Workforce Certificate

Patient Care Technician (5707)

This is a selective access program. The Patient Care Technician program is a cluster of planned, sequenced instruction to cross-train students as advanced patient care givers under the supervision of the registered nurse. The program consists of the following components and exit points:

Health careers core (HCP 0001) - This introductory health course is a corequisite for each of the following programs.

Articulated Nursing assistant (HCP 0001 and HCP 0102C) - Nursing assistants are educationally trained to provide patient care services under the supervision of physicians and nurses in the hospital, nursing home and home health settings.

Advanced Home health aide (HCP 0001 and HCP 0311) - Home health aide is one of the fastest growing occupations and educationally prepared to assist patients in the home environment under the supervision of nurses and home health care agencies.

Patient care assistant (HCP 0001, HCP 0102C or HCP 0311 and HCP 0620) - Patient care assistants are multi-trained and the field is rapidly growing. Minimal education requirements will help prepare graduates for entry-level employment. Certification and experience as a patient care assistant are beneficial for entry into other nursing professions.

Allied health assistant (HCP 0001 and HCP 0781) - An individual who has acquired a variety of nursing related skills through formal education and laboratory training. Completers of this program assist with patient care in a variety of health care facilities working with registered nurses and licensed practical nurses.

Patient care technician (HCP 0001, HCP 0102C, HCP 0311, HCP 0620, HCP 0780, HCP 0781 and HCP 0796) - Patient care technicians are multi-trained individuals who have been educationally prepared to provide patient care services under the supervision of physicians, nurses and home health agencies in hospitals, nursing homes and home health settings.

Following the core, each component is completed sequentially, through the patient care assistant course, although the allied health assistant and advanced allied health assistant courses can be taken in any sequence. All courses must be completed in order to enroll in the patient care technician course. This program expands the traditional role of the nursing assistant, providing a broad foundation of knowledge and skills to be applied to the care of the patients in hospitals, nursing homes and in their homes.

Cost
Estimated tuition is $1,150 (for Florida residents, as of 7/05). Contact the program manager for additional costs (textbooks, fees, materials).

Application
Patient Care Technician is a selective access program. An application for admission to the program must include evidence of current CPR certification — adult, child and infant (achieved through an American Heart Association approved Basic Life Support (BLS) Course for Health Care Providers, that includes hands-on simulated experiences.)

Professional Courses

Professional Courses		Contact Hours	Workforce Credits
*VPI 0100	Basic Reading Skills
*VPI 0200	Basic Mathematical Skills
*VPI 0300	Basic Language Skills
**HCP 0001	Health Career Core	90	3.0
HCP 0102C	Articulated Nursing Assistant	75	2.5
HCP 0311	Advanced Home Health Aide	50	1.5
HCP 0620	Patient Care Assistant	75	2.5
HCP 0780	Allied Heath Assistant	150	5.0
HCP 0781	Advanced Allied Health Assistant	100	3.5
***HCP 0796	Patient Care Technician	60	2.0
	Total Contact Hours	600	20.0

*Students who have satisfactory test scores are not required to take these courses.
**HCP 0001, Health Careers Core is a co-requisite with any of the modules.
***All courses must be completed prior to enrolling in this course.

Notes
Most clinical agencies require students to undergo drug screening and criminal background checks prior to placement in the agencies for clinical experiences. Students whose drug screening and criminal background checks are deemed unsatisfactory may be denied access to clinical experiences by the clinical agencies. Failure to qualify for and meet clinical requirements at clinical sites may prevent completion of the program. Withdrawal from the program may be necessary if students cannot be placed for clinical experiences.

The cost of the background check and drug screen is borne by the student. Additionally, it is the student’s responsibility to have all paperwork completed by the program’s published deadline. Students who are unable to complete the clinical requirements after acceptance into selective access programs are not eligible for refunds of tuition.