Trade Schools
New Jersey offers a variety of training opportunities for those who want to prepare for a career in healthcare.
On this page, we have compiled information about some of the best Patient Care Technician programs available.
Although job descriptions vary depending on the place of employment, a PCT is typically responsible for:
- Assisting patients with activities of daily living
- Monitoring patients and measuring vital signs
- Assisting doctors and nurses when administering treatments
- Reporting changes in patient’s conditions to registered nurses
- Providing emotional support to patients
- Collecting samples and preparing them for the lab
- And more
These skills can be learned through a post-secondary program offered by a college, trade school, or healthcare facility.
Some programs require prior CNA certification but there are also programs that combine CNA training with PCT training.
Many schools offer flexible schedules to allow students to keep a full-time job while preparing for this new profession.
1Americation Career & Training School
Americation Career & Training School offers on-campus, online, and hybrid programs.
Among many other career paths, the school provides the following healthcare programs:
- Medical Assistant
- Patient Care Technician
- Phlebotomy Technician
- EKG Technician
- EKG & Phlebotomy Technician
- Medical Assistant with PCT
- Patient Care Associate
- And more
The Patient Care Technician program offers students two options:
Attend the theory part of the program online, on their schedule, and come in on campus to complete the clinical training part or
Attend the classes online with a live instructor on a set date and come in on campus to complete the clinicals.
After completing the program students receive a Certification of Achievement from the Americation Career and Training School.
Contact Information
- Address: 24 Commerce St, Ste 401, Newark, New Jersey 07102
- Phone: 973-642-4160
- Website: https://www.americation.org
2Always Health Institute
About the School
Always Health Institute offers high-quality programs in the healthcare field with curriculums designed to meet the competitive needs of the job market.
This is one of the only schools in New Jersey that offer bilingual classes.
Always Health Institute is approved by the New Jersey Department of Education and The New Jersey Department of Labor.
Courses Offered
The following courses are available at the institute:
- Dental Assistant
- Patient Care Technician
- Clinical Medical Assistant
- Massage Therapy
- Phlebotomy Technician
- Pharmacy Technician
- And more
The Patient Care Technician program takes between six and nine weeks to complete and is delivered in person.
Students prepare for responsibilities such as:
- Keeping patient rooms tiny and sanitized
- Monitoring vital signs
- Taking fluid samples or other specimens for testing
- Performing basic nursing procedures
- Ensuring rooms have adequate patient care supplies
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 6406 Bergenline Ave, West New York, NJ 07093
- Phone: 201-869-8600
- Website: https://www.alwayshealthinstitute.com
3Safe Care Health School
Safe Care Health School offers hands-on healthcare training, expert instruction, and flexible, affordable payment plans.
Courses Offered
The following courses are available at the school:
- Certified Phlebotomy Technician
- Certified EKG Technician
- Certified Clinical Medical Assistant
- Certified Patient Care Technician
- And more
The Certified Patient Care Technician program can be completed in four months and includes 420 hours of training.
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Holding a high school diploma or graduation certificate
- Providing a social security number
- Holding a driver’s license or government-issued ID
- Physical examination and immunizations
- Providing a passport-sized photo
The program includes ten modules and covers skills such as:
- Patient rights, ethics, and professional conduct
- Medical terminology for effective communication
- Basics of human anatomy, physiology, and body systems
- Basic phlebotomy and EKG procedures
- Handling medical equipment and ensuring patient safety
- Supporting nurses and physicians during medical procedures
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 2333 Mercerville – Whitehorse Road, Suite #B, Hamilton, New Jersey 08619
- Phone: 609-585-2800
- Website: https://safecarehealth-school.com
4AMG Medical Institute
AMG Medical Institute empowers aspiring healthcare professionals with the knowledge, skills, and compassion needed to excel in the field of their choice.
The school offers a cutting-edge curriculum, hands-on training, and a focus on ethical practice.
Courses Offered
The school provides courses such as:
- Ultrasound/Sonography Technologist
- MRI Technologist
- Surgical Technologist
- Patient Care Technician
- Electrocardiogram Technician
- Phlebotomy Technician
- Certified Nursing Assistant
- Medical Assistant
The Patient Care Technician program available at the institute is designed to help students develop the skills required for tasks such as:
- Phlebotomy
- EKG
- Routine tests
- Recording vital signs
- Patient care
- Cardiac monitoring
- And more
This program is 24 weeks long and includes 480 hours spent in the classroom and 120 hours at an internship/externship site.
Contact Information
- Address: 554 Bloomfield Ave Ste 3D, Bloomfield, NJ 07003
- Phone: (973) 221-4490
- Website: https://www.amgmedicalinstitute.com
5Ace Healthcare Training Institute
About the School
Ace Healthcare Training Institute offers a variety of healthcare training programs, including one for students who want to prepare for a career as a Patient Care Technician.
This program includes 330 hours of training and takes between four and 11 weeks to complete.
It is available at the Dover and Union campuses.
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and first have to complete the EKG and Phlebotomy program.
Graduates are ready to take certification exams and pursue careers in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and long-term care facilities.
The EKG and Phlebotomy training program is 120 hours long and can be completed in four to 11 weeks.
This dual-focused program teaches students how to perform electrocardiograms and accurately draw blood specimens while ensuring patients are safe and the procedure is precise.
Contact Information
- Address: 8 South Morris Street, Suite 200, Dover, NJ 07801
- Phone: (973) 366-7171
- Website: https://www.acehti.com
6JFK Institute of Healthcare
JFK Institute of Healthcare offers a variety of healthcare training programs for students who want to start careers as Patient Care Technicians, Medical Assistants, Phlebotomy Technicians, and other allied health professionals.
Courses Offered
The Patient Care Technician program available at JFK Institute of Healthcare covers the following core subjects: Anatomy, EKG, Phlebotomy, and Medical Assistant Skills.
This program is designed to be completed in less than four months.
Applicants need a high school diploma or a GED, or have to pass an entrance test.
Students may choose between morning, evening, and weekend schedules.
The program leads to a Certificate of Completion.
Contact Information
- Address: 1210 East Grand Street, 2nd Floor, Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201
- Phone: 844-535-3381
- Website: http://www.jfkih.com
7Com-Tec Institute
Com-Tec Institute is a health care and technical institute in East Orange, New Jersey.
The school is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education.
Courses Offered
The following programs are available at the institute:
- Home Health Care Aide
- Certified Nursing Assistant
- Medical Assistant
The Certified Nursing Assistant program can be completed in six weeks and includes 150 clock hours.
This course is approved by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services.
Contact Information
- Address: 44 Glenwood Ave, East Orange NJ 07017
- Phone: 973-673-6100
- Website: https://www.comtecinstitute.com
8Progressive Careers Institute
About the School
The Patient Care Technician program offered at Progressive Careers Institute includes 300 hours of training.
The program teaches skills such as venipuncture, electrocardiography, and patient healthcare.
After completing this program graduates receive a certificate of completion and will be eligible for National Certification through the National Certification Career Association or the American Medical Certification Association to be Certified Patient Care Technicians.
Students learn how to provide direct patient care and comfort, how to take vital signs, collect specimens, and much more.
Progressive Careers Institute is accredited by the Middle States Association of Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools.
Contact Information
- Address: 239 Avenel St #9 Avenel, NJ 07001
- Phone: 732-638-5070
- Website: https://progressive.edu
9Health Promotion Information
Health Promotion Information School of Allied Health is a private vocational school established in 2006.
Courses Offered
The school provides a Patient Care Technician program that prepares individuals with the knowledge and skills to perform routine patient care activities.
The instruction covers the regulations that govern healthcare, safety and emergency procedures, communication, basic nursing skills, and observing, recording, and monitoring changes in patients’ condition.
The curriculum also includes patient setup and transport, as well as electrocardiography and phlebotomy procedures.
Graduates are eligible to challenge State and National exams.
Contact Information
- Address: 979B Lehigh Ave Union NJ 07083
- Phone: (908)687-0808
- Website: http://hpiallied.edu
10Dorson Vocational Training Institute
Dorson Vocational Training Institute is fully licensed by the State of New Jersey Department of Education and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
The following certification programs are available at the institute:
- Certified Home Health Aide
- CNA to CHHA Conversion
- Patient Care Technician
- Certified EKG Technician
- Certified Phlebotomy Technician
- And more
The Patient Care Technician program prepares students to work as entry-level technicians in a clinic, hospital, or long-term care facility.
The program includes 300 hours of training and costs $4,000.
The program is taught with a combination of lectures, practical exercises in the medical laboratory, and practical experience during an externship.
Contact Information
- Address: 280 South Harrison Street, Suite 300, East Orange, NJ 07018
- Phone: 973.676.6300
- Website: https://www.dorsonvti.com
Regional Salary in New Jersey
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | 1,150 | $39,480 | $18.98 | $43,610 | $33,900 |
| Ocean City, NJ | 240 | $39,580 | $19.03 | $46,240 | $35,280 |
| Trenton, NJ | 1,510 | $41,160 | $19.79 | $46,590 | $36,320 |
| Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ | 720 | $42,410 | $20.39 | $46,310 | $35,620 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
If you want to prepare for a career in the healthcare field without spending many years in higher education, the Patient Care Technician profession may be the right fit for you.
This profession usually requires the completion of a post-secondary program that is typically a few months long.
Prior to enrollment, schools require a high school diploma, GED, or an admission exam.
Now that you have read our selection for the best Patient Care Technician schools in New Jersey, the next step is to continue the research and apply for the program that best meets your learning style and career aspirations.
