Patient Care Technician (Voucher Included)

Patient care technicians (PCTs) are essential healthcare professionals who assist nurses and medical staff with direct patient care and support. Demand for skilled healthcare workers is at an all-time high and this PCT training program prepares you to pursue entry-level patient care technician roles in hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, dialysis centers, and home health settings.

This online PCT course is delivered in a flexible, asynchronous format, which allows you to progress at your own pace while learning how to apply foundational nursing knowledge and technical skills to provide individualized basic patient care. Through your PCT training, you will also gain a strong understanding of the healthcare delivery system, problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, the ability to work with diverse populations, and contribute to positive patient outcomes.

Upon successful completion of this PCT certification course, you will be prepared to sit for the Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant (CPCT/A) certification exam through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), upon eligibility, helping you meet employer expectations and enhance your job readiness. An exam voucher is included with your enrollment.

The program also includes a medical terminology course component that introduces key concepts of medical language and human anatomy while emphasizing the interconnectedness of body systems in health and disease.

If you have prior medical terminology experience, you may choose to test out of this component by achieving a minimum score of 80 percent, which will replace the online medical terminology course content if desired. This test-out option applies only to the online medical terminology component and does not affect other portions of the PCT training program.

Funding Disclaimer: For Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funded students, please consult with your funding source representative before taking advantage of the Medical Terminology test-out feature. Different funding programs may have specific requirements and/or restrictions. If you attempt the test-out feature(s) in the Medical Terminology course without getting approval, your funding benefits may be jeopardized.

Rox Ann Sparks

Rox Ann Sparks, DNP, MSN, RN, CNE, CMHIMP, LNC, is an experienced nurse who has cared for patients and students in nearly every healthcare setting, with 35 years of practice in emergency medicine. Her nursing career has led her from obtaining her CNA, LVN, RN, and MSN to a Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP).

Dr. Sparks has experience in being a floor nurse to a chair of nursing. She has developed many different healthcare programs, from PCT to BSN. She has also consulted in accreditation for nursing programs and presented numerous educational programs from natural health to chronic diseases. These experiences led her to become a Certified Nurse Educator.

Dr. Sparks is currently the CEO of Sparks Nursing Consulting, which helps patients become healthier by coaching them to better health. She works with multiple law firms on the defense of nursing standards. She also developed an RN NCLEX review book and app to use the questions and multiple online courses for nurses and healthcare support staff.

Sandra Isaak

Sandra Isaak, MSN, BSN, RN, FNP-C, is an ANCC-certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) who currently works as a nurse practitioner in the emergency room at a local hospital. She has worked in this role for over 14 years, and she has spent the past 16 years teaching theory courses and clinical rotations for Certified Nursing Assistants, LVN to RN, RN, BSN, and MSN students. She has also taught and mentored students as program director of the FNP program at a local private university.

Medical Terminology Instructors

Our medical terminology course section is taught by multiple experienced instructors. See here for a full list of these instructors.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 10 or later.
• Mac: macOS 12 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Microsoft Word Online
• Adobe Acrobat Reader
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment. The following digital textbook will be provided via links in the classroom after enrollment in the Medical Terminology course:

• Medical Terminology for Health Professions (eBook)

The following textbook will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment in the Patient Care Technician course:

• Fundamental Concepts and Skills for the Patient Care Technician