There are many reasons to enroll in one of the many patient care technician schools in North Carolina. Patient care techs are part of one of the fastest growing healthcare sectors (allied health). Allied health careers like patient care techs are seeing tremendous demand due to the growing population of senior citizens across North Carolina and the country. People are living longer and in the last decades of their lives, they in many cases, need day to day care and assistance.
Caring for patients on a day to day basis is where the patient care tech, a CNA and a home health aide are similar jobs. They all care for patients daily and assist with day to day tasks that they have a difficult time doing themselves. Or they cannot do themselves. Examples are helping patients with bathing, eating, catheter replacement and any other activity throughout the day that patients need help with. The main difference between the three jobs (CNA, CT and a HHA) is that the level of care they can do is different. If a patient needs dialysis treatments, they should not hire a HHA or CNA for their daily care. They would need a patient care technician. A PCT is certified in phlebotomy, EKG reading and can be certified in dialysis and other services. A HHA or CNA is not trained at this level.
How to go About Becoming a Patient Care Tech in NC
To go about becoming a patient care tech in North Carolina you will need to make sur you follow the following steps below. These steps will make sure you have a streamlined entry in to your NC PCT training. Many PCT programs will require a CNA certification and a CPR certification before thy allow entry into the training course.
1 – Meet any requirements for program entry (CNA certification, CPR certification, drug screen, vaccinations, HS diploma, background check, placement test and fees)
2 – Pass the required PCT training
3 – Take and Pass the NHA Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant Certification Exam. There are great options for studying for the test as well at the link above.
4 – Get listed on the NC nursing aide registry. Once listed you can work as a North Carolina PCT.
Patient Care Technician Schools in North Carolina
Alamance Community College 1247 Jimmie Kerr Road, Graham, North Carolina 27253-8000
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College 340 Victoria Rd, Asheville, North Carolina 28801-4897
Bladen Community College 7418 NC Hwy 41 West, Dublin, North Carolina 28332
Cape Fear Community College 411 North Front Street, Wilmington, North Carolina 28401-3910
Carteret Community College 3505 Arendell St, Morehead City, North Carolina 28557
Central Carolina Community College 1105 Kelly Dr, Sanford, North Carolina 27330-9840
Central Piedmont Community College 1201 Elizabeth Avenue, Charlotte, North Carolina 28204
Cleveland Community College 137 S Post Rd, Shelby, North Carolina 28152-6224
College of the Albemarle 1208 N Road St, Elizabeth City, North Carolina 27906-2327
Davidson County Community College 297 DCCC Road, Thomasville, North Carolina 27360-7385
Durham Technical Community College 1637 Lawson Street, Durham, North Carolina 27703-5023
Edgecombe Community College 2009 W Wilson St, Tarboro, North Carolina 27886
Fayetteville Technical Community College 2201 Hull Rd, Fayetteville, North Carolina 28303-0236
Gaston College 201 Hwy 321 S, Dallas, North Carolina 28034
Guilford Technical Community College 601 E. Main Street, Jamestown, North Carolina 27282
Halifax Community College 100 College Drive, Weldon, North Carolina 27890
Johnston Community College 245 College Road, Smithfield, North Carolina 27577-2350
Mayland Community College 200 Mayland Drive, Spruce Pine, North Carolina 28777
McDowell Technical Community College 54 College Drive, Marion, North Carolina 28752-8728
Montgomery Community College 1011 Page St, Troy, North Carolina 27371
Piedmont Community College 1715 College Dr, Roxboro, North Carolina 27573
Platt College-Miller-Motte-Fayetteville 3725 Ramsey St., Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311
Platt College-Miller-Motte-Raleigh 3901 Capital Blvd Ste 151, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604-6072
Richmond Community College 1042 W Hamlet Ave, Hamlet, North Carolina 28345-1189
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College 1333 Jake Alexander Blvd, South, Salisbury, North Carolina 28146
Sandhills Community College 3395 Airport Rd, Pinehurst, North Carolina 28374
South Piedmont Community College 680 Highway 74 West, Polkton, North Carolina 28135
Southwestern Community College 447 College Drive, Sylva, North Carolina 28779
Stanly Community College 141 College Drive, Albemarle, North Carolina 28001
Surry Community College 630 S. Main St., Dobson, North Carolina 27017-8432
Wake Technical Community College 9101 Fayetteville Road, Raleigh, North Carolina 27603-5696
Patient Care Technician Salary and Jobs in NC
The average hourly pay at the time of this article according to indeed.com is $15.47 and a salary of $40,027. Experience plays a big role in the amount of money a PCT can make in NC. Bls.gov predicts an 8% growth for the career over the next decade as well. That is above the national average per their data.
Years of experience
Less than 1 year – $37,281
1 to 2 years – $38,265
3 to 5 years – $41,407
6 to 9 years – $45,430
More than 10 years – $46,398
Indeed.com