Patient Care Technicians play a key role in the medical field. Patient Care Technicians draw blood and perform EKGs, monitor vital signs, and assist with patients’ daily needs — ensuring both accurate diagnostics and compassionate support.
The first step to your career as a Certified Patient Care Technician (CPCT) is to attend a training program. Bolingbrook, Illinois is house to many state approved patient care training programs that will prepare students for a patient care technician career. A patient care training program is generally a total of 40-80 in class hours and 20-40 clinical hours that will take place separate of the class, usually at a laboratory or medical institute united with the program. In Bolingbrook, the typical class will have 10-30 students.
When evaluating a patient care training course, it’s important to be methodical and informed. There are thousands of programs across the country, but not 100% of them provide the critical training and clinical resources needed to enter the workforce. In fact, some programs do not offer clinical hours, which are required for gaining practical experience drawing blood in a professional lab setting. Without clinical hours, you will not meet the eligibility requirements for national certification — even if you complete the course.
One of the most important factors to consider when comparing a program is its approval status and adherence to professional standards. Accreditation is a quality assurance granted to schools or programs that meet established national standards of instruction, hands-on training, and educational rigor. In patient care, attending an approved training program ensures that you receive proper education and clinical experience aligned with healthcare industry standards.
After completing a patient care training program, you will receive a certificate of completion, which is often misunderstood. This document does not make you nationally certified. It simply proves that you’ve completed training and allows you to take the national certification exam — especially important for those with limited experience.
To become certified, students must pass an exam from a recognized agency such as National Performance Specialists (NPS). NPS helps define national standards, develops the certification exams, and maintains a registry of certified professionals.
Certification must be maintained every two years, and completing continuing education is a mandatory requirement for renewal if the a certification holder does not wish to take an additional exam. This ensures that certified patient care technicians remain up to date with the latest industry standards, advancements, and regulations. Most certifying agencies provide well-defined guidelines on the total and type of continuing education hours required, making it simple for professionals to maintain their credentials.
If you are planning to attend a patient care training program and would like an NPS adviser to double check that the program is legit, contact us today.
Upon your completion of a patient care training class, you will receive a Certificate of Completion. Your Certificate of Completion does not make you ‘Certified’. This is a unquestionably common misunderstanding. A Certificate of Completion is used as proof of your completion of a patient care training program and is required to sit for the national certification examination for individuals who have no experience in the field.
To get certified, a patient care technician must have their competency put to the test by a third-party credentialing agency, like NPS. Once certified, a patient care technician must renew their certification every two years by completing Continuing Education. Continuing education can come in multiple formats, such as on-the-job workshops, online courses, webinars, or specialized training modules. These programs often include the latest best practices, safety protocols, and technological advancements in patient care. Many professional organizations and certification agencies provide regularly updated continuing education resources to help patient care technicians maintain and advance their skills.
There are several certification agencies that patient care technicians can choose to become certified with, but selecting the right one can significantly impact your career.
Obtaining patient care technician certification not only shows your expertise and commitment to professional excellence, but also opens doors to ongoing professional development. By regularly completing continuing education and professional growth opportunities, patient care technicians can strengthen their expertise, expand their professional network, and prepare themselves for advancement within the healthcare field.
Many healthcare employers require certified candidates, making certification an important step toward becoming a standout applicant in the field.
The cost to become NPS Certified is $200.00 and includes an all-inclusive study guide, unlimited practice exams, three final certification exam attempts, a professional resume revision, and job placement assistance. The entire process can be completed entirely online through the NPS learning management system, and is mobile friendly, allowing you to prepare on your schedule and from the ease of home. Be sure to explore whether your certifying agency provides included study tools or if there are extra fees for premium materials.
Click to learn more about becoming a Certified Patient Care Technician (CPCT).
Once you have registered to sit for the certification exam, utilize a variety of prep tools to enhance your readiness. Many certification agencies offer resources such as detailed study guides, digital flashcards, practice questions, and interactive review platforms. When selecting prep tools, look for materials that match the exam’s content outline and focus on both core concepts and practical skills.
Consider creating a study schedule that incorporates regular studying, targeted practice in trouble spots, and regular use of complete practice exams to simulate the real test environment. This approach will help boost your confidence and ensure you’re well prepared for exam day.
In addition, practice exams are extremely useful for mirroring the real test environment and spotting areas where you need further review. Some agencies, like NPS, offer endless practice exams, while others up sell practice attempts.
After you have passed the certification exam, your credentials are quickly inputted in the national registry and a digital copy of your national certification is made available in your account. Your digital copy, paired with your NPS transcripts, should be downloaded and printed for use as proof of certification.
Now that you’re a Certified Patient Care Technician (CPCT), you’re ready to start your medical career in Bolingbrook, Illinois. Training in patient care is a great gateway into the medical workforce, commonly pursued by aspiring nurses, nurse aides, medical assistants, and medical laboratory technicians. Certified Patient Care Technicians are in great demand across the healthcare industry due to increased access to healthcare, an aging population, and a rise in lab testing. This rising demand helps ensure a positive employment outlook, making patient care a reliable and worthwhile career choice.
Patient Care Technicians typically perform a standard 40-hour week and earn an average annual salary of approximately $38,000, though wages can fluctuate depending on geography and experience. With expanding job openings and a brief training period, patient care is a efficient way to begin a meaningful healthcare career.
NPS works with multiple staffing agencies to help our members find a career in the patient care field. Click here for more information on CPCT job placement assistance by NPS.
Certified Patient Care Technicians will need to renew their CPCT Certification after two years. A Patient Care Technician should begin the process at least 30 days prior to the day their credentials expires. This will permit the patient care technician satisfactory time to review their continuing education hours and submit their renewal assessment. You will not need to go back to a patient care course or attend a class to renew your certification.
The renewal process can be completed entirely online in the NPS learning management system. The cost to renew your credentials for the next two year is $200.00. Renewing ensures your employer that you are dedicated to updating your knowledge in the patient care field.
If your certification lapses, many certifying agencies offer a path to reinstatement. The process typically involves fulfilling any outstanding continuing education requirements, sending in a renewal application, and covering a reinstatement fee. It’s important to consult your certifying body for specific steps and cutoff dates to restore your active status.
Click to learn more about Renewing You CPCT Certification.
A Certified Patient Care Technician Instructor (CPCTI) is a highly proficient patient care technician with over 5 years of experience in the field. Patient Care Technician Instructors can teach for or own their own school. They’re responsible for ensuring that students in their class are retaining the instruction provided by their curriculum. Every class in Bolingbrook, Illinois should provide students details about the instructors background and credentials.
If a patient care technician meets the requirements and wishes to become a Certified Patient Care Technician Instructor (CPCTI) they can undergo the entire process online. If you would like to speak with someone regarding the process, contact us today.
Click to learn more about becoming a Patient Care Technician Instructor (CPCTI).
National Performance Specialists is also partnered with the American Red Cross to provide job placement assistance to NPS Members and to assist the American Red Cross in recruiting quality candidates across the United States.
All NPS certification programs are proudly listed within the Certification Finder by CareerOneStop. CareerOneStop is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration and is a proud partner of the AmericanJobCenter network.
