South Texas Training Center’s Patient Care Technician program in Laredo, Texas, prepares students for hands-on work in dialysis clinics, laboratories, doctors’ offices, hospitals, and other medical facilities. Training covers basic nursing skills, anatomy, medical terminology, rehabilitation care, surgical-patient care, phlebotomy, and electrocardiography. The six-month course includes 8.2 weeks of externship experience in local medical facilities and leads to eligibility for the state Competency exam for Nurse Assistants through Pearson Vue and the national American Medical Certification Association examination for Patient Care Technicians, ECG Technicians, and Phlebotomy Technicians. Optional testing is available for Certified Physical Therapy Technician status. Classes start every four to six weeks, and the program is offered at the Laredo campus. The page states no admission requirements.

At a glance

• Next start: every four to six weeks
• Leads to: state Competency exam for Nurse Assistants through Pearson Vue; national American Medical Certification Association examination for Patient Care Technicians, ECG Technicians, and Phlebotomy Technicians; optional Certified Physical Therapy Technician testing
• Financial aid: available (per the school's page)
• Payment plan: available (per the school's page)
• Scholarships: available (per the school's page)