Patient Care Technician Externship

About the Program

Learn how to provide general care and comfort for patients with Patient Care Technician training. Through our online Patient Care Tech Training, you’ll develop the skills and knowledge that can help you be successful on the job. You’ll cover essential topics like anatomy and physiology, pharmacology basics, and phlebotomy, and you’ll also learn about venipuncture and receive a venipuncture kit as part of your program to help you practice your skills.

• Provide basic care to people needing daily assistance: bathing, feeding, catheter care, and managing supplies.
• Perform EKG and phlebotomy procedures.
• Assist patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and hospice environments.
• Maintain patient hygiene and overall well‑being.

• Anatomy & Physiology Basics – overview of basic bodily structures, functions, and developments.
• Patient Care Fundamentals – proper care and oversight regarding nutrition, sleep, wounds, vitals, and more.
• Navigating the Workplace – patients’ rights, ethics, professionalism, communication, and workplace safety.
• Exam Prep – preparation for the NHA’s Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant (CPCT/A), Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT), and Certified EKG Technician (CET) exams.

• Clinical hours are an essential component of your training, especially as you work towards certification and potential employment.
• The placement in and completion of an externship is solely the learner’s responsibility and may be subject to additional requirements such as a background check.

• Payment plans are available for those who need flexibility.
• My Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) program offers funding for eligible military spouses.
• Flexible payment options and installment plans are available for U.S. veterans, Active Duty service members, and their spouses.

A patient care technician’s salary varies by location and experience, but the average patient care technician makes $38,938 a year.*

With a growing elderly population, more healthcare professionals are needed. The healthcare industry expects to add about 1.9 million jobs over the next decade according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Statements found in the United States Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook are not a guarantee of any post‑graduation salary, in part because the data used to create the Occupational Outlook Handbook includes workers from differing educational backgrounds, levels of experience, and geographic areas of the country.

Career Step is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. EEA application can be found at