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Online Patient Care Technician Program
Stepful’s 8-week, 100% online Patient Care Technician program prepares you to earn your CPCT/A certification. Plus, we help you secure a full-time job working alongside nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals in one of Michigan's many healthcare 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 meaningful way to impact patients’ lives while starting a healthcare career with strong growth potential.
Stepful’s Michigan 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).
Our program teaches patient care skills, vital signs monitoring, phlebotomy, infection control, EKG monitoring, and more with no in-person clinical hours required. You’ll gain hands-on experience through interactive assignments and graduate ready to support healthcare teams in hospitals, clinics, rehab centers, and long-term care settings.
Your tuition includes everything you need: live instructor-led online classes, certification exam prep, one-on-one coaching, and ongoing career support.
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 Michigan involves three key steps:
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01
Complete a Patient Care Technician Training Program
Michigan doesn’t require formal training to work as a patient care technician, but most employers expect it. Choosing a high-quality training program is one of the best things you can do for your career.
Stepful’s 8-week online program gives you practical skills—from patient care and infection control to EKG prep—so you can be hands-on from 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. Plus, earning certification not only boosts your resume, but may also increase your earning potential.
03
Land a Full-Time Job in Michigan
Patient care technicians are in demand across Michigan. Exploring the career pages of major healthcare systems such as Michigan Medicine, Henry Ford Health, Munson Healthcare, and Corewell Health confirm strong statewide demand for patient care techs and help you compare typical starting salaries.
Stepful supports graduates as they look for jobs with interview prep, resume reviews, and career coaching.Our career mentorship is designed to help you find the job that’s right for you.
Patient care technicians, also called nursing assistants, are vital members of healthcare teams. They provide hands-on care, assist with patients’ daily needs, and support doctors and nurses. 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 Michigan, patient care technicians work in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, nursing homes, clinics, and urgent care centers. Whether in busy city hospitals or community clinics, patient care technicians are essential in delivering direct patient care.
Common Patient Care Technician responsibilities
Patient care technicians (PCTs) play an important role in both patient care and healthcare team support.
PCTs check vital signs like blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature.
PCTs assist patients with everyday activities like bathing, grooming, dressing, and eating.
PCTs 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.
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.
PCTs make sure patients can move safely, helping them walk, transfer from bed to chair, or use a wheelchair.
PCTs watch for signs that patients 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.
Patient care technicians (PCTs) play an important role in both patient care and healthcare team support.
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 5 years
Michigan does not have state licensing requirements for patient care technicians, but individual employers may require certification or background checks. Additionally, nursing facilities 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 projects a steady job growth of 4% for PCTs 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 Michigan, there were 40,230 patient care technicians as of 2024. That means there are 9 PCTs for every 1,000 jobs in the state.
Most jobs are in larger metro areas where there is more population, but the demand for patient care technicians is steady even in areas of Michigan with smaller populations.
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+4% Growth
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40,230
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According to the BLS, the average salary for patient care technicians in Michigan is $40,210 per year, or $19.33 per hour.
This is significantly higher than the salaries of home health and personal care aides whose jobs require a similar educational level, whose average salary in Michigan is $31,750 per year.
Here’s a look at the demand for patient care technicians and average salaries by region in Michigan:
- The Detroit metro area has 15,140 nursing assistant jobs that pay an average salary of $39,140 per year, on par with the national average.
- The Grand Rapids-Wyoming metro area has 5,340 jobs that pay an average salary of $39,080 per year.
- The Lansing metro area has 1,290 jobs that pay an average salary of $38,310 per year.
These metro areas provide a steady demand for certified patient care technicians looking to start a career in healthcare.
What is included in Stepful’s PCT Course tuition in Michigan?
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Resources for aspiring certified Patient Care Technicians
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