Patient Care Technician (PCT)Program – Union Centre Institute

Professional Certification Program

Patient Care Technician (PCT)

Welcome to Union Centre Institute's Patient Care Technician (PCT) Program. This accelerated path balances flexible, remote lecture modules with essential hands-on training to turn you into a highly sought-after multi-skilled healthcare ally.

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Duration

10 Weeks (hybrid)

Next Start

September 2026

Program Highlights

10 Weeks

Flexible Cohorts

Earn your certification in a focused 10-week hybrid track with weekday or weekend lab options.

Hands-On Lab Training

Real Practice Experience

Clinical skills practice in our large room lab suite with experienced instructors.

Clinical Externship

Real Bedside Experience

20 hours of supervised externship for real-world bedside validation before employment.

NHA Certification

Certified Patient Care Technician

Your NHA CPCT/A national exam fee and full prep suite are included with tuition..

Comprehensive Curriculum

Our structured program covers everything you need to become a confident, certified PCT

Course Curriculum Format & Materials

10 Weeks · 100 Clock Hours · Lecture, Lab & Externship

Patient Care Foundations

Weeks 1-3

Anatomy, physiology & body systems
Medical terminology & charting
Infection control & standard precautions
Patient safety, transfers & mobility
Vital signs & accurate measurements
Communication, ethics & HIPAA

Direct Patient Care Skills

Weeks 4-7

Activities of daily living & personal care
Body mechanics & safe patient handling
Intake, output & specimen collection
Wound care & basic treatments
Nutrition, hydration & comfort measures
Rehabilitation & restorative support

Phlebotomy, EKG & Certification

Weeks 8-10

Venipuncture & specimen handling
12-lead EKG placement & monitoring
Acute and critical care workflows
20-hour clinical externship
NHA CPCT/A exam review
Comprehensive skills check-off

Hybrid Delivery · Weekday or Weekend Labs · NHA CPCT/A Included

Delivery Format

Hybrid Model

40 hours online interactive lecture
40 hours in-house hands-on lab
20 hours clinical externship placement
4 hours of lab each week
Weekday cohort: Tue & Thu, 9 to 11 AM
Weekend cohort: Saturdays, 8 AM to 12 PM

Required Materials

Included with Tuition

Fundamental Concepts & Skills for the PCT (2nd Edition)
Companion workbook eBook on VitalSource
Evolve resources platform & case studies
Clinical video sequences & review challenges
NHA CPCT/A digital review package
Mock diagnostics & study dashboard

Certification & Investment

$3,250 Per Student

NHA Certified Patient Care Technician (CPCT/A) exam
National board exam fee included
All textbook, workbook & Evolve licenses
Custom study dashboard keys
Full lecture, lab & externship access
One all-inclusive tuition, no hidden fees

Essential Skills You'll Learn

Vital Signs Patient Transfers Activities of Daily Living Venipuncture EKG Monitoring Specimen Collection Wound Care Bedside Care Body Mechanics Infection Control Patient Communication Medical Terminology

Your Career Your Future.

Patient Care Technician training provides a strong foundation for hands-on healthcare. As you gain experience and pursue additional education or certifications, you can expand into a variety of clinical and allied health careers.

Patient Care Technician

Provide direct patient care in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities, and other healthcare settings.

Specialized Clinical Technician

Many PCTs build on their skills by working in specialty areas such as dialysis, telemetry, emergency care, oncology, rehabilitation, or critical care.

Phlebotomy & EKG Technician

Expand your clinical responsibilities by earning additional certifications in blood collection, cardiac monitoring, or other diagnostic procedures.

Nursing & Allied Health Careers

Patient care experience provides a strong foundation for continued education in nursing, respiratory therapy, diagnostic imaging, sonography, surgical technology, and other healthcare professions.

Student Success Stories

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the Patient Care Technician program?

The program runs 10 weeks and covers 100 total clock hours: 40 hours of online lecture, 40 hours of in-house lab, and a 20-hour clinical externship.

When do classes meet?

It's a hybrid format. The lecture portion is studied online on your own schedule, while the hands-on labs run 4 hours per week in the large room lab suite. You choose one of two cohorts: a weekday cohort that meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 to 11:00 AM, or a weekend cohort that meets Saturdays from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

How much is tuition and what does it cover?

Tuition is $3,250 per student, all-inclusive. That covers all 100 lecture, lab, and externship hours, your Elsevier textbook and workbook licenses, the Evolve interactive suite, the NHA CPCT/A review package, and the national board exam fee.

What certification will I earn?

The program prepares you for the NHA Certified Patient Care Technician (CPCT/A) exam, a nationally recognized credential. Your exam registration seat is included in the flat tuition, so there's no separate testing fee to pay out of pocket.

What books and materials do I need?

Everything is included when you register. You get Fundamental Concepts and Skills for the Patient Care Technician, 2nd Edition through VitalSource, the companion workbook eBook, the Evolve resources platform with case studies and clinical videos, and the NHA CPCT/A review package with mock diagnostics and study dashboards.

Do I need prior medical experience to enroll?

No prior healthcare experience is required. The program trains you from the ground up as a multi-skilled technician, building from foundational patient care and vital signs through specimen collection, EKG monitoring, and real-world bedside externship.

Ready to Start Your PCT Career?

Classes are filling fast. Secure your spot in our next PCT cohort and take the first step toward a rewarding healthcare career.

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