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If you cannot find a school in Kentucky that has a Patient Care Technician (PCT) program, you might want to look up Nursing Aid ones. Medical Assistants and EMTs provide some similar duties.
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Licensing Requirements to Become a Patient Care Technician in Kentucky
The State of Kentucky does not have any specific licensing requirements for a Patient Care Technician.
However, some certification options are available.
Still, you should line up the certification exams you plan to study for with the schooling that you enroll in.
If you do not find a Patient Care Technician certificate or degree program near you, try earning a Medical Assistant, Certified Nursing Assistant, or Phlebotomist and EKG Technician credential.
An Emergency Medical Technician also provides similar services to patients.
Some of the services, by the way, that you would offer people seeking treatment are checking their vital signs and performing EKG heart scans on them.
If you work in the front end, you might greet patients, lead them to the exam room, and console them until a doctor or nurse comes.
If you have the Phlebotomy training, you will also draw blood for patients.
This is usually sent to a lab for testing.
5 Patient Care Technician Schools in Kentucky
1. Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
Your training at this school includes a voucher for the PCT Level I exam offered by the American Education Certification Association (AECA).
This training lasts about 12 months and includes 300 hours of total combined education in the classroom and in the real world.
Some skills you will learn involve wound care and patient mobility.
In addition, you will assist patients with gait, range of motion, therapeutic exercises, and more.
2. Hazard Community & Technical College
This Kentucky School provides a Nurse Aide Certificate Program.
In your training, you will learn how to provide medical assistance per a nurse or doctor’s orders.
In addition, this training will make you understand infection control and safety procedures, and some legal information about patient (or resident) rights is also provided.
Nurse aides provide similar duties in this state as a PCT.
It should take you about a year to complete.
3. Hopkinsville Community College
This Kentucky school provides Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training.
It is six credit hours and takes about 16 weeks.
This instruction may fulfill some of your continuing education (CE) hours as a Nurse Aide, Medical Assistant, or Patient Care Technician.
It will update your skills required to perform patient assistance on an ambulance scene during an emergency, and this might include CPR or Basic Life Support.
4. Big Sandy College
You can choose one of several short-term courses, such as the Phlebotomy one that certifies you to draw blood from patients for testing.
Otherwise, you could enroll in the Certified Nurse Aid program, which will prepare you for some of the same bedside and office duties as a Patient Care Assistant.
Some of the classes only take about eight to 12 weeks.
There is also a CPR course, and all this training relates to working as a Patient Care Technician.
5. Ashland College
The Advanced Nursing Assistant Course at this school involves learning some of the same skills you would as a Patient Care Technician.
It will prepare you for work in a hospice, nursing home, or long-term care environment.
You can also use this training to secure jobs at a hospital or private doctor’s office.
You will receive some clinical training and perform blood tests, read vital signs and prepare patients for EKG readings.
In addition, you will gain more practice with patient interaction and become more mindful of infection control.
Patient Care Technician Schools in Kentucky – Summary Table
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Elizabethtown Community and Technical College | 600 College Street Rd, Elizabethtown, KY 42701 |
| Hazard Community & Technical College | 1 Community College Dr, Hazard, KY 41701 |
| Hopkinsville Community College | 720 North Dr, Hopkinsville, KY 42240 |
| Big Sandy College | 1 Bert Combs Dr, Prestonsburg, KY 41653 |
| Ashland College | 1400 College Drive Ashland, KY 41101 |
Salary
In 2022, a Kentucky Patient Care Technician in Kentucky can make around $32,561 per year.
Salaries typically range from $28,366 to $36,411.
Earning multiple certificates or moving on to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) from a Nurse Aid or Patient Care Technician can earn you at least $5,000-$10,000 more.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Lexington-Fayette | $32,516 |
| Louisville | $32,561 |
| Owensboro | $32,429 |
| Bowling Green | $31,257 |
| Covington | $33,766 |
| Hopkinsville | $31,076 |
| Frankfort | $31,567 |
| Henderson | $32,636 |
| Richmond | $32,190 |
| Jeffersonville | $32,240 |
Regional Salary in Kentucky
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green, KY | 580 | $31,360 | $15.08 | $36,120 | $26,480 |
| Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY | 380 | $31,220 | $15.01 | $35,890 | $24,650 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | 2,910 | $34,180 | $16.43 | $37,920 | $27,490 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 5,750 | $34,580 | $16.62 | $40,310 | $28,930 |
| Owensboro, KY | 560 | $32,700 | $15.72 | $35,260 | $28,750 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Kentucky Patient Care Technician training cost?
Some workforce-based programs might only cost you about $3,00 if your employer helps you cover the cost.
Other training may run at least $5,000-$10,000 for a certificate program, but federal financial aid may cover at least a portion of it.
What tasks does a Kentucky Patient Care Technician perform?
They will usually provide patient dressing, feeding, bathing or bedding changes.
In addition, they also might perform phlebotomy, EKG reading, laboratory assistance and patient consolation.
If trained for office duties, they perhaps would also greet patients and schedule appointments, but a Medical Assistant usually does that.
Do you need a degree to become a Kentucky PCT?
No, but you should make sure the training you receive is approved by the place where you would like to find a job.
You may want to ask other students, current employees, or future employers some questions about appropriate education.
How do I become certified as a Patient Care Technician?
One of the primary resources for PCT certification is the National Healthcareer Association.
You might also want to check out the Kentucky Nurse Aide Registry to find out more about becoming a CNA, LPN, RN, Medical Assistant, or other person offering patient care.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Patient Care Technician
PCT Schools by City
PCT Schools by State