Patient Care Technician Certificate

Students who complete the PCT Certificate are eligible to take the National Healthcare Workers Association (NHCWA) Patient Care Technician Exam. Starting as a PCT provides a pathway to other health careers including phlebotomist, medical assistant, medical laboratory technician, and nursing. This certificate can be completed in one semester.

Learn more about the certificate.

• A reading placement of EGL 089 or EGL 095 and complete an interview with program faculty or advising specialist/advisor to discuss requirements for Illinois Nurse Assistant/Home Health Aide Competency Exam, clinical requirements and Essential Skills Required of a Patient Care Technician
• Students are required to submit results of a current and complete physical examination.
• Prior to the first day of class, students are required to complete a Criminal Background Check and have no disqualifying convictions.

Health Career curricula are governed by specific objectives, rules and regulations formulated by the College, accrediting bodies and participating clinical facilities. Students should familiarize themselves with these standards. Students should also be aware that failure to maintain satisfactory progress in the course may significantly delay completion of the curriculum or may result in the student being dropped from the curriculum. Each student’s right to participate in the clinical portion of the curriculum is also contingent upon compliance with the rules of the clinical facility. The clinical facility has sole discretion to determine when its rules have been violated.

Clinical placements require a health assessment, certain immunizations, yearly flu vaccine and health insurance. Students must successfully pass skills assessment prior to attending clinicals. The requirements represent an additional cost to the student.

This is a limited enrollment health care program. For additional information, contact a health career specialist at healthcareeradvising@oakton.edu.

Students can waive official high school transcripts. However, you should still submit official high school transcripts if you apply for financial aid.

1. New students should apply online at oakton.edu/apply. Current Oakton students should apply through their myOakton account.
2. View your Admission Checklist. Your New Student Portal includes Admission Checklist and next steps.
3. Submit admission documents, including transcripts (high school, college, AP, military) and proof of residency.
4. Complete the minimum requirements for admission.
5. Complete an interview. The application process must be completed prior to an interview.

Although the daily work is similar, the Patient Care Technician has several additional skills compared to the certified nursing assistant (CNA). The PCT has technical skills in phlebotomy (drawing blood) and electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG heart monitoring tests). The PCT program is 16 credits; the program for CNAs, our Basic Nurse Assistant Training certificate, is 8 credits.

EMSI labor market data includes PCTs in the CNA data. Some job postings interchange CNA and PCT but Patient Care Technicians are able to do more than a CNA because they also gain technical skills in phlebotomy and ECG. Many of the job postings in Chicagoland hospitals clearly distinguish PCTs from CNAs. The pay range for PCTs based on job postings is between $18.00-$22.00/hour. All of the major healthcare providers in Oakton’s district and in the Chicagoland area are hiring PCTs.