PATIENT CARE ASSISTANT CERTIFICATE

The Patient Care Assistant Certificate prepares students to work in hospitals, doctors’ offices, medical clinics, skilled nursing facilities, as well as other short-term and long-term care facilities under the direction and supervision of a registered nurse. Graduates of this program are eligible to apply to take the competency exams for state certification in Nurse Assisting through the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and national certification in Patient Care Technician and Phlebotomy.

Mandatory Requirements once accepted into the program:

Students must have evidence of valid AHA Healthcare Provider CPR certification and preclinical orientation as applicable.

Completed health physical, including required immunizations, before starting the PCA program.

A criminal background check is required for clinical experiences. Students must be able to attend all clinical experiences.

A negative 10-panel drug screen is required. Random screens can be performed throughout the program.

After registering for the PCA program, students are required to attend a scheduled mandatory orientation meeting.

Aiken Technical College is a public, open-door, two-year, comprehensive institution of higher education established to provide citizens of greater Aiken County opportunities for educational and workforce development.

More than four decades after its founding, ATC has grown into a multi-service, two-year comprehensive college offering numerous educational opportunities in college transfer credit and noncredit health, public service, business, industrial engineering, nuclear and computer technology programs.

Our college strives to provide transformative, enriching, and engaging academic programs and student experiences to serve the educational and workforce development needs of our students and the region; Position the College as the first choice for education and workforce development through effective communication, promotion, and branding; Create strategic collaborations with academic, community and industry partners to develop and empower students through additional educational opportunities; Cultivate an engaging environment of excellence to attract, retain and develop a diverse campus of students, staff, faculty, and administrators; Expand organizational funding through regional support, student enrollment, and grants to provide innovative learning opportunities for students.