Division of Professional Studies
Patient Care Technician (PCT) Program
High School Students: Start your journey into the medical field ahead of your peers!
Discover a career where compassion meets skill. Saint Francis University's Patient Care Technician (PCT) Program gives high school students a head start in healthcare with training aligned to today's needs.
- Dual enrollment course outline tailored to high school students
- Intensive, 320-hour training to build a strong foundation in patient care
- Combines hands-on clinical, simulation lab, and classroom learning with the latest technology
- Conveniently located in downtown Altoona, PA
A Strategic Partnership for Early Career Advancement:
The PCT Program is only offered via established partnerships, ensuring that students benefit from a network of experienced professionals and resources within the industry.
Discover alternative study options tailored for workforce development and incumbent professionals. Reach out to the Division of Professional Studies to start the conversation.
The Heart of Hands-On Patient Support
What is a Patient Care Technician?
Patient Care Technicians play a vital role in healthcare settings, working under the supervision of registered nurses to support patients' daily needs. As key members of the medical team, they assist with essential tasks that include:
- Collecting samples for lab work
- Checking vital signs
- Supporting patients with mobility and exercise
- Providing comfort and care for patients and their families
Why Saint Francis?
Bridging Excellence with Compassion
- Designed to be "stackable" - meaning participants can "add on" to their credentials and advance in healthcare professions at the University.
- Allows participants to build a transcript by earning 18 SFU credits.
- High school students can complete two courses (60 hours) prior to graduation.
Designed specifically for high school students, the program combines online learning with hands-on instruction at the Curry Innovation Center in downtown Altoona, PA. Clinical components will be completed at local healthcare facilities.
This unique program allows students to finish the curriculum shortly after graduation, helping them quickly transition into the workforce.
A Fast-Track into the Healthcare Workforce, Outpacing Traditional Pathways:
Graduates of the program receive a qualified medical certificate, allowing for quick entry into the job market and potential career advancement in the medical field, provided they meet eligibility requirements.
Certification/Credentials
- The SFU PCT Program is designed to equip students with the knowledge required to gain the Patient Care Technician Certification through the National Center for Competency Testing's NCPCT exam.
- Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are prepared to perform a wide range of clinical and administrative tasks, including positions in a hospital, clinic, doctor's office, or healthcare facility.
- Function effectively as a member of the health care team by exhibiting soft-skills expectations of an allied health care professional.
Delivering Tomorrow's Healthcare Professionals
Courses taken while in high school: Role of the Patient Care Technician, Foundations of Allied Health
- High School students would be eligible to complete courses 1 and 2 during their Senior Year of school (or transfer courses if equivalent), and then complete the remaining courses over graduation.
Courses taken following high school graduation: Safety and Infection Control, Introduction to Direct Patient Care Skills, Advanced Direct Patient Care Skills, Phlebotomy and Electrocardiography
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Tuition
Tuition for the complete program is $5,000.
- This includes all fees (such as books, scrub clothes, and the cost of the initial certification examination), helping to remove barriers and improve program achievements. Funding opportunities to help offset the program fee are likely available.
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Application
Applications for Pre-PCT curriculum (courses 1 and 2 in high school) can be made here: https://francis.tfaforms.net/217966. You will be notified of acceptance and/or Scholarship shortly after.
- For courses three through six, students must be 18 years of age or older, have a clean criminal record, and must have completed high school.
Tuition for the complete program is $5,000.
- This includes all fees (such as books, scrub clothes, and the cost of the initial certification examination), helping to remove barriers and improve program achievements. Funding opportunities to help offset the program fee are likely available.
Applications for Pre-PCT curriculum (courses 1 and 2 in high school) can be made here: https://francis.tfaforms.net/217966. You will be notified of acceptance and/or Scholarship shortly after.
- For courses three through six, students must be 18 years of age or older, have a clean criminal record, and must have completed high school.
We're Here to Help
Connect with us for more details and personalized guidance.
Dr. Julie A Warnick, EdD
Dean, Division of
Professional Studies,
Saint Francis University
814-472-2846