Explore
Hospital & dialysis
Patient Care Technician
A CNA with more skills and a better paycheck.
Typical pay
$34k-$52k
How you get in
3-6 month program combining CNA, phlebotomy and EKG
Outlook
Steady; a reliable stepping stone into nursing
PCTs provide direct patient care plus technical tasks like phlebotomy, EKGs and dialysis. It is a step above the CNA role in both scope and pay, and it is the most common launching point into nursing.
A day in the life
- 6:30aShift report and patient assignments
- 7:00aVitals, blood sugars and morning care
- 9:00aBlood draws and EKGs across the unit
- 12:00pLunch, if the unit allows
- 1:00pAssist with procedures and ambulate patients
- 6:30pFinal rounds and handoff to nights
How to get in
PCT certificate program
Duration
3-6 months
Cost
$1,000-$5,000
Credential
CPCT/A certification, or CNA plus phlebotomy and EKG
- Complete a patient care technician program covering all three skill sets
- Pass the certification exam
- Apply to hospitals — acute care pays more than long-term care
- Use hospital tuition assistance from your first eligible day
CNA plus add-on skills
Duration
4-8 months
Cost
$800-$4,000
Credential
CNA plus phlebotomy and EKG certifications
- Certify as a CNA first, which is the fastest entry
- Add phlebotomy and EKG certifications separately
- Apply for PCT roles with the expanded scope
- Same destination, easier to fund in stages
Dialysis technician specialization
Duration
3-12 months
Cost
$0-$3,000, often employer-paid
Credential
CCHT certification
- Get hired by a dialysis provider that trains from scratch
- Complete their training and clinical hours
- Pass the CCHT certification exam
- Notably better pay than general PCT work, with outpatient hours
What people love
- · Broader skills and better pay than a CNA
- · Certified and working in months
- · Hospitals fund nursing school for their PCTs
- · Dialysis technician roles pay notably more
What wears people down
- · Physically demanding across a full shift
- · Twelve-hour shifts including nights and weekends
- · Still limited scope and a real pay ceiling
- · Understaffing pushes the workload up