Division of Professional Studies

Patient Care Technician Certificate

Online with Labs in Altoona

Discover your future career with Saint Francis University's Patient Care Technician Program

Patient Care Technicians play a vital role in healthcare settings, working under the supervision of registered nurses to support patients' daily needs. This 6 month intensive PCT hybrid program offers the fundamentals of the field, yet goes far beyond the scope of a typical online-only allied health training. Thanks to hands-on and clinical components, our students finish with skills in phlebotomy and electrocardiography that place them above and beyond other candidates.

Enrolling Now!
Next Cohort: August-February
Online with labs in Altoona

No Prior Experience Needed

You can begin PCT training while still in high school or as a GED holder with no criminal record. The program is designed for both current employees of healthcare facilities and people with no experience who are interested in entering the healthcare field.

Gain comprehensive training in:

Medical Terminology
Human Anatomy & Physiology
Phlebotomy
Electrocardiography
Fundamentals of Patient Care

Launch your Allied Health Career in less than 6 months!

6-month program/6 courses
Online work with 1-2 labs per month in Altoona
Total program cost: $5,000 split over 2 semesters
Cost includes tuition, all fees, books, stethoscope, scrub clothes, BLS/CPR certification, and the initial PCT certification exam cost
Intensive, 320-hour training embeds frequent exposure to cutting-edge technology and healthcare simulation experiences.
Designed to be "stackable" - 18 credits earned through the certificate program can be applied toward various degrees offered at SFU.

The program combines online learning with hands-on instruction at the Saint Francis University Curry Innovation Center in downtown Altoona, PA. Clinical components will be completed at local healthcare facilities.

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.

High School Program

(Participating Schools Only)

Start your journey into the medical field ahead of your peers! This unique program offered through partnering high schools allows students to finish the curriculum shortly after graduation, helping them quickly transition into the workforce. Ask your guidance counselor if your school is participating. Interested school districts can contact our staff to discuss future possibilities.

Earn college credits while in high school.
Courses 1 & 2 (60 hours) can be completed while in high school.
Courses 3 through 6 can be taken once you turn 18 and have completed high school.

How it works: You can take Course 1: Role of the Patient Care Technician and Course 2: Foundations of Allied Health during your senior year of school (or transfer courses if equivalent). Following high school graduation, you can take: Safety and Infection Control, Introduction to Direct Patient Care Skills, Advanced Direct Patient Care Skills, Phlebotomy and Electrocardiography.