How to Become a PCT in Georgia

PCTs, or patient care technicians, are a vital component in any healthcare facility.

Read this guide if you’re interested in becoming one in Georgia!

Patient Care Technician Job Description and Duties in Georgia

Of course, you can’t know if you want to become a PCT without knowing what to expect doing.

If you’re somewhat familiar with the medical field jobs, the patient care technician can easily replace nurse assistants or home health nurses.

This is because these occupations have similar duties and responsibilities.

One main difference between these is that a PCT doesn’t need to be supervised while performing their duties.

Here are the most common duties and tasks of a patient care tech:

• Bathing and feeding the patients
• Catheter care
• Maintaining patient rooms clean
• Vital sign monitoring
• Performing phlebotomy procedures
• Talking to the patients’ families
• Escorting patients to various places for further investigations

It’s not uncommon to receive additional duties, but this is more of a situational practice.

Patient Care Technician Job Requirements in Georgia

What kind of person just you be to get hired as a patient care technician?

This is easy, as the ideal candidate usually meets these requirements:

• Having a high school diploma or GED
• Having good communication skills
• Being detail-oriented
• Being reliable
• Being compassionate
• Having a clean criminal background
• Being certified
• Having physical stamina
• Being listed in the Georgia Nurse Aide Registry

Sometimes, some related experience might be also added to this list, along with other attributes.

Patient Care Technician Education in Georgia

The Georgia Nurse Aide Registry requires individuals to graduate from an appropriate training course and then pass an exam.

The training program you must look for has to be for future nurse aides.

In this state, you can choose one of the more than 20 schools that offer such training courses.

The schools can be seen in the table below.

Usually, the duration of these classes is under two years, and you’ll earn a certificate.

If you want to earn a degree, like an Associates’ or a Bachelors’ diploma, you’ll have to look at courses with a duration of over two years.

All the programs offered by the listed institutions have clinical practice hours included.

It’s mandatory for the students to attend all these classes.

So, how can you know you can register for such a program?

This is easy, as you’ll only have to meet the criteria set by the school:

• A clean criminal record
• A passed drug screening test
• A passed TB skin test
• Had vaccinations done for:
  • MMR
  • Varicella
  • Hepatitis B
  • Flu
  • Tetanus

Among the classes you’ll attend, we can name a few:

• Providing patient safety
• Providing basic care
• Medical terminology and abbreviations
• Basic infection control procedures and techniques
• The structure and function of body systems
• Identifying and reporting changes in the patient’s condition
• Monitoring and recording bodily functions
• CPR
• First aide techniques
• Drawing blood
• Inserting catheters

Patient Care Technician Certification in Georgia

As mentioned, you’ll need to pass the examination for nurse aides, once you graduate.

The National Healthcare Association (NHA) offers both the test and the certification for this occupation.

Here are some of the papers you’ll have to present when signing up for the test:

• Are at least 18 years old
• Have a high school diploma or GED
• Graduated from a specialized training program
• Paid the exam fee – $149
• Show proof of citizenship or nationality
• Submit a set of fingerprints

Keep in mind that some of the schools mentioned earlier could cover the cost of the exam through the tuition.

Ask about this option when selecting the school.

Furthermore, if you have at least a year of experience in the field, you could be allowed to use that instead of enrolling in the training course.

Patient Care Technician Employment and Salary in Georgia

Now it’s time to learn about your work environment.

You can easily land a job with one of these establishments once you’re certified:

• Hospitals,
• Clinics,
• Rehabilitation centers,
• Long term care and assisted living facilities,
• Hospices
• Home care

The average salary for a patient care technician in Georgia is $33,000 per year.

If you want more exact figures, this next table is here to help out!

Regional Salary in Georgia

Additional Information for Patient Care Technician in Georgia

These are some resources that PCTs in this state use:

• Georgia Nurse Aide Registry
• National Health Association