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 enroll in a training course. Summit, Kentucky is home to many state attributed patient care training programs that will prepare students for a patient care technician career. A patient care training program is generally between 40-80 in class hours and 20-40 clinical hours that will take place after completion of the class, usually at a laboratory or medical institute joined with the program. In Summit, the typical class will have 10-30 students.
When choosing a patient care training course, it’s important to be thorough and well-prepared. There are thousands of programs across the country, but not every one of them provide the critical training and hands-on components needed to enter the workforce. In fact, some programs do not offer clinical hours, which are required for gaining hands-on experience drawing blood in a professional lab setting. Without clinical hours, you will not meet the minimum requirements for national certification — even if you complete the course.
One of the most essential factors to consider when evaluating a program is its approval status and adherence to quality benchmarks. 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 quality expectations.
After completing a patient care training program, you will receive a certificate of completion, which is often misinterpreted. This document does not make you nationally certified. It simply verifies that you’ve completed training and allows you to take the national certification exam — especially important for those with no prior experience.
To officially become certified, students must pass an exam from a recognized agency such as National Performance Specialists (NPS). NPS helps establish national standards, develops the certification exams, and maintains a registry of certified professionals.
Certification must be renewed every two years, and completing continuing education is a key requirement for renewal if the a certification holder does not wish to take an additional exam. This ensures that certified patient care technicians remain in compliance with the latest regulations, advancements, and regulations. Most certifying agencies provide straightforward guidelines on the number 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 successful completion of a patient care training course, you will receive a Certificate of Completion. Your Certificate of Completion does not make you ‘Certified’. This is a extremely common misunderstanding. A Certificate of Completion is used as proof of successful completion of a patient care training program and is required to take the national certification examination for individuals who’ve acquired no experience in the field.
To become certified, a patient care technician must have their competency put to the test by a third-party authorizing agency, like NPS. Once certified, a patient care technician must renew their certification each two years by completing Continuing Education. Continuing education can be completed in several ways, such as on-the-job workshops, online courses, webinars, or specialized training modules. These programs often cover the latest best practices, safety protocols, and technological advancements in patient care. Many professional credentialing bodies and certification agencies provide regularly updated continuing education resources to help patient care technicians maintain and develop their skills.
There are a variety of certification agencies that patient care technicians can choose to become certified with, but selecting the best one can significantly impact your career.
Earning patient care technician certification not only demonstrates your competency and commitment to professional excellence, but also supports ongoing professional development. By regularly engaging in continuing education and professional growth opportunities, patient care technicians can sharpen their expertise, expand their professional network, and prepare themselves for advancement within the healthcare field.
Many healthcare employers prefer certified candidates, making certification an valuable step toward becoming a strong applicant in the field.
The cost to become NPS Certified is $200.00 and includes a full study guide, unlimited practice exams, three final certification exam attempts, a professional resume revision, and job placement assistance. The entire process can be completed fully online through the NPS learning management system, and is mobile friendly, allowing you to prepare with flexibility and from the ease of home. Be sure to verify whether your certifying agency provides free resources or if there are extra fees for advanced resources.
Click to learn more about becoming a Certified Patient Care Technician (CPCT).
Once you have registered to sit for the competency exam, make use of a variety of prep tools to enhance your readiness. Many credentialing agencies offer resources such as thorough study guides, digital flashcards, practice questions, and interactive review platforms. When evaluating prep tools, look for materials that reflect the exam’s content outline and focus on both academic material and practical skills.
Consider creating a study schedule that incorporates consistent study sessions, targeted practice in weaker areas, and regular use of complete practice exams to replicate the real test environment. This approach will help build your confidence and ensure you’re thoroughly prepared for exam day.
In addition, mock exams are extremely useful for mirroring the real test environment and identifying areas where you need further review. Some agencies, like NPS, offer repeated practice exams, while others require payment for practice attempts.
After you have passed the final exam, your credentials are immediately inputted in the national registry and a digital copy of your credentials is available in your account. Your digital copy, along 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 Summit, Kentucky. The field of patient care is a great starting point into the medical industry, 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 expanded healthcare services, a growing elderly population, and more frequent diagnostic tests. This rising demand helps ensure a strong job outlook, making patient care a reliable and appealing career choice.
Patient Care Technicians typically work a standard 40-hour week and earn an average annual salary of approximately $38,000, though wages can fluctuate depending on region and experience. With expanding job openings and a brief training period, patient care is a great 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 have to renew their CPCT Certification every two years. A Patient Care Technician should start the process at least 30 days prior to the week their certification expires. This will permit the patient care technician ample time to attend their continuing education hours and take their renewal assessment. You will not have 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 certification for the next two year period 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 ways to restore your certification. The process typically involves finishing any outstanding continuing education requirements, submitting a renewal application, and paying a reinstatement fee. It’s important to check with your certifying body for specific guidelines 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 intelligent patient care technician with more than 5 years of experience in the field. Patient Care Technician Instructors can instruct for or own their own school. They’re needed for ensuring that students in their class are retaining the information provided by their curriculum. Every class in Summit, Kentucky 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 prefer to speak with someone about 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.
