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Online Patient Care Technician Program
Stepful’s 8-week Patient Care Technician program prepares you for the NHA CPCT/A exam. Once you pass, we help you secure a full-time job working alongside nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals in hospitals, nursing homes, and outpatient facilities.
Receive your national CPCT/A certification
No in-person clinical hours required
Job interview prep and resume services
1:1 support from enrollment to employment
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Becoming a certified patient care technician is a great way to make a meaningful impact in the lives of patients and start a healthcare career with great growth potential.
Stepful’s Iowa Patient Care Technician program is designed to help you succeed. Our 8-week, 100% online course prepares you for the Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant (CPCT/A) exam issued by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
Our comprehensive curriculum covers patient care, vital signs, phlebotomy, infection control, EKG monitoring, and more. While clinical hours are not required, you'll gain real-world experience through practical assignments and interactive coursework. The program gives you the skills and confidence to support a variety of medical teams in delivering direct patient care.
Your tuition includes access to our online learning platform with live instructor-led classes designed to work with your schedule. You’ll also get one-on-one coaching, certification exam prep, job search assistance, and a community that provides ongoing career support even after you start your first job.
As a trusted provider of healthcare education, Stepful partners with the NHA to ensure you’re fully prepared for certification and career success. Stepful’s AI-powered platform helps students launch healthcare careers faster and more affordably than traditional programs. Our success has earned us the #1 EdTech ranking in the U.S. by Time and a spot among the global Top 10.
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What you’ll learn
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Weeks 1-2
Learn the foundational healthcare knowledge and basic science you need to become a well-rounded Patient Care Technician (PCT). Topics include body systems, medical terminology, targeted patient care, and communication techniques.
Weeks 3-4
Master the ins and outs of clinical patient care, such as vitals and measurement, activities of daily living, infection control, compliance, and patient safety.
Weeks 5-6
Learn the foundations of phlebotomy and EKG techniques.
Weeks 7-8
Prepare for your national certification exam, get certified, and work with your dedicated coach to find a full-time job.
Pick Your Start Date
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Starting a career as a certified patient care technician in Iowa involves three key steps:
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01
Complete a Patient Care Technician Training Program
Choosing a high-quality training program is one of the most important things you can do for your career. Iowa doesn’t require you to complete a training program, but most employers prefer it.
Stepful’s eight-week online program teaches you hands-on skills, patient safety, EKG monitoring, and more, all designed to prepare you for real-world patient care. Your graduation from a program like Stepful’s lets employers know you are ready to do the job on day one.
02
Pass the NHA CPCT/A Certification Exam
The National Healthcareer Association’s Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant (CPCT/A) exam tests your knowledge of patient care, safety, and clinical procedures. Stepful’s program is specifically designed to prepare you to pass this exam.
According to the NHA, 96% of employers require or encourage certification for patient care technicians.
Earning your certification shows employers you have the skills and training they need. It can boost your job prospects and may even help you earn a higher starting salary.
03
Land a Full-Time Job in Iowa
Patient care technicians are in demand across Iowa. Stepful supports graduates as they look for jobs with interview prep, resume reviews, and by connecting them with local employers who are our partners.
Major healthcare employers like University of Iowa Health Care, UnityPoint Health, and MercyOne hire patient care technicians to help run their facilities smoothly.
Stepful also supports students applying to smaller facilities like local nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and outpatient clinics in their area. Our career mentorship is designed to help you find the job that’s right for you.
Patient care technicians, often called nursing assistants, play a vital role in healthcare. They work under the supervision of nurses to provide hands-on care, monitor patients, assist with daily needs, and support medical procedures. Their care helps patients feel safe, comfortable, and supported during treatment and recovery.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the top employers of patient care technicians are hospitals, nursing care facilities, retirement communities, assisted living facilities, and home health care providers.
In Iowa, patient care technicians work in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, nursing homes, clinics, urgent care centers, and private practices.
Their skills make them valuable team members across the state’s healthcare system. Whether in busy city hospitals or community clinics, patient care technicians are essential in delivering quality patient care.
Common Patient Care Technician responsibilities
Patient care technicians (PCTs) play an important role in both patient care and supporting healthcare teams.
PCTs check vital signs like blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature. These checks help detect early warning signs of health problems and give the care team important information about a patient’s condition.
PCTs assist patients with everyday activities like bathing, grooming, dressing, and eating. This support is especially important for patients who have trouble moving or performing fine motor tasks like buttoning a shirt.
While PCTs do not provide advanced medical care, they are trained to recognize when help is needed. They may assist with simple tasks like applying a bandage or using a warm compress for minor aches.
Though not responsible for deep cleaning, PCTs help by tidying patient areas, wiping surfaces, and making sure walkways are clear of hazards to prevent trips and falls.
For patients who cannot leave home easily, PCTs may handle small errands like mailing a letter, picking up groceries, or collecting medical supplies.
PCTs may assist with procedures like drawing blood, performing EKGs, or supporting nurses and doctors with patient care duties.
Whether helping patients walk, transfer from bed to chair, or use a wheelchair, PCTs make sure patients can move safely. They may also accompany patients to appointments or outings.
As patients age or face new health challenges, PCTs watch for signs that they may need more care. They also stay alert for signs of elder abuse or neglect and report concerns to supervisors.
Beyond medical and daily care, PCTs often provide much-needed social interaction. Their visits can become an important source of friendship and trust for patients, especially those who feel isolated.
Patient care technicians (PCTs) play an important role in both patient care and supporting healthcare teams.
In addition, you must meet one of these two requirements:
- Completed a patient care technician training program like Stepful’s within the last five years
or
- Completed one year of supervised work experience in a patient care technician field within the last three years, or two years of supervised work experience in a patient care technician field within the last five years
Iowa does not have state licensing requirements for patient care technicians, but individual employers may require certification and/or background checks.
Additionally, nursing facilities (or nursing homes) that accept Medicaid funding may require additional certification or registration with the state.
Across the country, the demand for patient care technicians is strong. The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies patient care technicians as nursing assistants and reports that there were 1,469,400 of them in the U.S. as of 2023.
The BLS projects a steady job growth of 4% for patient care technicians through 2032. They credit this growth to the aging of the baby-boomer generation, who will need increasing levels of healthcare services as they age.
In Iowa, there were 22,970 patient care technicians as of 2024. That means there are about 15 patient care technicians for every 1,000 jobs in the state. Many of these jobs are concentrated in metro areas where there are more healthcare facilities, but even in areas of Iowa with smaller populations, the demand for patient care technicians is steady.
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+4% Growth
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22,970
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According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for patient care technicians in Iowa is $40,590 per year, or about $19.50 per hour.
This is significantly more than home health and personal care aides whose jobs require a similar educational level. In Iowa, home health aides make an average salary of $34,7840 per year.
Here is a look at average salaries and job demand by region in Iowa:
- The Omaha-Council Bluffs metro area has 7,260 patient care technician jobs that pay an average salary of $39,930 per year.
- The Des Moines metro area has 3,820 patient care technician jobs that pay an average salary of $39,990 per year.
- The Davenport-Moline-Rock Island metro area has 2,030 jobs that pay an average salary of $37,840 per year.
These metro areas offer strong opportunities for certified patient care technicians looking to start a career in healthcare.
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Resources for aspiring certified Patient Care Technicians
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