Tag Archives: Education

Choosing Your Path to Patient Care Technician Certification

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Patient care technician certification involves completing required programs of study and examinations to show a level of competency in the profession

Three specific areas of certification come under the auspices of patient care technician:

Certified Patient Care Technician (CPCT)

Certified Patient Care Associate (CPCA)

Certified Nurse Technician (CNT)

One examination encompasses the requirements for all three areas of certification. The National Healthcareer Association is a certification organization that serves to implement national competency standards to ensure patient safety. The organization is an information resource and support network for health care professionals and the health care industry.

They are the certification body that will administer the examination and issue the patient care technician certification. Contact them directly to find out about fees and the application process for the examination: http://www.nhanow.com/patient-care-technician.aspx

Patient Care Technician Certification Eligibility Requirements

In order to be eligible to take the examination the applicant must have a high school diploma or equivalency. The following are also requirements for the certification examination:

  • Recently successfully completed a training program or have one year of work experience within the field. The on-the-job training with a self employed patient care technician might meet the requirement for this aspect but it is advisable to contact the certification board before taking a job in order to insure that it meets this requirement.
  • Written proof of training or experience is mandatory. The primary purpose for certification is patient safety, so to that end it is in a candidates best interest to keep track of the work they perform and the skills they learn through an on the job training program. Although a candidate may obtain the patient care technician certification with 1 year of work experience only, this may not be sufficient to meet a specific state registration or licensure requirements. The state might require a candidate to complete a patient care technician training program. It is the candidate’s responsibility to check and verify the requirements for the state where they intend to work.
  • The patient care technician is expected to comply with the established code of ethics. They must uphold standards of professionalism. Honesty and trust must be paramount for the patient care technician. They should conduct themselves in a manner that is in the best interest of the profession and the patient care technician certification organization. Patient care technicians who continue to learn will advance in their position and will help to increase the awareness about new and emerging procedures and trends. They must protect patient confidentiality in all activities and interactions with others professional health care or social services providers. Patients or clients must have full confidence and know that they can depend on the patient care technician not to disclose any harmful or erroneous information.

 

Why Patient Care Technician Certification?

 

Patient Care Technician Certification

To sum it up in one sentence: The profession is only as good as the people who work in it.

The guidelines established to gain the certification of CPCT/CPCA/CNT are meant to insure every patient care technician understands the essential elements of professionalism and ethics.

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Where Can I Get Patient Care Technician Training?

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The profession for a patient care technician requires specialized patient care technician training and competency in specific health care procedures.

The best way to prepare for the job as a patient care technician is to complete a training program that focuses on the core responsibilities for the position. As mentioned in the earlier section, there are several options available for training.

 

Patient Care Technician Training Options

 

Patient Care Technician TrainingThe types of schools that offer patient care technician courses generally fall into three main categories: distance learning programs, internet programs and career schools. These are not exclusive categories. You can also get on the job training when you work with a self-employed patient care technician.

If you decide to pursue training through this option, make sure you contact the local State Department of health to find out if this training will meet the criteria to apply for patient care technician certification.

You might be able to have a limited number of the required hours approved through on the job training. Students still might need to take traditional classes such as get a CPR and first aid certification from an organization certified to offer that type of training.

 

Patient Care Technician Training – Distance Learning

 

Distance learning programs are a popular resource for patient care technician training. This type of program allows students the flexibility and time they might need to complete the course. Self paced and individualized modules help student take the time they need to complete the program. People who decide to earn a certification as a patient care technician through distance learning usually have too many obligations and prefer to be in control of when to advance in the course.

This is a great option for stay at home moms or dads, people who do not have transportation, or other restriction that prevent them from attending traditional classroom. In some cases, distance learning is just a preferred option. Even though the student might get access to the course material online, the internet is the resource to get the information, not the setting for study.

 

Patient Care Technician Training - Internet Programs

 

Internet programs are similar to the traditional correspondence program with several significant differences. Although the student is not on a traditional campus as in a brick and mortar school, the student class and activities element is still essential for success in the program.

The internet is an interactive experience and can put the student in the cyber classroom with the click of a radio button. Here, students can interact with each other, take courses, submit papers and take exams. The internet class might require you to complete a certain module by a particular date. In that sense, internet study is not self paced learning.

Schools like Ultimate Medical Academy, Brookline College and Kaplan College can offer both distance learning and internet learning programs. The best practice is to choose your favorite search engine to search by school name and conduct a search under patient care technician training programs.

 

Patient Care Technician Training – Career Schools

 

Career schools are the most traditional environment where you can learn to become a patient care technician. These schools are different from the community college and continuing education or adult learning schools. This is the setting where students come and attend structured classes, study and might spend a significant portion of the day. Some career schools require student wear scrubs or some other kind of medical uniform.

Each of these types of program might require students to pay a tuition and registration fee on top of program costs. Check to find out what kind of financial aid is available and how to go about applying for financial assistance. The future looks bright and the demand for qualified patient care technicians continues to grow. Specialized sectors within the medical field and traditional settings such as clinics and hospitals always need good patient care technicians. Quality patient care technician training is a good way to get started in the career on the right foot.

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What Type of Courses Do Patient Care Technician Schools Offer?

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Before getting to the point of looking into patient care technician schools the career path for a patient care technician starts with the successful graduation from high school and certification for the State where you plan to work. The certification as a patient care technician is an important phase in the development of the job readiness skills you will need in order to perform the job.

This section will discuss the types of schools that offer patient care technician courses and training. The types of schools that offer patient care technician courses generally fall into three main categories

  • Distance learning programs
  • Internet programs
  • Career schools

These are not exclusive categories.

Patient Care Technician Schools – Distance Learning Options

The distance learning schools are the types of programs and courses that can be available through the internet or other resources such as coursework offered by an institution that might not be in the same geographic location as the student. These schools might have programs that meet on a regular frequency in a local area with a representative from the institution.

Sometimes students receive course work in the mail or email, complete the assignment them meet with the instructor for review and instruction. Distance learning programs are convenient for student who might not otherwise have time to set aside to attend classes on a regular basis.

Another name for these programs is self-paced correspondence courses. When you decide to pursue a patient care technician certificate through a correspondence course, make sure that the program will include the correct preparation for the certificate in your home state. Check with your State Department of Health if you have any questions about the program before you invest in these types of patient care technician schools and courses.

Patient Care Technician Schools – Internet Programs

The Internet is a global portal to online courses and study that can prepare you to become a certificated patient care technician. Although it might not provide the classroom atmosphere that a traditional school program offers, you can still get the same results, which is to prepare to take the exam to become a certified patient care technician.

When you search for schools that offer courses to prepare you for work as a patient care technician, you want to know certain things about the program of study. Most important is the program accreditation. What organizations recognize the school? Before you spend money take time to ask a few questions about the course of study and will it be adequate to prepare you to sit for the certificate examination in you state.

Patient Care Technician Schools – Career Schools

Patient Care Technician SchoolsTraditional career schools are perhaps the most popular. These are the most familiar and usually offer their students a campus environment in some capacity.

When you want to take advantage of the collective student experience, enroll in a career school to study for your patient care technician certificate coursework. The main advantage of the local career school program is that you do not need to worry if the course work will help you to prepare for the certification examination in your state.

The options for patient care technician training are as diverse as the categories. An effective course is for students to train in a clinical setting so they can observe as they learn. You might consider this an on the job training program and usually the different types of patient care technician schools will offer a clinical practicum in some manner.

Usually study material and structured classes meet regularly throughout the program. Students will have an opportunity to see what it is really like to be a patient care technician before they actually complete the certification.

Academic study and research is a method that will mainly require lots of reading and study. You might be required to read case studies about what to expect for the job and mainly learn the do’s and don’ts of the position in a classroom setting.

A typical program of study might include:

  • Anatomy and Physiology
  • Blood Collection Techniques
  • Documentation
  • Medical Terminology
  • OSHA Standards
  • Patient Preparation
  • Pharmacology
  • Phlebotomy
  • Specimen Collection
  • Universal precautions
  • Vital Signs

 

Find Out More About Patient Care Technician Schools

 

The types of schools that offer patient care technician courses prepare you to work in a growing profession with room for advancement and lateral career changes. You can find out more information about the certification process through your State Department of Health and by contacting an organization such as the National Healthcareer Association. If you’re interested in more beyond information on patient care technician schools be sure to check out the other information on the career right here on the website.

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