Patient Care Technician Training in NJ

Hybrid / Distance Education Program

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) program prepares students to work as entry-level patient care technicians in hospitals or outpatient facilities or radiology aides in imaging centers. A Patient Care Technician, also known as a patient care assistant, provides patient care and support under the direction of a registered nurse.

The PCT program utilizes a hybrid/blended learning environment, and is taught through a combination of lecture, lab, and clinical hours. Hands-on training in our on-campus medical labs will help students develop essential skills, and practical experience during the clinical internship will reinforce those skills and prepare students for entry-level employment in a healthcare environment.

The program provides foundational knowledge in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, and ethics of healthcare, and students will gain specialized skills in phlebotomy, EKG, and patient care techniques. The major courses of the Patient Care Technician program will provide advanced training to students in a variety of patient care skills including measuring vital signs, collecting specimens, and providing basic nursing care. Basic nursing care may include assisting patients with feeding, dressing, daily hygiene and bathing, urinary and bowel needs, mobility, and other activities related to daily living.

Students in the PCT program will gain a basic understanding of patient nutritional, oxygen, and exercise needs, and they will learn the importance of proper communication with patients and other healthcare team members. Students will also be given an introduction to medical imaging technology.

Introduction to the Patient Care Technician Program

Hybrid Learning

The Patient Care Technician program is taught using a hybrid learning environment. Online and in-person instruction is utilized throughout the program. Lectures may be offered on campus or remotely via a Learning Management System (LMS). Most laboratory classes and practical training will be held on campus in NJ or at a clinical site.

Online classes will be taught synchronously. Synchronous instruction is real-time instruction that requires students to attend classes at scheduled times.

Clinical Internship

The Patient Care Technician program requires students to complete a mandatory 180-hour clinical internship. Students will be placed at a clinical site by the clinical internship department. The internship is designed to provide practical training in a real work environment; students will have a supervisor who trains and guides them.

AIMS Education has clinical affiliations with numerous healthcare facilities throughout New Jersey and the surrounding areas. Students will be placed at one or more of these affiliated sites and must complete their clinical hours based on the schedule provided by the school. Internship schedules are based on the availability of clinical sites. All students (Day and Evening) must be prepared to complete their internship during normal business hours (Monday through Friday). The majority of clinical sites do not allow students to complete clinical hours in the evening or on the weekend.

Employment for Patient Care Technicians/Assistants

The majority of patient care technicians are employed in hospitals, but PCTs can also find employment in outpatient facilities, physician's offices, clinics, and rehabilitation centers. In addition to working as a patient care technician, AIMS graduates can take advantage of their other skills to seek employment as phlebotomy or EKG technicians.

Certification / Registry Exam Eligibility

PCT graduates will be eligible to take the patient care technician certification exam offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). Graduates who pass the certification exam can earn the Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant (CPCT/A) credential from NHA.

Graduates of the Patient Care Technician training program are also eligible for the phlebotomy certification and EKG certification exams offered by NHA.

Eligibility requirements for the certifications are solely determined by NHA, and are subject to change at any time. NHA is an independent organization. AIMS does not guarantee certification/registry exam eligibility.