.svg)
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 one of Pennsylvania.
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
.png)
.png)
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.
%203.svg)
.webp)
What you’ll learn
.webp)
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
.webp)
Starting a career as a certified patient care technician in Pennsylvania involves three key steps:
.png){kind=avatar}
01
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.
02
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.
03
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.
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.
Checking blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature to help the care team track patient health.
Assisting with bathing, grooming, dressing, and meals.
Helping with simple care like applying bandages or warm compresses.
Tidying patient areas and removing hazards to prevent accidents.
Supporting patients by handling small errands or collecting supplies.
Assisting with blood draws, EKGs, or supporting nurses during procedures.
Helping patients walk, transfer safely, or use a wheelchair.
Staying alert for signs of health changes or neglect and reporting them.
Providing companionship and reassurance, especially for patients who feel isolated.
Patient care technicians support both patients and 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
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.
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.
.svg)
+4% Growth
.svg)
65,410
.webp)
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 tuition payment options are available?
What Patient Care Technician certifications do you prepare me for?
Do you help graduates find a job?
What is the refund policy?
What are the requirements to enroll in your Patient Care Tech training in Pennsylvania?
Is the program online or in-person?
Do you have a partnership with the National Healthcareer Association?
Resources for aspiring certified Patient Care Technicians
Join thousands of students getting certified with Stepful!
