Beginning July 29, students can receive accelerated instruction through a Patient Care Technicians course, preparing them for job readiness in 19 weeks.

The PCT Fast Track program begins by teaching the basic skills required for Connecticut Nurse Aide Certification. PCT students then learn additional skills to become valuable health care team members.

Students trained through NVCC’s PCT program can fill many roles within a variety of healthcare settings including hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, physician offices and long-term care facilities.  After learning the technical and interpersonal skills necessary for success in their chosen field, PCT’s can expect to earn between $24,960 and $37,500 per year.

The most recent group of students graduating from NVCC’s fast track program in Danbury saw much success after graduating the program, according to NVCC’s CNA/PCT Program Coordinator Patricia Targett. Because NVCC has one of the longest-running Certified Nursing programs in the state, the College’s reputation for producing quality healthcare workers gives NVCC graduates an advantage when job-seeking.

“When I talk to employers in the community, they tell me when they see one of our students applying for a job, they hire them,” Targett said. “Our program is unique because we spoke with healthcare employers in the community to find out what skills they’re looking for, and then we tailored our program to meet those needs. We continue to seek advisement from area employers to ensure we keep up with current healthcare trends.”

For recent PCT Fast Track graduate Christopher Kimball, his training at NVCC helped him find a job quickly, as a Certified Nursing Assistant/Transporter at the Village Crest Center in New Milford.  After being laid off at an area hospital, the 54 year-old Kimball enrolled in the PTC fast track program in February to become more marketable within the healthcare industry.

“I realized I needed to have something more on my resume, so I got myself into the fast track program,” Kimball said. “The people and the instructors in my program were dynamite, it was a fantastic experience,” Kimball said.

Aside from flexibility and affordability, the PCT fast track program trains students quickly, offering the chance to change careers without years of schooling.

“Our students come from a variety of backgrounds, and they really become a close cohort of students because of how intensive the program is,” Targett said. “We also offer them the opportunity to do clinical work at Danbury Hospital, so they can experience real life job training and make sure they enjoy what they’re choosing to do.”

Students can enroll in NVCC’s PTC fast track program by calling (203) 797-9361 or visiting Danbury Center at 183 Main Street, Danbury. Free parking is available in the Terence E. McNally Patriot Garage located at 21 Delay Street. The program is approved for WIA funding and payment plans are available.

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Naugatuck Valley Community College serves Beacon Falls, Bethel, Bethlehem, Bridgewater, Brookfield, Cheshire, Danbury, Middlebury, Naugatuck, New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Oxford, Prospect, Roxbury, Sherman, Southbury, Thomaston, Washington, Waterbury, Watertown and Woodbury. The College is located on a 110-acre campus at 750 Chase Parkway, Waterbury, Conn., and in Danbury at 183 Main Street. The College is one of 17 institutions governed by the Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education. Visit nv.edu for more information.