Are you aiming for a fulfilling career in healthcare where you can directly impact patient lives and enter the workforce rapidly? St. Charles Community College (SCC) offers a Patient Care Technician (PCT) program designed to help you take that crucial career step, providing practical training and practicum help to launch your journey in the medical field. While not directly related to coding practicum help, this program offers invaluable, hands-on experience that is highly sought after in the healthcare sector, setting you on a solid path for career advancement.
Patient Care Technicians are vital members of healthcare teams, working closely with nurses, physicians, and other professionals in acute care environments. This intensive program equips students with the necessary clinical skills to assist patients with their daily needs, deliver essential pre- and post-operative care, and monitor patient conditions. It’s a hands-on role perfect for individuals who are compassionate, detail-oriented, and eager to provide direct patient support.
SCC is proud to collaborate with leading healthcare systems, BJC HealthCare and SSM Health Ministries, to offer this accelerated six-week PCT program. This unique partnership means that students selected for the program attend tuition-free as paid employees of either BJC or SSM. This is a significant career step, offering not just training but immediate employment and income while you learn.
This comprehensive PCT training program at SCC is designed to meet the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services requirements for Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP). SCC runs three cohorts annually with both BJC and SSM. Selected students receive tuition-free education and are paid an hourly wage during the program. Detailed program schedules are available on the registration form. It’s important to note that to benefit from this tuition-free opportunity, students must fully commit to and complete all aspects of the training. Failure to meet the employment commitment will require students to refund the tuition cost ($2,000) to the partner institution.
For those joining the BJC programs, you will be hired as a patient care tech from day one. The program includes online coursework through Canvas, allowing for flexible learning. In addition to online studies, you will participate in full-day, on-campus lab sessions every other week to gain practical skills. The program culminates in four weeks of clinical training, where you will work three 12-hour shifts per week at a BJC facility. This intensive practicum is key to solidifying your skills and preparing you for your career step.
Participating BJC facilities: Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital, Progress West Hospital, or Christian Hospital
Starting wage: $17.50/hr
Minimum employment commitment: 12 months (following program)
The SSM programs offer a similar pathway, hiring selected individuals as paid, part-time Clinical Partner 1 Students during the training phase. Upon successful program completion, you will transition to full-time Clinical Partner 1 status, marking a significant career step into a permanent healthcare role. The SSM program involves a six-week structure alternating between didactic instruction with SCC and clinical practice at SSM Health. Each didactic week includes online coursework for three days and a full day of clinical labs for hands-on practicum help. Clinical weeks involve three 12-hour shifts at an SSM facility.
Participating SSM facilities: SSM St. Joseph Hospital-Lake St. Louis, SSM St. Joseph Hospital-St. Charles, and SSM St. Joseph Hospital-Wentzville
Starting wage: $18/hr
Minimum employment commitment: Two years (following program)
To enroll in this program and take this important career step, all prospective students must first apply to and be enrolled at St. Charles Community College. Apply now! When applying, ensure you select ‘Non-Degree-Seeking’ under ‘Area of Interest’ and ‘Academic Program’.
To be eligible for this valuable career step opportunity, all candidates must meet the following criteria:
- Be at least 18 years old and hold a high school diploma or equivalent.
- Complete the SCC application and required intake assessments.
- Complete the healthcare partner application and pass a screening interview.
- Attend a mandatory meet & greet session to learn more about the program.
- Successfully pass a criminal background check, drug screen panel, and a physical exam with documented proof of current immunizations, including flu and COVID-19.
If you are interested in taking this career step and joining the Patient Care Technician program, please reach out to [email protected] for more information.
Attendance and active participation in all program components are mandatory
Spring Cohort Schedule:
February 3rd – March 14th
SSM Mandatory Labs
Wednesdays: February 19th 8:30am – 3:30pm March 3rd 8:30am – 3:30pmMarch 12th 8:30am – 3:30pm
BJC Mandatory Labs
Thursdays:February 20th 8:30am – 3:30pmMarch 6th 8:30am – 3:30pmMarch 13th 8:30am – 3:30pm
