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In development

Direct patient care

Patient Care Technician

PCT

CNA + phlebotomy + EKG, stacked into one role.

The Patient Care Technician bundles nurse-aide care with phlebotomy and EKG into a single, higher-wage credential — and a single clinical externship. For an operator, it’s the cleanest upsell path: three modules the platform already has, tracked on one externship ledger.

At a glance

Credential
NHA CPCT/A (Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant)
Exam
NHA CPCT/A exam (120 items)
Regulator
National (NHA) · CNA sub-component state-regulated
Hours
120–600+ hrs (embeds CNA) · ~80–160 hr externship · Stacked CNA + phlebotomy + EKG

Competency model

Stacked modules + externship ledger
Above CNA (stacked skills)

median annual wage

Tracks hospital & dialysis demand

projected growth

National

certification

Why the demand: Hospitals and dialysis centers that want one cross-trained tech instead of three single-skill hires. Maps to BLS Nursing Assistants / Orderlies, May 2024.

The program

What students master.

The curriculum maps to the credential — every competency below becomes a tracked, signed-off record inside the platform.

1

Nurse-aide foundation

  • Full CNA skill set
  • Vital signs & ADLs
  • Patient safety & mobility
  • Documentation
2

Phlebotomy & EKG

  • Venipuncture & skin puncture
  • 12-lead EKG placement
  • Specimen handling
  • Live-procedure counts
3

Externship

  • 80–160 supervised hours
  • Preceptor sign-off
  • Multi-skill competency tracking
  • Job-ready portfolio

On the platform

How AscendantCare runs PCT.

This isn't a new build — it's the CNA compliance backbone, configured. The same ledgers, the same sign-off, the same inspection-grade records.

  • 1

    Three modules, one platform

    PCT literally stacks CNA, phlebotomy, and EKG — each a module the platform builds anyway — onto a single externship ledger.

  • 2

    Mixed competency tracking

    Clinical hours, venipuncture counts, and EKG counts coexist on one record, all preceptor-attested.

  • 3

    Stage-gated upsell

    CNA graduates flow straight into the PCT track without re-enrolling or re-verifying compliance.

The competitive edge

The highest-value upsell in the catalog — turn a CNA grad into a cross-trained hospital tech without leaving your brand.

In development

In development — sequenced after the phlebotomy and EKG modules land.

Enrollment

Who can enroll.

Six-gate enrollment compliance verifies every prerequisite before a student starts — and flags anything missing.

Age 18+
HS diploma / GED
Often concurrent or prior CNA
Immunizations, background check, BLS/CPR

Run Patient Care Technician on rails built for inspection.

Book a 30-minute call. We'll show you exactly how PCT maps onto the platform — and where it sits on the build sequence.