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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. We help students secure full-time jobs 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 (PCT) is a great way to make a real difference for patients while starting a healthcare career with strong growth potential.
Stepful’s Kansas Patient Care Technician program is designed to help you succeed. Our 8-week online course prepares you for the Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant (CPCT/A) exam issued by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
You’ll learn patient care skills, how to check vital signs, infection control, phlebotomy, EKG monitoring, and more. No in-person clinical hours are required, but our interactive assignments give you the practical experience you need to be ready to support healthcare teams in hospitals, clinics, or long-term care.
Your tuition covers everything: live online classes, certification exam prep, one-on-one coaching, and job search support. No other books or materials needed.
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.
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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 Kansas 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 best things you can do for your career. Kansas doesn’t require a license or formal training to become a patient care technician, but most employers prefer candidates who’ve completed a credible program.
Stepful’s NHA-authorized 8-week course covers patient care, infection control, EKG monitoring, and more, so employers know you’ll be ready to work on day one.
02
Pass the NHA CPCT/A Certification Exam
The Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant (CPCT/A) exam offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) 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. Certification can open the doors to better job opportunities and higher pay.
03
Land a Full-Time Job in Kansas
Throughout Kansas, patient care technicians are in demand. Stepful supports graduates as they look for jobs with interview prep, resume reviews, and one-on-one career coaching.
Major healthcare employers like The University of Kansas Health System, Stormont Vail Health, AdventHealth Shawnee Mission, and Wesley Healthcare in Wichita 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, sometimes called nursing assistants, play a hands-on role in the healthcare system. They work alongside nurses to assist with daily care, monitor patients, and support clinical procedures. Their care helps patients feel safe, comfortable, and supported during treatment and recovery.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the top employers of patient care technicians are hospitals, nursing care facilities, retirement communities, assisted living facilities, and home health care providers. In Kansas, patient care technicians work in a variety of healthcare settings, including 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 to delivering quality patient care.
Common Patient Care Technician responsibilities
Patient care technicians 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 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
Kansas does not have state licensing requirements for patient care technicians, but individual employers may require certification or background checks. Note that 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 (BLS) classifies patient care technicians as nursing assistants and reports that there are 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 nationwide over the next decade. In Kansas, there were 23,950 nursing assistants as of 2024. That means there are about 16 PCTs for every 1,000 jobs in the state. These jobs are mostly located in urban areas where there is more population density. But even in more rural parts of Kansas, the demand for patient care technicians is steady.
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+4% Growth
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23,950
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According to the BLS, the average salary for patient care technicians in Kansas is $38,600 per year, or $18.56 per hour. This is significantly more than home health and personal care aides whose jobs require a similar educational level. In Kansas, home health aides make an average salary of $28,430 per year.
Here is a look at average salaries and job demand by region in Kansas:
- The Kansas City metro area has 11,980 nursing assistant jobs that pay an average salary of $38,780 per year, higher than the state average.
- The Wichita metro area has 4,870 jobs that pay an average salary of $35,000 per year.
- The Topeka metro area has 2,100 jobs that pay an average salary of $36,120 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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