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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 you secure a full-time job working alongside nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals in Tennessee.
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 is a rewarding way to enter healthcare and make a real difference in patients’ lives. Stepful’s Tennessee Patient Care Technician program is designed to help you succeed in your new career.
Our 8-week online course prepares you for the Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant (CPCT/A) exam offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
Our program covers patient care skills, checking vital signs, phlebotomy, infection control, EKG monitoring, and more. Even though clinical hours are not required, you’ll build hands-on experience through interactive assignments and practice activities. This training helps you feel confident and ready to support healthcare teams in direct patient care.
Your tuition includes access to our online learning platform with live, instructor-led classes that work with your schedule. You’ll also receive one-on-one coaching, certification exam preparation, job search support, and access to a supportive community that stays with you even after you begin your career.
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 Tennessee involves three key steps:
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01
Complete a Patient Care Technician Training Program
Although Tennessee does not require patient care technicians to complete a training program, most employers prefer candidates who have formal training.
Stepful’s 8-week online course teaches hands-on patient care skills, EKG monitoring, infection control, and more. Completing a program like Stepful’s shows employers you are prepared to succeed on day one.
02
Pass the NHA CPCT/A Certification Exam
The Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant (CPCT/A) exam from the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) tests your knowledge of patient care, safety, and clinical procedures. Stepful’s program is specifically designed to prepare you for this exam.
According to the NHA, 96% of employers require or encourage certification for patient care technicians. Earning your certification helps you stand out to employers and may improve your earning potential.
03
Land a Full-Time Job in Tennessee
Stepful helps graduates with job search support, including interview preparation, resume reviews, and connections with local healthcare employers who are our partners.
Tennessee is home to major healthcare systems like HCA Healthcare, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Ballad Health, and Ascension Saint Thomas. Searching their career sites will show you how in-demand patient care technicians are and what kinds of salaries they offer.
Patient care technicians, also called nursing assistants, are essential members of healthcare teams. They work under the supervision of nurses to provide hands-on care, monitor patients, assist with daily needs, and support clinical procedures. Their care helps patients feel safe, supported, and comfortable.
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 Tennessee, patient care technicians work in both large medical centers and smaller community-based settings.
Common Patient Care Technician responsibilities
Patient care technicians (PCTs) play an important role in both patient care and supporting healthcare teams. Their responsibilities help promote patient well-being and keep healthcare settings running smoothly.
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. Their responsibilities help promote patient well-being and keep healthcare settings running smoothly.
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
Tennessee does not require state licensing for patient care technicians, but many employers do require certification and may also conduct background checks.
Nursing homes that accept Medicaid funding may also require additional certification or registration with the state.
The demand for patient care technicians is steady across the country. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a steady job growth of 4% for patient care technicians through 2034. They credit this growth to the aging of the baby-boomer generation, who will need increasing levels of healthcare services as they age.
In Tennessee, there were 23,030 patient care technicians as of 2024. That means there are about seven PCTs for every 1,000 jobs in the state.
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+4% Growth
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23,030
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According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average salary for patient care technicians in Tennessee is $37,040 per year, or $17.81 per hour.
This is slightly lower than the mean wage of $39,610 per year in the country as a whole. However, home health and personal care aides in Tennessee, whose jobs require a similar educational level, make an average of $29,800 per year, which is significantly less than patient care technicians.
Patient care technician jobs are most concentrated in Tennessee’s larger cities and healthcare hubs. Here are average salaries and job numbers for key regions:
- The Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin metro area has 6,280 nursing assistant jobs, with an average salary of $37,710 per year. This is higher than average for the state.
- The Memphis metro area employs 3,830 patient care technicians with an average salary of $34,720 per year.
- The Knoxville metro area reports 3,130 jobs, with an average salary of $33,930 per year.
- The Chattanooga metro area has 1,870 jobs, with an average salary of $33,820 per year.
These areas offer strong employment prospects for certified patient care technicians starting their healthcare careers.
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Resources for aspiring certified Patient Care Technicians
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