Patient Care Technician Standard Certificate
The primary purpose of the Patient Care Technician (PCT) at WCCS is to prepare persons for entry-level employment positions in a variety of healthcare settings including long-term care, home health care, and acute care as well as outpatient settings. Program graduates qualify to set for individual certifications in Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide, EKG Technician, and Phlebotomy or a Patient Care Technician certification upon program completion which includes all three areas of certification. The program requires three semesters for completion of the Patient Care Technician standard certificate, but participants may obtain Nursing Assistant and EKG certifications at the completion of two semesters if desired. The curriculum offers three stackable certificates which allow diversity in employment and early entry into the workforce. The program focuses on care of clients through theory, simulated labs and clinical experiences.
Patient Care Technician Admission Criteria
Applicants to the PCT Program must possess a high school diploma or equivalency and a 1.50-grade point average on any previous college work. Applicants may register fall, spring and summer semesters for admission into the program. Fall admission deadline is June 15th, spring admission deadline is November 1st, and summer admission deadline is April 15th. Deadline dates are published/advertised well in advance and are available in the office of Practical Nursing, Student Services and on the College’s website @ www.wccs.edu. Program acceptance is based on completing both the application process and Compass testing.
Upon admission, students become part of the career ladder at WCCS. PCT graduates are eligible for admission into the Practical Nursing Program at WCCS provided they meet admission requirements of the PN Program. Graduates must successfully make application for admission prior to the deadline date. Applications for admission into the PCT Programs should be submitted to the Practical Nursing Office. Upon acceptance into the program, students are required to: (1) take a physical examination by a physician or nurse practitioner with findings submitted on a departmental health clearance form; (2) pay a $15.00 malpractice liability insurance premium; (3) become CPR (healthcare provider) certified (4) attend a pre-program orientation; and (5) submit to and pass a drug screening test and a background screening.
Upon admission into the PCT program, students will be provided with pertinent information including appropriate cost of textbooks, uniforms/supplies, physical examinations, background screening, drug screening and other expenses for the year. Program expenses are also listed on the program’s webpage @wccs.edu. Students are required to purchase the nursing uniforms specified by the program. All curricular information will be provided to students prior to the start of the semester during pre-program orientation. Students are expected to adhere to deadline dates.
Patient Care Technician is a practice discipline with specific performance requirements in the cognitive, psychomotor, sensory, and affective domains. Performance Standards expected of students in the PCT Program are available to students prior to admission. The appraisal measures utilized are in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 so as not to discriminate against any person on the basis of disability. Applicants must submit the completed Performance Standards Verification Form prior to enrollment in the program and must update as applicable. In addition, the PCT Program strictly abides by the WCCS Non-Discrimination Policy as outlined in the college catalog and program publications.
Students entering the PCT Program who experiences a health and/or behavior alteration during the course of the program will be required to present a signed statement from their physician stating it is permissible for them to continue in the program, and verifying that they can meet the Alabama Community College System’s Essential Functions for Nursing. Thereafter, statements will be submitted following monthly or weekly visits to the physician. All statements shall be submitted to the Program Director, and the pregnant student must be able to complete all clinical requirements as scheduled.
All students in the PCT Program are governed by policies in the WCCS Catalog, the Departmental Handbook/Policy Manual, and by policies in effect at clinical facilities to which they are assigned. The first semester of the program serves as a prerequisite semester to all other semesters, and all courses must be passed to proceed in the program. The program operates on a progression system. Policies for admission/readmission attendance, progression, health (including HIV and other blood-borne diseases), grievance, advisory, withdrawal, readmission, progression, evaluation, and graduation can be found in the PCT Handbook/Policy Manual.
Students are required to have an overall grade point average of 2.0 (“C”) from WCCS in order to graduate.
The following grading criteria will apply to courses in the PCT program with the prefix NAS and HPS.
A = 90-100
B = 80-89
C = 75-79
D = 60-74
F = 59 and Below
Certificate Program Contact Hours Total = 1365 Hours