Online Patient Care Technician Program
Pennsylvania Patient Care Technician Certification 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 one of Pennsylvania.
8-Week Patient Care Technician Training in PA
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
Stepful graduates were hired at
Earn Your Patient Care Technician Certification in Pennsylvania
Becoming a certified patient care technician is a meaningful way to support patients while starting a healthcare career with strong growth potential.
Stepful’s Pennsylvania 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 administered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
Our curriculum covers patient care skills, vital signs, phlebotomy, infection control, EKG monitoring, and more. While clinical hours aren’t required, you’ll complete hands-on assignments and interactive coursework that give you confidence to support medical teams in real patient care settings.
Your tuition includes access to our online platform with live instructor-led classes that fit your schedule. You’ll also receive one-on-one coaching, exam prep, job search help, and career mentorship that continues 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.
Stepful Students Score +8 Points
Above the National Average
How to Become a Patient Care Technician in Pennsylvania
Starting a career as a certified patient care technician in Pennsylvania involves three key steps:
Complete a Patient Care Technician Training Program
Pennsylvania does not require you to complete a formal training program, but most employers prefer it. Stepful’s 8-week online program teaches patient care skills, patient safety, EKG monitoring, and more to prepare you for real-world work. Completing a program like Stepful’s shows employers you are ready on day one.
Pass the NHA CPCT/A Certification Exam
The Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant (CPCT/A) exam administered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) measures your knowledge of patient care, safety, and clinical skills. Stepful’s program is designed to fully prepare you to pass this exam.
Certification demonstrates to employers that you have the training and skills they need. According to NHA, 96% of employers require or encourage certification for patient care technicians.
Land a Full-Time Job in Pennsylvania
Certified patient care technicians are in demand across Pennsylvania. Stepful provides job search support, resume reviews, interview prep, and connections with our partners in both urban and rural healthcare facilities.
By exploring major healthcare systems like UPMC in Pittsburgh, Penn Medicine in Philadelphia, Geisinger in central and eastern PA, and Lehigh Valley Health Network, you will see the strong demand for patient care technicians across Pennsylvania.
Get Hired as a Certified Patient Care Technician in Pennsylvania
Stepful’s program goes beyond test preparation. We help you with resume writing, interview practice, and career mentoring so you graduate ready to start a job.
100% Online Training Program
Our flexible online program is designed for busy adults. Choose morning, evening, or weekend classes that fit your schedule, with no in-person clinical hours required.
Supportive Community
From your first day, you’ll have the support of a dedicated coach and connect with peers on the same path. After graduation, Stepful offers ongoing career guidance to help you thrive in your first clinical job and beyond.
Patient Care Technician classes at your own schedule
*Median annual salary as of May 2023 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
8 Weeks
Part-Time
$41,700
NHA-CPCT/A
We partner with the National Healthcareer Association to offer an accredited certification in Patient Care Technician. Students who complete the Stepful program and pass the NHA PCT exam will be eligible to work as Certified Patient Care Technician in 48 of 50 states.
Weeks 1-2
Weeks 3-4
Weeks 5-6
Weeks 7-8
Pick Your Start Date
Choose between morning and evening class times.
What Is a Patient Care Technician and Where Do They Work in Pennsylvania?
Patient care technicians are sometimes called nursing assistants, and they play an important role in healthcare. They work under nurse supervision to provide hands-on care, help with daily needs, monitor patients, and support medical procedures.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the largest employers of patient care technicians are hospitals, nursing care facilities, hospitals, retirement communities, and home health providers.
In Pennsylvania, patient care technicians work in a variety of healthcare settings. Their skills are needed in both large cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh and in smaller communities across the state.
Common Patient Care Technician Responsibilities
Patient care technicians support both patients and healthcare teams. Their responsibilities often include:
- Monitoring vital signs: Checking blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature to help the care team track patient health.
- Helping with daily personal care: Assisting with bathing, grooming, dressing, and meals.
- Providing basic first aid: Helping with simple care like applying bandages or warm compresses.
- Maintaining a clean and safe environment: Tidying patient areas and removing hazards to prevent accidents.
- Running light errands: Supporting patients by handling small errands or collecting supplies.
- Performing basic medical tasks: Assisting with blood draws, EKGs, or supporting nurses during procedures.
- Assisting with mobility: Helping patients walk, transfer safely, or use a wheelchair.
- Watching for safety concerns: Staying alert for signs of health changes or neglect and reporting them.
- Offering emotional support: Providing companionship and reassurance, especially for patients who feel isolated.
Requirements for the Patient Care Technician Certification in Pennsylvania
To be eligible to take NHA’s CPCT/A certification exam, you must have a high school diploma or GED or be scheduled to earn one in the next 12 months.
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
Pennsylvania does not have additional licensing requirements for patient care technicians. However, employers may require certification, background checks, or other onboarding steps.
Nursing homes that accept Medicaid funding may also require additional certification or registration with the state.
Job Outlook for Certified Patient Care Technicians in Pennsylvania
Salary: $41,700 / year
Job Outlook: 4% Growth
Jobs in Pennsylvania: 65,410
The demand for patient care technicians is strong throughout the country. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (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 Pennsylvania, there were 65,410 patient care technicians as of 2024. That represents about 10.8 patient care technician jobs for every 1,000 jobs in the state.
Because of eastern Pennsylvania’s location, patient care technicians there also have access to jobs in New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and even Maryland. The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metro area, for example, has 32,410 patient care technician jobs that pay an average salary of $41,240 per year.
How Much Does a Patient Care Technician Make?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for patient care technicians in Pennsylvania in 2024 was $41,700 per year, or $19.77 per hour.
This is a little bit higher than the mean national wage of $39,610 per year.
For comparison, home health and personal care aides, whose jobs require a similar educational level, make an average of $34,900 per year, significantly less than patient care technicians.
Here’s a look at the demand and average salaries in some of Pennsylvania’s metro areas:
- The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metro area has 32,410 patient care technician jobs that pay an average salary of $41,240 per year.
- The Pittsburgh metro area has 11,330 patient care technician jobs that pay an average salary of $39,470 per year.
- The Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton metro area has 4,720 jobs that pay an average salary of $39,830 per year.
- The Harrisburg-Carlisle metro area has 4,220 jobs that pay an average salary of $38,940 per year.
These metro areas highlight strong opportunities for certified patient care technicians looking to start a career in healthcare across Pennsylvania.
What is included in Stepful’s PCT Course tuition in Pennsylvania?
What is the refund policy?
What tuition payment options are available?
What are the requirements to enroll in your Patient Care Tech training in Pennsylvania?
What Patient Care Technician certifications do you prepare me for?
Is the program online or in-person?
Do you help graduates find a job?
Do you have a partnership with the National Healthcareer Association (NHA)?
Your new Patient Care Tech career starts here
8 Week Patient Care Technician Training
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
