Courses Offered
The program’s learning outcomes include:
- Basic Medical Procedures
- Bedside Care Skills
- Healthcare Team Collaboration
- Patient Monitoring & Assistance
- Certification Preparation
- National certification exams
The minimum age requirement for this program is 18.
Contact Information
- Address: P.O. Box 3010, Nampa, ID 83653
- Phone: 208.562.3000
- Website: https://cwi.edu
8CSI Workforce Development & Training
About the School
The College of Southern Idaho has a Workforce Development & Training department that offers a Patient Care Technician program.
This 110-hour program combines online learning with in-person instructor-led lab and clinical experience to teach students a wide range of skills and knowledge.
The program is designed to give students the skills they need to assist patients in several aspects of care, including:
- Mental health
- Basic phlebotomy
- Cardiology EKG
Students prepare for work under the direction of a licensed practitioner or nurse.
This program costs $1,250 and is available in a hybrid format.
Those who successfully complete the program are ready to sit for the Patient Technician/Assistant Certification exam through the National Healthcare Association.
Contact Information
- Address: 315 Falls Avenue, PO Box 1238, Twin Falls, ID, 83303-1238
- Phone: (208) 732-6310
- Website: https://workforce.csi.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, a college located in California, offers online and in-classroom healthcare education and training.
The college’s catalog includes a Patient Care Technician program available online and at the Riverside campus.
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 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
Patient Care Technician students prepare for tasks such as:
- Taking vital signs
- Note charting
- Infection control
- Assisting with minor surgical procedures
- 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 Montana
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT | 880 | $40,820 | $19.63 | $57,460 | $31,620 |
| Great Falls, MT | 440 | $38,650 | $18.58 | $45,090 | $35,110 |
| Missoula, MT | 430 | $40,950 | $19.69 | $46,560 | $33,880 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
If you want to prepare for an entry-level career in the healthcare field, the Patient Care Technician profession may be the right fit for you.
Now that you have read our selection of the best Patient Care Technician programs available to Montana students, the next step is to decide if this is the path that you want to pursue and enroll in the program that best fits your learning style.
