How to Become a Patient Care Technician?
1. Earn a high school diploma or equivalent: Most employers require a high school diploma or GED to become a Patient Care Technician.
2. Complete a Patient Care Technician Training Program: Patient Care Technician training programs are offered at many community colleges and technical schools. These programs usually take 6-12 months to complete.
3. Become Certified: After completing a Patient Care Technician training program, most employers require that you become certified. Certification is available through organizations like the National Healthcareer Association and the American Medical Technologists.
4. Obtain on-the-job experience: Most employers prefer to hire Patient Care Technicians with some experience in the field. Consider volunteering or working part-time at a hospital or medical facility to gain experience.
5. Build a Network: Building relationships with healthcare professionals in the area can help you to find job opportunities. Networking with other Patient Care Technicians can also be beneficial.
Why become a Patient Care Technician?
A patient care technician is the biggest helping hand in a hospital because they can perform the basic medical tasks and assist patients in the smallest and most regular activities that nurses and doctors can’t always tend to. But though it is a significant position, you might feel hesitant about giving it a try, especially because you have to support the patient with their personal hygiene. That’s why it’s really important to have that level of kindness and empathy within you if you want to become a good PCT. And if you are wondering why you should consider becoming a patient care technician, let’s take a look.
- Helping those in need: The biggest fulfillment that will come out of this job, or just about any job in the healthcare field, is the fact that you get to help a lot of people directly. You can nurse them back to health, which is a huge service to humanity that you won’t be able to do in most other kinds of jobs.
- Developing emotional intimacy with people: As a PTC, you will work with the same patients for a long time. They will share their problems with you, may be they will also talk about themselves and their lives. They will be grateful to you for what you’re doing for them. In this manner, you will be able to build genuine and unconditional relationships with a wide range of people.
- Enter the medical field faster: If you have been aiming for the healthcare industry all along, then you must know it’s not an easy thing. For one, getting into med school is difficult, and finishing it even more so. And even after finishing, it isn’t easy to look for internships. You won’t have to worry about those with PTC. The PCT program usually takes less than a year, and once you have the diploma and the certification, you can easily get a job. It saves time and money.
- Opportunities for higher education and career progression: You have entered the medical field as a PTC, but you might be aiming for something more than that. As a PTC, the experience and knowledge that you will gain will help you pursue further education with the hope of progressing in your career. You can go into the nursing field, healthcare administration, and others by enrolling in more programs while continuing on the job.
- It’s not a monotonous job: no day will be the exact same for a PTC. You will deal with a wide range of patients, carry out various activities, and sometimes take necessary actions in unpredictable situations. It will never get boring.
- Satisfactory salary: If the salary is your prime concern, then that’s also not something you have to worry about. In the US, a patient care technician can hope to earn an annual salary ranging from $32,000 to $37,000. It varies depending on the hospital as well as your experience. The ones on the higher end of both can even earn up to $42,000 per year!