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Online Patient Care Technician Program
Stepful’s 8-week, 100% online Patient Care Technician program prepares you to earn your CPT/A certification from the NHA. We help you secure a full-time job working alongside nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals in Ohio.
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 launching a healthcare career with solid growth potential.
Stepful’s Ohio Patient Care Technician program is designed to help you succeed. Our 8-week online course prepares you to pass 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. There are no in-person clinical hours. Your real-world experience comes from interactive assignments and hands-on practice. Graduates leave ready to support medical teams in clinics, hospitals, and long-term care environments.
Your tuition covers everything you need: live instructor-led online classes, exam prep, one-on-one coaching, and career support. No additional books or materials are required.
As a trusted provider of healthcare education, Stepful partners with the NHA to ensure you’re fully prepared for certification and career success. 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 Ohio involves three key steps:
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01
Complete a Patient Care Technician Training Program
Completing a comprehensive training program is one of the best things you can do for your PCT career.
While Ohio doesn’t require training to become a patient care technician, most employers expect it. Stepful’s 8-week online program teaches patient care, infection control, EKG monitoring, and more essential topics.
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. Earning your certification shows employers you’re ready to work from day one, can boost your job prospects, and may even help you earn a higher starting salary.
03
Land a Full-Time Job in Ohio
Patient care technicians are in demand across Ohio. Large healthcare systems like OhioHealth, the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, TriHealth, and Mercy Health hire many PCTs to support their services. Searching their sites will show you the real demand and typical starting salaries across the state.
Stepful supports graduates as they look for jobs with interview prep, resume reviews, and career mentorship designed to help you find the job that’s right for you.
Patient care technicians, also known as nursing assistants, are vital to healthcare teams. They provide hands-on care, assist with daily tasks, monitor patients’ health, 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, the top employers of patient care technicians are hospitals, nursing care facilities, retirement communities, assisted living facilities, and home health care providers.
In Ohio, patient care technicians work in these and other healthcare settings, including clinics, urgent care centers, and private practices. Whether in busy city hospitals or smaller 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 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
Ohio does not have state licensing requirements for patient care technicians, but individual employers may require certification and/or background checks. Also, 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 (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 expects a steady job growth of 4% for patient care technicians through 2032 due to the aging baby-boomer generation, who will need increasing levels of healthcare services as they age.
In Ohio, there were 62,360 patient care technicians as of 2024. That means there are about 11 PCTs for every 1,000 jobs in the state. These jobs are mostly concentrated in urban areas where there are bigger populations, but the demand for patient care technicians is steady across the state.
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+% Growth
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62,360
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According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for patient care technicians in Ohio is $39,840 per year, or $19.16 per hour.
This salary is not only slightly higher than the median annual wage of $39,530 for patient care technicians nationwide, it’s also significantly higher than home health and personal care aides, whose jobs require a similar educational level. Their average salary in Ohio is $30,320 per year.
Here’s a look at average salaries and job numbers by region in Ohio:
- The Cleveland metro area has 12,850 jobs that pay an average salary of $39,190 per year, higher than average for the state.
- The Cincinnati metro area has 10,480 nursing assistant jobs that pay an average salary of $39,430 per year.
- The Columbus metro area has 10,290 nursing assistant jobs that pay an average salary of $39,270 per year.
- The Toledo metro area has 3,070 jobs that pay an average salary of $38,300 per year.
These 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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