Patient Care Technician Classes Near Me: Training, Certification and BLS Requirements
If you’re searching for patient care technician classes near me, you’re probably looking for a hands-on healthcare career that can get you working directly with patients.
Patient Care Technicians, often called PCTs, assist nurses and other healthcare professionals with everyday patient care in hospitals, clinics, dialysis centers, rehabilitation facilities, and other medical settings.
While In-Pulse CPR does not provide Patient Care Technician training, we do provide an important healthcare certification commonly required for PCT positions:
American Heart Association BLS Certification
Many hospitals and healthcare employers require Patient Care Technicians to maintain Basic Life Support certification.
For example, a current Patient Care Technician position with HCA Healthcare requires Basic Cardiac Life Support or CPR certification shortly after employment begins.
If your school or employer requires:
American Heart Association BLS Provider
that is exactly what In-Pulse CPR offers.
What Does a Patient Care Technician Do?
Patient Care Technicians provide direct, hands-on assistance to patients while working under nurses and other healthcare professionals.
According to the National Healthcareer Association, PCT duties may include:
- Assisting patients with bathing and personal care
- Helping with feeding and mobility
- Monitoring vital signs
- Performing safety checks
- Obtaining EKG readings
- Performing phlebotomy procedures
- Assisting with supplies and patient rooms
- Providing emotional support to patients and families
The exact duties vary by employer and state.
This broad scope is one reason PCT training can be attractive to someone entering healthcare.
Why Do Patient Care Technicians Need BLS?
PCTs spend a significant amount of time at the bedside.
That means they may be among the first healthcare workers to notice when a patient’s condition suddenly changes.
A patient could experience:
- Cardiac arrest
- Breathing difficulty
- Chest pain
- Loss of consciousness
- Choking
- Another serious medical emergency
BLS training prepares Patient Care Technicians to recognize cardiac arrest, perform high-quality CPR, use an AED, provide ventilations, and work as part of a healthcare resuscitation team.
Those skills are particularly important for anyone providing direct patient care.
What Is AHA BLS Provider Certification?
BLS stands for Basic Life Support.
The American Heart Association BLS Provider course is designed for healthcare professionals and students preparing to work in clinical environments.
Training includes:
- Adult CPR
- Child CPR
- Infant CPR
- AED use
- Rescue breathing
- Choking response
- Two-rescuer CPR
- Bag-mask ventilation
- Team-based resuscitation skills
Students who successfully complete the course receive an American Heart Association BLS Provider eCard.
In-Pulse CPR offers instructor-led, hands-on AHA BLS Provider classes.
Looking for Patient Care Technician Training?
If your original search was for patient care technician classes near me, you will still need to find a school or healthcare training program that provides PCT education.
When comparing programs, ask:
- Does the program include hands-on clinical training?
- Does it prepare me for a recognized Patient Care Technician certification?
- Does it include EKG and phlebotomy skills?
- Does it include supervised patient-care experience?
- Does the program require BLS certification?
- Does my clinical site or employer require American Heart Association BLS Provider?
- Is the program accepted by hospitals and healthcare employers in my area?
The answers can help you avoid paying for training that does not match your career goals.
What Is CPCT/A Certification?
One commonly recognized credential is the Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant, or CPCT/A, offered by the National Healthcareer Association.
NHA currently allows applicants to qualify through an approved education pathway or through qualifying work experience.
Its education pathway generally requires completion of a Patient Care Technician or Assistant training program within the required eligibility period.
NHA reports that 96% of employers require or encourage certification for Patient Care Technicians, based on its 2025 industry outlook.
The exact certification preferred by an employer can vary, so check before enrolling in a program.
PCT Training Can Include EKG and Phlebotomy
One thing that makes Patient Care Technician training interesting is how several healthcare skills can overlap.
NHA lists both EKG testing and phlebotomy procedures among the skills a Patient Care Technician may perform.
That means someone who has been searching for:
phlebotomy classes near me
or
EKG technician classes near me
may also want to compare Patient Care Technician programs.
A PCT program can sometimes provide a broader pathway into direct patient care.
Patient Care Technician Certification and BLS Are Different
These credentials serve different purposes.
Patient Care Technician training and certification prepare you for bedside care and clinical responsibilities.
BLS certification prepares you to respond when a patient experiences a life-threatening emergency.
A Patient Care Technician may need both.
That is why it is smart to check your BLS requirement while you are still comparing PCT programs.
Already Enrolled in a PCT Program?
If your Patient Care Technician school, clinical site, or employer has told you to obtain American Heart Association BLS Provider certification, In-Pulse CPR can help.
We offer BLS classes in:
Classes include hands-on instruction and an American Heart Association BLS Provider eCard after successful completion.
👉 Find an Upcoming BLS CPR Class Near You
Choose your state, location, and class date to register.
BLS Certification for Patient Care Technicians
If you’re searching for patient care technician classes near me, your PCT education is only one part of preparing to work with patients.
You should also make sure your healthcare certifications are in place.
If your program or employer requires American Heart Association BLS Provider certification, In-Pulse CPR provides the healthcare-level CPR training you need.
👉 View Upcoming BLS Classes
In-Pulse CPR is an independent American Heart Association Training Center. We provide BLS certification but do not provide Patient Care Technician education or CPCT/A certification.
***
