Career Opportunities for Patient Care Assistants in New Jersey and Pennsylvania

Patient care assistants play an essential role in the medical field that allows hospitals and other healthcare facilities to run smoothly and efficiently. The job comes with a variety of responsibilities, and there are steps you must take to become certified.

At Pennco Tech, we offer a Medical Assistant program in New Jersey and Pennsylvania that can help you pursue a career as a patient care assistant. Learn more about becoming a patient care assistant, the job prospects for graduates, and how Pennco Tech can get you started.

Understanding the Patient Care Assistant Role

Patient care assistants are medical professionals who help deliver patient care. They are responsible for aiding nurses in everyday tasks, such as:

• Feeding patients
• Delivering personal care services
• Checking vital signs
• Updating patient charts
• Walking assistance
• Collecting lab specimens

Although patient care assistants do not complete medical care services, they still hold an important role in helping medical facilities run smoothly. Becoming a patient care assistant can be done in one of two ways. First, you can attend a medical assistant school, which can make the job-searching process easier. Or, you can begin earning experience in the medical field and eventually build your way up to becoming a patient care assistant.

Attending a vocational school like Pennco Tech for medical assistant certification can provide many benefits. For starters, you can earn essential experience in the field while learning from instructors with extensive backgrounds in the medical industry. In addition, you can quickly pick up on common medical practices and terms used in the workplace. Pennco Tech can also provide graduates with connections, resources, and tools for finding jobs after graduation through the career services department.

Patient Care Assistants vs. Patient Care Technicians

While patient care assistants deliver basic patient care, a patient care technician can perform medical duties, such as handling IVs and administering medications. This is because patient care technicians require more schooling and experience before inheriting the role. Patient care technicians typically hold an associate degree in nursing or other certifications. This means they have more specialized knowledge and skills when it comes to handling certain procedures.

Jobs for Patient Care Assistants

Wages for patient care assistants in Pennsylvania and New Jersey range from $35,000 to $44,000, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Patient care assistants can work in a variety of medical settings, including:

• Home health care services
• Hospitals
• Assisted living facilities
• Nursing homes

Depending on your needs, some environments may be more suitable than others. For example, hospitals provide fast-paced shifts and unique hours for those who want to keep moving and switch up their schedule. However, if you’re looking for something more consistent and less urgent, working in a nursing home or assisted living facility can be an ideal fit. In addition, healthcare workers are needed all over the country. This means graduates can easily find a job in the area where they are currently located, or they can have the freedom to move to other states.

Enroll in Courses at Pennco Tech

Pennco Tech offers a Medical Assistant program to help students on their journey to becoming patient care assistants. Potential candidates are eligible as long as they have their high school diploma, GED, or equivalent certification. Our program can be completed in around 18 weeks, meaning you can earn your diploma and begin working soon.

We emphasize the importance of delivering education that helps students in their future careers. We do our best to inform students of not only the basics but also more specified practices, such as modern healthcare technologies. This way, students are fully prepared before leaving our facility.

After completing the program, students must take an exam to officially become certified as a medical assistant. Students at our Blackwood, NJ, location must apply for and take the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam. Students at our Bristol, PA, location must apply for and take the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam. Once students complete and pass the exam, they are officially certified to begin working as patient care assistants.

Let Pennco Tech Be Your Guide

When it comes to choosing the right career, Pennco Tech can help you find something you are truly passionate about. With a dedication to providing accessible means of education for students in the Blackwood, NJ, and Bristol, PA, areas, we can be the first step to reaching your career advancement goals.

Our courses allow for flexible scheduling, with options for both day and evening classes available to students. This lets students work or take care of other obligations while completing classes. What’s more, we provide student loan counseling and provide opportunities for financial aid to students who qualify.

To learn more about becoming a patient care assistant, contact us today.