How to Become a PCT in Montana

Not everyone knows what the job of a patient care technician, or PCT, is all about.

If you’re one of these people or would like to become a PCT in Montana, you came to the right place!

Patient Care Technician Job Description and Duties in Montana

Most people compare PCTs to nursing assistants, however, the former can work without being supervised.

Nursing assistants can’t complete their duties without supervision.

Speaking off job duties, below you can see a list of the most common duties of a PCT:

• 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 goes without saying that additional tasks might be given to them, based on a case-by-case scenario.

Patient Care Technician Job Requirements in Montana

Most of those working as patient care techs like to help others.

However, this is not enough to get one hired for this position.

For a PCT position, you need to:

• Have a high school diploma or GED
• Have good communication skills
• Are detail-oriented
• Are compassionate
• Have a clean criminal background
• Are certified
• Have physical stamina

Keep in mind that certification usually comes with being found on the Montana Nurse Aide Registry as well.

Patient Care Technician Education in Montana

One should know that certification is usually only possible if one graduated from a training program.

Montana has only one school that offers a training program for PCTs, and you can find it below.

Of course, you might want a different certification at the end of your studies.

For this, you can enroll in any other program from any other state.

Remember that the type of diploma you want will decide how much time you spend studying.

A simple certification typically has a duration of under two years.

All the programs you’ll find have some hours of clinical practice that must be fully attended.

Here are the prerequisites to meet to be accepted in these courses:

• Have a clean criminal record
• Passed a drug screening test
• Passed a TB skin test
• Have the following health immunizations done:
  • MMR
  • Varicella
  • Hepatitis B
  • Flu
  • Tetanus

Future patient care techs will study these topics among others:

• 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 Montana

The Registry only accepts individuals who have graduated from a training course and have passed the certification exam.

The certification is obtained through the National Healthcare Association (or shortly NHA).

You’ll have to sign up for the test by showing you:

• Are over the age of 18
• Have a high school diploma or GED
• Graduate from a specialized training program
• Paid the exam fee – $149
• Show proof of citizenship or nationality
• Submit a set of fingerprints

Not everyone knows that the Association accepts 1 year of experience in the field au lieu of the training program.

Additionally, the exam fee is often included in the tuition you pay for the course.

As far as the exam is concerned, it has a duration of 1 hour and 50 minutes and a total of 120 questions, with 20 of them being pre-test.

Patient Care Technician Employment and Salary in Montana

Now that you have all the credentials you need, you are ready to get employed.

Patient care technicians primarily work in these places:

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

It’s impossible to estimate how much you’ll earn, but the median salary a Montana PCT earns is around $30,000 per year.

Higher salaries are earned in cities like Billings or Miles City, but not only.

Regional Salary in Montana

Additional Information for Patient Care Technician in Montana

For more information, especially related to exam dates, you can check these resources:

• Montana Nurse Aide Registry
• National Health Association