NHA or NCCT certification

[ArrowRN, BSN, RN]

Which national certification for PCT's are the main industry standard or most recognized by employers? This is in Florida if it makes any difference. I've done a bit of research and nhanow.com and ncctinc.com seems to be most popular. Which do you have?

[Nalon1 RN/EMT-P, BSN, RN]

No "standard" that I have ever heard of for a PCT.

Part of the issue is PCT is not a standard position, the job duties and qualifications vary from facility to facility. It is a catch all title usually for unlicensed staff that has direcgt patient care interaction.

Some facilities a PCT is someone that takes vitals, helps clean patients and transports patients, other facilities they can start IV's, draw blood, do splints and bandaging, assist with triage, and many other things. Even within the same facility PCT duties differ depending on you unit.

The only formal training that I have seen that can be helpful is getting your EMT certification. Most other stuff is in house certification for the facility you work for.

Now if your referring to to CNA, that is different, that is a certification that most all states recognize and there are many programs out there for that.

[funtimes]

The closest thing to a national standard or recognition would be CNA, since some hospitals require you be a CNA to work as a PCT, and its a certification all nurses are familiar with so they know you have at least a baseline of knowledge and skills to start with.

[ArrowRN, BSN, RN]

There are hospitals in my area that hire only PCT's.This is not for myself, I am already a final year nursing student. I'm inquiring for if someone already has their CNA so I dont mean just CNA. I know phelbotomy and ekg can be done separately but some schools also have the additional PCT certification options I mentioned.

[funtimes]

I have heard of schools that have a PCT class, although I have yet to encounter a tech that actually went to one, at least that I know of. The schools I heard of are usually pretty expensive and I don't think there is any nationally recognized certification. Each hospital would probably look at what individual skills, training and clinical experiences someone had in "PCT school". Most PCTs where I've worked had no formal training beyond CNA, MA or Nursing school before getting hired as a tech, and some had NO formal training at all, although that's rare and usually the product of knowing(or being related to) the right person and making a really good impression during interviews.

You may just live in one of the few areas where it matters, but you asked about national recognition or some nationwide industry standard. I don't think there is one.

Ill also add that when a hospital says it only hires PCTs, they may mean they only hire people who have worked as PCTs. For instance the hospital I work at now required one year of "acute care experience", but didn't actually use the term PCT.

[kenya1005]

My hospital hires "pct" but it's a cna cert that's required.