Trade Schools
If you’re a compassionate person and you want to become a healthcare professional who provides daily care to patients, the Patient Care Technician profession is worth exploring.
As a PCT you will be responsible for completing tasks such as:
- Taking vital signs
- Helping to move patients around the clinic
- Taking blood samples
- Preparing patients for procedures
- Reporting changes to patients’ conditions to nurses or physicians
- And more
Before being ready to apply for a job in this field, you will need at least a high school diploma or GED.
Additional education requirements vary depending on the state and place of employment.
Most programs that prepare you for certification in this field can be completed in less than a year and combine classroom education with hands-on training.
To help you choose the program and the format that best fits your learning style and career aspirations, on this page, we have compiled information about the best Patient Care Technician training program available to Virginia residents.
1Sentara College of Health Sciences
About the School
Sentara College of Health Sciences offers a 16-week Patient Care Technician program that helps students gain experience working under the direct supervision of nurses and providing care for hospitalized patients.
The program is offered at the following locations:
- Harrisonburg
- Williamsburg
- Woodbridge
Classes are part-time, covering about 16 hours of instruction, skills lab, and clinicals per week.
Students also attend 180 hours of hands-on experience in skills labs, simulations, and clinicals.
The program is offered in January and August each year.
Students need a high school diploma or GED and they must be 18 years old by the first day of class.
Graduates are eligible to sit for the national Patient Care Technician certification exam.
An accelerated 12-week program is available each summer.
Contact Information
- Address: Crossways I – Suite 105, 1441 Crossways Blvd. Chesapeake, VA 23320
- Phone: (757) 388-2900
- Website: https://www.sentara.edu
2Virginia Peninsula Community College
About the School
Virginia Peninsula Community College provides a Patient Care Technician program.
This online program includes a complimentary voucher to sit for either the Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant examination through the National Healthcareer Association or the Patient Care Technician (PCTC) certification exam through the American Medical Certification Association.
Students learn how to care for patients in a variety of conditions and healthcare settings.
The program also covers the legal and ethical responsibilities of practicing patient care.
The syllabus teaches the following Patient Care Technician subjects:
- Becoming a Patient Care Technician
- Law, Ethics, and Healthcare
- Soft Skills in Healthcare
- Organization of the Human Body
- Pharmacology
- Non-Blood Specimen Collection
- Phlebotomy
- Cardiology Procedures and ECGs
- And more
Tuition for this program is $2,795.
Contact Information
- Address: 99 Thomas Nelson Dr. P.O. Box 9407, Hampton, VA 23670 US
- Phone: 855.520.6806
- Website: https://careertraining.vpcc.edu
3Thrive Healthcare Academy
About the School
Thrive Healthcare Academy is a Nursing Assistant Training school in Northern Virginia.
The school provides a six-week course that prepares students to take the Virginia State Exam to become certified nursing assistants.
School instructors have years of professional experience, both in teaching and in the nursing field.
The program includes an extra week of training that allows students to enhance their skills, practice for the state written exam, and learn about various job opportunities in Virginia healthcare.
Candidates must be at least 18 years of age.
Good written and verbal knowledge of English is also required.
Students must be able to lift at least 50 lbs and they are required to pass a drug screen and a criminal background check.
Contact Information
- Address: 3702 Pender Dr. Suite 420 Fairfax, VA 22030
- Phone: 703-383-9306
- Website: https://thrivehca.com
41st Providence Healthcare Training
1st Providence Healthcare Training LLC recruits and trains students who become highly skilled and qualified healthcare professionals.
The school offers training programs in fields ranging from nurse aides to electrocardiogram technicians.
Courses Offered
The following programs are available at the school:
- Basic Life Support
- Nurse Aide
- Medication Aide
- Personal Care Aide
- Clinical Medical Assistant
- Electrocardiogram Technician
- Phlebotomy
- And more
The Electrocardiography Tech program covers topics that include basic cardiovascular anatomy and physiology, patient preparation, and patient confidentiality, among other topics.
Phlebotomy Tech students learn how to perform the following tasks:
- Draw blood from patients and donors
- Evaluate the patient’s ability to withstand blood draw procedures
- Explaining procedures to patients
- Answer patient questions
Contact Information
- Address: 1549 Old Bridge Road, Unit 208, Woodbridge, VA 22192
- Phone: 571-494-0032
- Website: https://www.1stprovidence.com
5Healthcare Training Solutions, Inc
Healthcare Training Solutions, Inc. offers healthcare training and certification programs that are available online.
Courses Offered
The following courses are included in the school’s catalog:
- Registered Medication Aide
- Personal Care Aide
- Medication Aide for DBHDS
- Medication Aide Refresher
- Gastronomy Tube
- MAT for Childcare Providers
- Daily Health Observation
- Exam Prep for RMA
The Personal Care Aide course is a 40-hour training program that leads to a certificate.
The course is approved by the Department of Medical Assistance Services and is designed to equip students with the skills needed to be effective caregivers.
This course costs $350 and includes 12 months of access.
Contact Information
- Address: Hampton Roads, VA 23435
- Phone: 757-405-8498
- Website: https://healthcaretrainingsolutionsinc.com
6Piedmont Virginia Community College
About the School
Piedmont Virginia Community College offers a Patient Care Technician program that provides students with the essential skills and knowledge to deliver high-quality care in various healthcare settings.
The topics covered by this program include:
- Patient monitoring
- Basic medical procedures
- Effective communication
The course covers both clinical and compassionate patient interaction skills.
During the program students engage in hands-on training and simulations to develop proficiency in tasks such as:
- Vital sign measurement
- Specimen collection
- Assisting with daily living activities
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age on the first day of class
Contact Information
- Address: 501 College Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22902
- Phone: 434.977.3900
- Website: https://www.pvcc.edu
7Falls Church Academy
About the School
Falls Church Academy offers courses that include hands-on skills learning and experiences, industry-recognized certification, and licensure.
The academy also has industry contact with local health and human service partners and leading national organizations to enhance students’ learning experiences.
Some courses also provide dual enrollment credits with Northern Virginia Community College.
Courses Offered
The Patient Care Technician program at Falls Church Academy teaches advanced skills such as drawing blood, starting intravenous therapy, performing electrocardiograms, as well as basic EKG interpretation.
After completing the course, students will be eligible to sit for the National Health Career Association exam to become licensed as Certified Patient Care Technicians/Assistants in Virginia.
Contact Information
- Address: 7521 Jaguar Trail, Falls Church, VA 22042
- Phone: 703-207-4011
- Website: https://fallschurchacademy.fcps.edu
8Valley Career & Technical Center
About the School
Valley Career & Technical Center offers a Patient Care Technician program that is offered as an advanced nursing course after the completion of Nurse Aide.
Students learn the skills to perform electrocardiograms, execute basic medical, lab, and exam procedures, draw blood, and provide basic patient/client care.
The program also teaches basic pharmacology, following proper procedures for preparing, administering, and facilitating patient self-administration or assisting with medication administration, maintaining medications, and following appropriate procedures for documentation.
The course can be completed in one year and is available to students in grade 12.
Courses Offered
The course content includes:
- Demonstrate medical procedures with patient care and comfort measures
- Assisting in preventing medical complications
- Understanding phlebotomy and related procedures
- Pharmacology basics
- The role of electrocardiograms
- Pain management and issues of opioid addiction
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 49 Hornet Rd. Fishersville, VA 22939
- Phone: (540) 245-5002
- Website: https://www.valleytech.us
9Virginia's CTE Resource Center
About the School
Virginia’s CTE Resource Center offers a Patient Care Technician program that can be completed in 36 weeks and includes 140 hours of instruction.
The course has the following prerequisites:
- Nurse Aide II or
- Nurse Aide II Condensed
Courses Offered
The curriculum includes the following skills:
- Performing electrocardiograms
- Executing basic medical, lab, and exam procedures
- Drawing blood
- Providing basic patient/client care
Graduates are eligible to take the National Certification Exams to become Certified Phlebotomy Technicians, Certified ECG Technicians, and Certified Patient Care Technicians
Contact Information
- Address: 2002 Bremo Road, Suite 100, Henrico, VA 23226
- Phone: 804-673-3778
- Website: https://www.cteresource.org
10VIrginia's Community College- Virginia Highlands Community College
About the School
Virginia Highlands Community College offers a Health Care Technician program that teaches basic care skills with emphasis on the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of patients.
The course covers procedures, communications, interpersonal relations, observation, charting and reporting, safety and infection control, anatomy and physiology, nutrition and patient feeding, ethics, death and dying.
Courses Offered
Virginia’s Community Colleges also provide the following healthcare-related programs:
- Medical Radiologic Technology/Science- Radiation Therapist
- Occupational Therapist Assistant
- Physical Therapy Assistant
- Radiologic Technology/Science- Radiographer
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
- Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist
- Surgical Technology/Technologist
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 300 Arboretum Place, Suite 200, Richmond, VA 23236
- Phone: (804) 819-4901
- Website: https://www.vccs.edu
Regional Salary in Virginia
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | 700 | $35,160 | $16.91 | $42,080 | $29,310 |
| Charlottesville, VA | 1,710 | $37,930 | $18.23 | $47,470 | $30,150 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | 560 | $35,400 | $17.02 | $42,930 | $27,720 |
| Lynchburg, VA | 1,180 | $35,890 | $17.26 | $44,880 | $28,740 |
| Richmond, VA | 6,580 | $37,570 | $18.06 | $46,260 | $29,150 |
| Roanoke, VA | 2,470 | $35,860 | $17.24 | $44,820 | $28,930 |
| Staunton-Waynesboro, VA | 650 | $38,030 | $18.28 | $45,300 | $28,080 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC | 8,100 | $35,760 | $17.19 | $44,930 | $26,540 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | 640 | $37,340 | $17.95 | $43,620 | $29,220 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
If you’re a compassionate person and you want to start a career in healthcare, the Patient Care Technician profession may be just the right fit for you.
Virginia students may become ready for employment in less than a year by attending one of the programs included in our list.
Now that you have read our selection, it’s time to continue the research and choose the format that best fits your lifestyle and career aspirations.
