How to Become a Patient Care Technician in Washington

Washington state is located in the Pacific Northwest on the Pacific Coast and bordering Canada.

For individuals interested in becoming a patient care technician in Washington, there are some unique opportunities.

Take into account that this pathway has various terms for schools in this state.

Rather than strictly patient care technicians, schools offer specializations in emergency patient care and community patient advocacy.

Licensing Requirements to Become a Patient Care Technician

The licensing requirements for patient care technician students in WA include a complete immunization record.

These students must also have successfully completed several prerequisites to be in a college course.

The career pathway to becoming a patient care technician is similar to that of a certified nursing assistant (CNA).

For students who already are licensed as CNAs, this allows students entering the patient care technician program to need fewer additional classes.

For example, at Edmonds College, students need to get 44 credits for the patient care technician program.

However, if they have a CNA license, they only need to earn 38 credits.

Once the student completes the patient care technician training, they must take the National Certified Patient Care Technician (NCPCT) exam.

This exam is proctored by the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) off-campus from the schools where students earn their degrees.

5 Patient Care Technician Schools in Washington

Pima Medical Institute

The Pima Medical Institute (PMI) has multiple campus locations in several states throughout the US.

This includes two campuses in Washington–Seattle, and Renton, which is on the outskirts of Seattle.

The patient care technician program at PMI takes only eight months and is the shortest in length on this list.

Graduates receive a certificate upon completion of a training program including a clinical externship.

This program covers hemodialysis, electrocardiography (ECG), emergency room, and career prep training.

Edmonds College

The patient care technician program at Edmonds College.

This is a college in Lynwood, WA, which is local to students living in the Snohomish County corner of Puget Sound.

The PCT program is available as one of many Allied Health Education areas of study.

Students must pay total tuition and fees of $5,139.76.

This is in addition to $75 for a uniform and FBI background check, and approximately $1,131.58 in books, and $675.05 in lab fees.

You can save money by purchasing the textbooks used for this program.

The estimated total for Spring 2022 is $7,021.39.

This amount is for the entire program of 41 credits, which requires more than one semester.

Therefore, this is the total cost for everything and can be paid over the course of the total program.

It typically takes students at EC in the patient care technician program for two years due to the limited availability of some courses that are only offered once an academic year.

Highline College

At Highline College in Des Moines, WA, students can enroll in the Community Health and Wellness program specialization of patient advocate.

This is an AAS or Associate of Applied Science degree that is achieved in two years or more.

While not a traditional patient care technician program, this program focuses on patient advocacy in healthcare settings.

It is basically the same thing as a PCT program.

Washington state appears to not offer as many training programs specifically addressed as “patient care technician.”

Instead, the programs have various similar names and offer the same sort of training.

This AAS degree program in patient advocate training is based on the college credit system.

As of Spring 2022, each credit course is $119 to $306 depending on residency status and whether the student has to pay for full tuition.

Green River College

The Green River College (GRC) equivalency and close association with a patient care technician program is the emergency patient care program.

This is a combination of two other programs and certificates offered at GRC–nursing assistant and phlebotomy.

According to the practical nursing program at this college, “The Emergency Room and Patient Care Technician role is similar to the role of first responders in the field but occurs within the Emergency Room or hospital setting.”

For students interested in emergency medical service training, this certificate fits the bill.

Grays Harbor College

Medical assistant training at Grays Harbor College is available on the west coast of the state, right near the ocean.

Similar to the patient care technician training, medical assistant training grants students an AAS degree.

This program covers working in clinical and office settings with patients in both nursing and pharmaceuticals, as well as medical billing.

The cost is set on the credit system that varies between lower and upper-division tuition schedules.

Patient Care Technician Schools in Washington – Summary Table

Salary for a Patient Care Technician in Washington

The salary for a patient care technician working in Seattle, Washington is an average of $37,754 a year.

In nearby Aberdeen, which is a rural town compared to Seattle, the average pay is $34,613 annually.

Compare these western WA cities to the eastern metropolis of Spokane, which pays lower than both of them at $33,286 on average a year.

Regional Salary in Washington

PCT Schools by City

PCT Schools by State