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Non-Credit Courses and Certificates

Patient Care Technician

Courses
CAREER INFO
HOW TO REGISTER

Ideal for

CNA's and students with a high school diploma, or equivalent, who are looking for an exciting opportunity to start a healthcare career or advance their skills, earn a better salary and have more job options in a changing work environment. Patient Care Technicians (PCTs) are valued members of many health care teams. They work in hospitals, rehabilitation settings, physician offices, clinics, and long-term care facilities. The PCT Program will expand the knowledge and skills of the nurse aide to care for patients with complex and sometimes acute diagnoses. Learn the art and science of drawing blood specimens. Accurately recording and reading electrocardiograms, and working within a sterile field used for surgical procedures.

Program Overview

The patient care technician program is a series of courses, which prepare you to enter the health care profession and care for a variety of patient populations.

PCT Required Pre-Requisite:

  • Must already be a Certified Nurse Aide

PCT Required Pre or Co-Requisite(s):

  • Phlebotomy Technician
  • EKG Technician
  • Advanced Nurse Aide

PCT Certificate Program

Admission Requirements for the PCT Program:

  • 18 years and older
  • GED or High School Diploma
  • Must hold an ACTIVE Certified Nurse Aide Certificate
  • CNA's from states other than Connecticut may be asked by employers to obtain CT CNA Ceritifcation
  • Health Form signed by your physician REQUIRED
  • Covid-19 Vaccination- Proof of 1 COVID Vaccine REQUIRED
  • Students must have reliable transportation to clinical sites REQUIRED
  • A criminal background check may be required. Students who have a record may be denied access to clinial training sites. Students with a record may have difficulty finding employment in this field.

Registration-Apply Here or Call 203-575-8029

PROOF OF HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA/GED REQUIRED UPON REGISTRATION      

Fax: (203)-575-8243

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

 U.S. Mail: Naugatuck Valley Community College Non-credit Registration-F323 750 Chase Parkway Waterbury, CT 06708

Call: 203-575-8029 today to get registered!

    Course Locations

    Conveniently offered at our Waterbury and Danbury Campuses.

    Woman performing care

    Program Coordinator:

     

    Non-Credit/Workforce

    PCT-Advanced Nurse Aide

    This course builds on the knowledge and skills of the CNA course.  Students will learn skills including: wound care and sterile dressings; respiratory procedures; advanced catheter care and specimen collection; pre and post-operative care; administration of enemas and colostomy care; nasogastric tubes and feeding tubes; and glucometer point of care testing. There will be opportunities for students to have extensive supervised hands-on practice in the skills laboratory. 48 hours

    Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers - Optional

    In this classroom-based course, health care professionals learn to recognize several life-threatening emergencies, provide CPR to victims of all ages, use an automated electronic defibrillator (AED), and relieve choking in a safe, timely and effective manner.  Participants who successfully complete the written exam and skills validation will receive an American Heart Association BLS for Health Care Providers certification card, valid for two years. This course meets most health care employers' requirements for formal BLS evaluation and meets the requirements for many health care education programs, including those at NVCC. 4 hours

    Please be on time or you may be turned away at your own expense.

    EKG Technician - Pre/Co Req

    Learn the knowledge and skills to accurately obtain a 12 lead EKG and pulse oximetry measurement. Cardiac and respiratory anatomy and function, lead and sensor placement, recognition of normal vs. abnormal readings and how to adapt to unusual patient situations will also be taught.  This course includes classroom and hands-on lab experience. Certification can be obtained through the National Healthcareer Association. 42 Hours

    Hospital Clinical - Optional/Coming Soon

    This is your opportunity to explore the dynamic world of acute care as you take your advanced care skills into a hospital setting.  You will care for various patient populations: medical, surgical, orthopedic, post-partum, emergency or others during your 24-hour clinical experience. 

    Phlebotomy Technician - Pre/Co Req

    The art and science of drawing blood or phlebotomy is an important part of the role of many patient care technicians.  This course will include: skin puncture techniques, collection procedures, legal issues, safety concerns, infection control and quality assurance. Teaching methods include lecture and supervised hands-on practice in a simulated lab setting including a clinical rotation. 120 hours

    Degree and Certificate Credit Programs

    Related Degree and Certificate Programs that may interest you.

    • General Studies
    • Human Services/Pre-Social Work, A.S.
    • Liberal Arts and Sciences, A.S.
    • Nursing, A.S.
    • Physical Therapy Assistant, A.S.
    • Radiologic Technology, A.S.
    • Respiratory Care, A.S.
    Find out more about these programs on CTState!

    Learn about Payment Options and How to register on this page.

    CT State Course Offerings

    Important Information

    Prerequisites

    • Students must provide proof of high school diploma or GED. 
    • You must be at least 16 years of age to enroll in any of our Non-Credit health care programs. If you are under 18 years of age at the time of registration, you will be required to provide a parent/guardian waiver form.
    • A health screening, up-to-date immunizations and flu vaccine are required by the second week of class. Documentation must be in the form of a completed NVCC Health Form PCT/CNA signed by a licensed health care provider. Appointments for health screening can sometimes take several weeks so please schedule early.
    • Students with criminal convictions may have difficulty finding employment in health care and may be denied clinical placement. All students are required to have a background check prior to clinical participation. Felony or misdemeanor offenses may preclude you from participating in clinical and mandate withdrawal from the program. No course refunds are available. Please consult the program coordinator prior to registration if you have any concerns.
    • Some individual courses require prerequisites. Please check course descriptions carefully.

    Textbook and Educational Materials

    • No need to make a trip to the bookstore, all required textbooks, and materials will be provided in class and are included in the cost of the course. (Unless otherwise advised in the course description).
    • Uniforms, dark blue v-neck scrub top and pants, along with white shoes/sneakers, are required to be worn for all classes, labs, and clinical. They must be washable. A watch with a second hand or smartwatch with "seconds" capability will also be required.

    Homework 

    • Students should expect reading and assignments from each class. Plan on spending as much time on homework as you do in the classroom.

    Other

    • Federal and State mandated attendance requirements must be met.
    • Due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances, some variations in dates and time may occur in course schedules.
    • All courses are not offered every semester.
    • PCT graduates receive a custom-designed NVCC PCT pin.

    Refund Policy, Changes and Cancellations

    • Withdrawal and refund requests must be received three business days (72 hours) prior to the beginning of class unless stated otherwise in the course description. Refunds are not granted after this deadline. Telephone: 203-575-8029 Fax: 203-575-8243 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Mail: Non-Credit Refunds, Room F323, Naugatuck Valley Community College, 750 Chase Pkwy., Waterbury, CT 06708 If there is a course cancellation due to insufficient enrollment, students will be notified by phone, mail and/or email. Please make sure when registering that your contact information is up-to-date. We would like to offer you the opportunity to transfer to another section, if available, or to another class of your choosing. If we have not heard from you within 7 business days, a refund will automatically be processed. Please allow 2-4 weeks for processing. The person registered in our records system is the person who will receive the refund. The College reserves the right to cancel courses due to insufficient enrollment or other reasonable causes. Full refund is made if the College cancels the course.

    College Closing

    • College closings due to inclement weather are announced over local AM/ FM radio/TV stations, on the college website (nv.edu), on the college’s main phone line (203-575-8000) and a text message is sent to everyone who is registered through the myCommNetAlert System. Likewise, in the event of an early closing, the same communication will occur. If the college has a delayed opening, all classes that begin before the delayed opening time will not be held that day and will be rescheduled at another time. Danbury and off-site cancellations: If NVCC cancels or delays classes, this applies to Waterbury and Danbury Campuses as well as all off-site locations. 

    Students with Special Needs - ADA

    • Students with Special Needs-ADA: Students who may require academic adjustments on the basis of a disability are encouraged to contact the  Counselor for Students with Disabilities (Vince McCann - 203-596-6808) at the Waterbury and Danbury Campuses. After providing documentation and completing the disability disclosure process, students are then encouraged to meet with their instructor(s) to discuss the adjustments approved by the appropriate disabilities contact and to complete the Adjustments Agreement form. Students are therefore encouraged to meet with the Disabilities Counselor and their instructor(s) at the beginning of each semester. Adjustments are not retroactive. Instructors, in conjunction with appropriate college personnel, will provide assistance and/or adjustments only to those students who have completed the disability disclosure and academic adjustments process.

    Course Registration and Payment Plans

    No formal application to the College is required for non-credit/workforce training courses.

    Registrations are accepted on an ongoing basis for upcoming classes.

    Ways to register

    Call us: 203-575-8029 for information (Motorcycle registrations cannot be taken by phone)

    Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm

    New Secure Fillable Format Workforce Development and Continuing Education Registration Form 

    Fax: 203-575-8243 (secure line)

    Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

    Mail and send with payment (checks or money order made out to NVCC only) to:

    Office of Non-Credit Lifelong Learning Registration
    Founders Hall, Room F323
    750 Chase Parkway
    Waterbury, CT 06708

    Or stop by, we're happy to assist you!

    Accepted Forms of Payment:



    Money Orders or Checks

    Mail-in registrations credit cards or checks only, Please do not mail cash!

    Career Spotlight

    Patient Care Technicians are employed in a variety of health care settings. The role and skills of the PCT may vary depending on what type of patient care is provided within a given setting. The PCT may be involved with assisting patients with the activities of daily living, specimen collection and diagnostic testing. The PCT will need technical, clerical and interpersonal skills to work effectively and with confidence. Most PCT’s can expect to earn an average annual income of $33,013 and commonly work shifts that may include nights, weekends and holidays. The job market for PCT's is growing and continued growth is expected. The Connecticut Department of Labor  projects employment in this occupation will grow about as fast as average, and the number of annual openings will offer excellent job opportunities.

    Patient Care Technicians are not licensed or registered in Connecticut but employers require current, active status on the Connecticut Certified Nurse Aide Registry.  For questions regarding Certified Nurse Aide registration please contact the Department of Public Health. 

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