Welcome to Career Corner, a regular feature in Cougar News which highlights career and technical programs at Collin College. Today, we are looking at the Patient Care Technician (PCT) track of Health Professions.
Patient Care Technicians work in a hospital setting and assist the attending nurse with vital signs and other basic patient care tasks (bringing water, changing blankets, etc.). Their main function is to assist in the comfort of the patient.
Patient Care Technician Program Facts
- Average Salary: $26,500
- 21% growth
Brianna Ligon, patient care technician at Medical City of Plano and Collin student
Brianna Ligon chose Collin College for a reason many students do. It was close to her house. Since then, she has taken classes at each of the college’s three main campuses, and no matter which campus she attends, the trip gets her closer to her ultimate goal of being a nurse.
“I wanted to apply for nursing at Collin, and I figured PCT would be a great segue into that,” Ligon said. “It has really helped.”
Ligon said that her training helped her land a job with Medical City of Plano, which gives her further entree into the health care field.
“I feel like Collin has prepared me well,” she said. “My CNA (Certified Nurse Assistant) course was the beginning of my PCT training, and literally everything I was taught in class I do now. Some people may not think it is much, but I feel like it got me to where I am now – working alongside nurses, which is my end goal. I feel like each class has prepared me for what I want to be in the future.”
Being a PCT also gives her a background that makes her a strong candidate for the nursing program, she said.
“I have already turned my application in.”
Dr. Julia Westcott, DC, program director of Health Professions at Collin College
“Working as a PCT is an excellent way to get your foot in the door in health care. Many PCTs will start working within a hospital system and continue with their education in the process (often with tuition assistance from the hospital) to earn higher certifications such as a respiratory therapist or registered nurse.
“Collin College provides rigorous, quality training for our students, as well as use of our state-of-the-art facilities and simulation options. Our instructors are all highly qualified with extensive clinical experience. We also are able to provide state testing within our McKinney Campus (Central Park) facility.”
Degrees and Certificates
AAS – Patient Care Technician (PCT) Track
OSA – Patient Care Technician (PCT)
Certificate Level 1 – Patient Care Technician (PCT) Track
The options are stackable, and all contain the basic courses required to obtain the certification as a PCT, although a PCT with a degree will have greater opportunities for pay and advancement than one without a degree.
For more information about the Patient Care Technician track of Health Professions, including information on how to apply, visit www.collin.edu/department/healthprofessions.
*Job growth projected from 2018-2025. Data from JobsEQ (Collin County), O*Net, and Workforce Solutions of North Central Texas
Note: The earning potential for employees with certifications and associate of applied science degrees may exceed the average salary.