Patient Care Technician/Emergency Room Technician Certificate

A Patient Care Technician (PCT) is a highly trusted professional and a vital part of the healthcare system. A PCT can have a direct impact on people’s lives and health. Careers as a PCT offer diverse opportunities and excellent earning potential. PCTs work under the direct supervision of a registered nurse and are trained to perform a variety of tasks, including:

• Basic clinical skills
• Patient hygiene
• Vital signs
• Blood collection
• EKG’s

Upon completion of the Patient Care Technician program, you would be qualified for jobs in the following areas:

• Nursing Assistant/Acute Care Nursing Assistant
• Patient Care Technician/Emergency Room Technician
• Electrocardiography (EKG) Technician/Cardiac Monitor Technician
• Phlebotomy Technician

Graduates of the Patient Care Technician Certificate at Edmonds leave our program with extensive classroom and skills lab training and hands-on experience in a healthcare simulation setting. There is tremendous demand for PCTs, and graduates are able to find employment in this field quickly!

Career Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov) employment of Nursing Assistants nationally is projected to grow 5% percent from 2021 to 2031, about average for all occupations. Because of the growing elderly population, many nursing assistants and orderlies will be needed in long-term care facilities.

The Washington State Employment Security Department (esd.wa.gov) projects the average annual growth rate of 2.4% from 2020 through 2030 for Nursing Assistants in Snohomish County and 2.0% in Seattle-King County. Pay varies by experience, employer, and locality.

Academic Planning

The Patient Care/Emergency Room Technician requires a minimum of 44 credits as outlined OR a minimum of 36 credits with documentation of a valid CNA license in Washington state which eliminates the requirement of NURS 101, 102, and 103. The classes typically takes four quarters to finish. Here is a recommended academic plan if you are beginning in the fall quarter (September). If you are beginning at a different time of the year, please contact an advisor to assist with your academic plan.

Prerequsites

Program requirements 

Clinical Experiences/Externship Requirements

Clinical experiences and externships are an important part of your Allied Health education. To participate, you must complete and maintain the health, safety, and background screening requirements for your program and clinical site.

Edmonds College Allied Health Education is transitioning to QualifiedFirst® by Verified Credentials to manage requirements such as immunization records, TB screening, background screening, and certifications.

Account setup instructions are coming soon. If you have not started the clinical requirements process, you can prepare now by gathering your immunization and other health records. Review the Clinical Compliance Requirements for details. Please wait for your program’s instructions before creating an account or purchasing a package.

Already started through CastleBranch? Continue using CastleBranch. You do not need to repeat work that was completed and accepted because of the transition. Follow Allied Health Education’s instructions for any remaining requirements, and renew items as they expire.

All requirements must be completed and approved by the open enrollment date for the term in which you plan to take externship. Start gathering records early. Finding immunization records, completing titers or vaccinations, and obtaining TB screening can take time.

If you have concerns about background screening eligibility, review Washington State’s Disqualifying Crimes and Negative Actions list and contact an Allied Health faculty advisor.

For questions about externship readiness, visit the Allied Health Externship Hub or email ahe_externships@edmonds.edu.

Clinical Site List

• Castle Branch Clinical Document Tracker
• CPNW Clinical Passport
• Externship Policies

Advising

For program information and questions please contact our Patient Care/Emergency Room Technician program advisors:

AHE Advising | alliedhealth@edmonds.edu

Next steps: Certificates, AAS-T, and BAS degrees

Students who want to continue their studies in healthcare may apply the Patient Care Technician coursework towards additional Allied Health certificates, our Allied Health associate degree, and our Integrated Healthcare Management Bachelor of Applied Science degree:

• Clinical Laboratory Assistant Certificate
• Allied Health Education AAS-T
• Integrated Health Care Management Bachelor of Applied Science

Patient Care / Emergency Room Technician graduates interested in the next steps along the nursing pathway should consider the following certificates and degrees:

• Practical Nursing Certificate
  While your CNA coursework may not be directly applied to the Practical Nursing Certificate, extra consideration will be given to applicants with a valid CNA certificate/license, MA certificate/license, or military medical corps experience.
• Associate in Pre-Nursing - Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA/MRP)
  This degree is designed for students who plan to transfer to Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs at the University of Washington, Washington State University, Northwest University, Seattle University, Seattle Pacific University, Pacific Lutheran University, Walla Walla University, and the Washington State University Intercollegiate College of Nursing (WSU-ICN) whose members include Eastern Washington University, Gonzaga University, and Whitworth University.