Patient Care Assistant Degrees

The training that is required for a patient care assistant includes a certificate program in most states. There are some instances where courses taken in pursuit of an RN or LPN degree can transfer to be accepted as PCA credits, but this is not always the case. Professionals who work as a patient care assistant will work in all types of medical environments, but typically are found in private practice medical offices. These professionals will be responsible for taking vital signs, patient history, conducting medical exams, lab tests, clinical duties and drawing blood along with other responsibilities in some instances. In addition to a formal education, the patient care assistant is also required to pass the exam for CNA professionals in some states. The Certified Nursing Assistant exam is not always required, but there is no formal PCA exam and some states will want to see licensure in order to let professionals work in this discipline. The patient care assistant position earns about $41,000 annually, on average. This, of course, depends on the state where the professional works, how much education and experience they have, and whether or not they have been licensed (regardless of whether it is required). The patient care assistant is becoming much more popular and the demand for professionals in this career is expected to grow substantially into the next decade. The highest paid positions will be given to those who have the most education or formal experience in the PCA role.