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Patient care technicians (PCT) are tasked with carrying out the lion’s share of patient interaction.
They are responsible for getting to know their patients on a personal level in order to understand their medical needs of the patient.
In addition, the PCT is responsible for identifying and marking changes in their condition or needs which are to be implemented by nurses and/or doctors.
Article Table of Contents
Licensing Requirements to Become A Patient Care Technician in Michigan
The journey to becoming a certified and qualified PCT starts by selecting an appropriate and accredited training program.
Once a training program has been identified, the candidate should meet all of the entry requirements for such a program in the state of Michigan, which include:
– Candidates must pass a drug screening
– Candidates must have a clear criminal record
– Candidates must pass a TB skin test
– Candidates must have all immunizations in order, including:
- Varicella
- Tetanus
- Hepatitis B
- Flu
- MMR
Upon successful completion of the PCT course, students may be eligible to sit for the National Health Career Association (NHA) exam.
Students are required to pay the $149 exam fee.
However, some online courses include a voucher that covers the exam fee.
The exam is divided into five critical sections that evaluate the skills and knowledge of the student:
- Compliance, Safety, and Professional Responsibility (20%)
- EKG (10%)
- Patient Care (45%)
- Phlebotomy (14%)
- Infection Control (11%)
The examination consists of 100 questions and 20 pre-test questions.
Students have up to two hours to complete the examination. In order to qualify for the exam, students are required to meet the minimum requirements:
Students may also be eligible to sit for the exam provided that they have more than 12 months of industry experience.
- Be in possession of a high school diploma or GED
- Candidates must be 18 or older
- Graduate from a PCT training course
- Pay the exam fee – $149
- Demonstrate proof of citizenship or nationality
- Provide a set of fingerprints
Once students have passed the examination, they are required to register with The Michigan Nurse Registry in order to be considered qualified Patient Care Technicians.
5 Patient Care Technician Schools in Michigan
We’ve selected five schools in the state of Michigan that offer either in-class or online programs that prepare students for a career as patient care technicians.
These programs run between a few days and up to a year or more, depending on the qualifications.
Students are able to pursue a certificate, diploma, or associate degree in this field.
In many cases, these programs allow students to pursue a full degree in the field.
Dorsey College
The school is located in Detroit, Michigan, and is accredited by the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education.
All programs at this school are designed to be completed within a year.
Upon successful completion, students are eligible to sit for the national exam.
The tuition for in-state and out-of-state students at this college is $21,100 per year.
Wayne County Community College District
This school is located in Detroit, Michigan, and offers a patient care technology certificate course.
The course runs over two semesters and has a total of 25 credits.
Course fees are based on location.
In-district students will pay $109.10 per credit hour, while other Michigan residents will pay $118,30 per credit hour, and out-of-state students will pay $148,90 per credit hour.
Delta College
Delta College offers an online course that runs over 12 months and is made up of a total of 300 credits.
The course offers open enrollment, which means that students can apply when they are ready.
The tuition for this course is $2,495.00 and includes a voucher for the examination fee.
Upon completion of the course, students are able to sit for the Certified Patient Care Technician Level I Exam.
Requirements include:
- Access to a PC and email
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Google Chrome and Firefox
- Windows 8 or later
Lansing Community College
The school offers a certificate course that runs over two semesters.
Students must complete the course with a minimum grade of 2.5.
The course materials also include basic phlebotomy and EKG.
The average annual cost of attending this college is $5,485.
Upon completion of the course, students are eligible to sit for the national exam.
Montcalm Community College
This school offers an online patient care technician certificate course that runs over 12 months and has a total of 300 credits.
The course includes a voucher for the national examination.
The course fee is $2,495.00 and the course requirements are:
- Access to a PC and email
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Google Chrome and Firefox
- Windows 8 or later
Patient Care Technician Schools in Michigan – Summary Table
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Dorsey College | 31739 John R Rd, Madison Heights, MI 48071 |
| Wayne County Community College District | 801 W Fort St, Detroit, MI 48226 |
| Delta College | 1961 Delta Rd, University Center, MI 48710 |
| Lansing Community College | 409 N Washington Square, Lansing, MI 48933 |
| Montcalm Community College | 2800 College Dr, Sidney, MI 48885 |
Salary
Candidates that pursue a career in the healthcare industry as a patient care technician may expect a salary range between $30,105 to $38,643 per year.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Detroit | $35,120 |
| Grand Rapids | $33,487 |
| Warren | $35,120 |
| Flint | $32,186 |
| Sterling Heights | $35,009 |
| Lansing | $33,424 |
| Ann Arbor | $35,631 |
| Livonia | $35,009 |
| Dearborn | $35,120 |
| Westland | $35,237 |
Regional Salary in Michigan
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor, MI | 3,060 | $38,180 | $18.36 | $45,180 | $33,150 |
| Battle Creek, MI | 570 | $37,180 | $17.88 | $46,880 | $29,830 |
| Bay City, MI | 480 | $32,650 | $15.7 | $36,960 | $26,400 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 16,330 | $36,460 | $17.53 | $40,510 | $31,230 |
| Flint, MI | 1,250 | $36,040 | $17.33 | $42,190 | $29,320 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI | 5,530 | $35,420 | $17.03 | $39,540 | $30,770 |
| Jackson, MI | 550 | $36,550 | $17.57 | $39,280 | $31,070 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | 990 | $35,290 | $16.97 | $39,990 | $30,290 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 1,400 | $35,740 | $17.18 | $40,860 | $30,210 |
| Midland, MI | 430 | $34,010 | $16.35 | $37,020 | $29,160 |
| Monroe, MI | 370 | $35,560 | $17.1 | $39,100 | $31,060 |
| Muskegon, MI | 640 | $35,230 | $16.94 | $39,110 | $29,760 |
| Niles-Benton Harbor, MI | 520 | $34,460 | $16.57 | $39,260 | $30,300 |
| Saginaw, MI | 1,370 | $33,720 | $16.21 | $40,040 | $28,350 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the patient care technician exam difficult?
Successful completion of the exam demonstrates that you have the required skills and knowledge to perform this job.
It must be noted, though, that this is quite a challenging exam and students should do as much as possible to familiarise themselves with the exam and the knowledge needed to pass the exam.
What is the passing score for this exam?
390/500.
How much do patient care technicians earn in Michigan?
The average salary earned in this position in the state of Michigan is $34,599.
This figure is approximately 6% lower than that of the national average for this position.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Patient Care Technician
PCT Schools by City
PCT Schools by State